NikkoTaiyuin
The mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu. Its colouring was kept more restrained than the Toshogu's, so as not to outdo his grandfather.
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Tochigi
Sacred shrines, waterfalls, and deep forests.
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NikkoVgenecr at Dutch Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
NasuYoshitoshi · Public domain ↗
NikkoNarabi Jizo
A line of Jizo said to come out at a different number each time you count. They are called the shape-shifting Jizo.
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MokaOsaki Jinja
It holds what is said to be the largest Ebisu figure in Japan, and draws prayers for wealth.
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FEATURETochigi now (autumn)Irohazaka and Lake Chuzenji are surrounded by brilliant autumn foliage.See the feature Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
Visit Nikko ToshoguExplore World Heritage shrine buildings covered in vivid color and intricate carving.
Enter a Wisteria WonderlandStand beneath cascading wisteria clusters, enhanced by seasonal illumination.
Explore the Nasu HighlandsSpend a day among farms, hot springs, and mountain scenery in the Nasu Highlands.Recommended information
Check information useful for planning, for a fuller trip.
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Read the answer →REGIONAL SPECIALTIES
Meet the Japan you don't know yet.
It is not only the big cities. The regions are full of charm, and special experiences you can only have in each place are waiting.
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Japan's value, to the world.
Regional culture, tradition, food, sightseeing, nature and people. A directory that delivers the appeal of each to the whole world.
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The photo is a generated image for concept purposes.INSTAGRAM / 5
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THINGS TO DO / 6
Things to do in this prefecture
Choose from what you can only do here.
01Visit Nikko ToshoguExplore World Heritage shrine buildings covered in vivid color and intricate carving.See related entries →Public domain
02See Kegon FallsView the powerful waterfall plunging from Lake Chuzenji.See related entries →日:Jnn · CC BY 2.1 jp
03Walk Lake ChuzenjiWalk or cruise along the lakeshore beneath the slopes of Mount Nantai.See related entries →Uraomote yamaneko · CC BY-SA 3.004Enter a Wisteria WonderlandStand beneath cascading wisteria clusters, enhanced by seasonal illumination.See related entries →京浜にけ · CC BY-SA 3.0
05Taste Utsunomiya GyozaCompare pan-fried, boiled, and deep-fried dumplings at specialist shops.See related entries →Kyoww et al · CC BY-SA 3.006Explore the Nasu HighlandsSpend a day among farms, hot springs, and mountain scenery in the Nasu Highlands.See related entries →uraomote_yamaneko · CC BY-SA 3.0NEED TO KNOW
At a glance
- AirportNearest: Haneda Airport (Tokyo)
- ShinkansenUtsunomiya and Nasushiobara stations
- From TokyoAbout 50 min by shinkansen
- Best seasonApril–May and October–November
- Local specialtiesUtsunomiya gyoza · Sano ramen · Strawberries
- Typical temperatureSummer: around 26°C / Winter: around 3°C
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
What each season brings
アラツク · CC BY-SA 4.0Spring
MAR–MAYGreat wisteria canopies bloom spectacularly at Ashikaga Flower Park.
See recommendations for this season →
Think local act global · CC BY-SA 4.0Summer
JUN–AUGCool lakes and wetlands make Oku-Nikko ideal for summer nature walks.
See recommendations for this season →
Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0Autumn
SEP–NOVIrohazaka and Lake Chuzenji are surrounded by brilliant autumn foliage.
See recommendations for this season →.jpg){kind=link}
superidoljp · CC BY-SA 2.0Winter
DEC–FEBSnow-dusted Nikko shrines and tranquil hot-spring resorts welcome winter visitors.
See recommendations for this season →
LOCAL FOOD / 12
Local food
What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.
Shimotsukare
The head of salt-cured salmon is boiled, then combined with grated daikon and carrot, roasted soybeans and fried tofu and simmered for about an hour, and finished with sake lees.
Area：Throughout Tochigi Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Mimi udon
Wheat flour is kneaded with salted water, rolled thin, cut into small pieces and folded in two into the shape of an ear; these noodles are simmered in dashi with taro, shiitake, green onion and carrot.
Area：Kuzu district in Sano, Utsunomiya
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kanpyo no tamagotoji
Kanpyo, the flesh of the bottle gourd shaved into long strips and dried, is rehydrated and cut, simmered in dashi seasoned with soy sauce and salt, and bound with beaten egg.
Area：Throughout Tochigi Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Imogushi
Taro that has been steamed or boiled is skewered and grilled, brushed with a miso sauce cooked down with sugar and mirin, and grilled once more.
Area：Northwestern and central Tochigi Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Saganbo no nitsuke
Fillets of the spiny dogfish, a deep-sea shark, are simmered for about ten minutes in a seasoning of soy sauce, sugar, mirin and sake, and served with ginger.
Area：Throughout Tochigi Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Bandai Mochi
Firmly cooked non-glutinous rice is pounded and shaped into bales, then topped with zunda, a paste of ground edamame, or with a junen sauce of roasted and ground perilla seeds.
Area：Western part of the prefecture, Nikko
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Wheat manju
Wheat flour is mixed with baking soda and sugar water to make a soft dough, which is wrapped around red bean paste and steamed for about ten minutes.
Area：Throughout Tochigi Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kate-soba
Soba is boiled together with shredded daikon and garlic chives, chilled in cold water and served on a bamboo basket, then eaten with a dipping broth of dashi, kaeshi sauce base and mirin.
Area：Central to southern parts of the prefecture, including Kanuma
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Chitake Udon (Soba)
Chitake, a strongly aromatic mushroom that releases a white liquid when torn, is stir-fried in oil with eggplant, dashi is added and the broth is seasoned with soy sauce, then poured over udon.
Area：Central and eastern parts of the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Moro no Nitsuke
Fillets of salmon shark are simmered for about ten minutes with ginger in a boiled seasoning liquid of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, sake and water.
Area：Throughout Tochigi Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Yuzumaki
Thin rounds of salted daikon are wrapped around shredded yuzu and fastened with a toothpick, then pickled for two or three days in a liquid of vinegar and sugar.
Area：Northern Utsunomiya
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Simmered Deep-fried Yuba Roll
Yuba, the film that forms on the surface of soy milk, is layered and rolled into a bar, cut into rounds and deep-fried, then simmered for about twenty minutes in dashi with soy sauce, mirin and sugar.
Area：Nikko
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
MICHI-NO-EKI / 25
Michi-no-Eki roadside stations
RestInformationLocal links
Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.
- MotegiMotegi, Haga DistrictRegistered April 1996Official site
- NinomiyaMokaRegistered April 1997Official site
- Meiji-no-Mori KuroisoNasushiobaraRegistered April 1997Official site
- Yu-no-Ka ShiobaraNasushiobaraRegistered April 1997Official site
- Nasu Kogen Yuai-no-MoriNasu, Nasu DistrictRegistered April 1997Official site
- BatoNakagawa, Nasu DistrictRegistered April 1998Official site
- Tosando IonoNasu, Nasu DistrictRegistered August 1999Official site
- KitsuregawaSakuraRegistered August 2000Official site
- Domannaka TanumaSanoRegistered August 2001Official site
- HagaHaga, Haga DistrictRegistered August 2001Official site
- Nasu-no-Yoichi-no-SatoOtawaraRegistered August 2003Official site
- MikamoTochigiRegistered August 2004Official site
There are 25 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).
LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 2
People posting this area
Japanese-language accounts that post about this area.
These are third-party accounts. They are not affiliated with Value Village and this is not an endorsement.
CITIES & TOWNS / 17
Find by city or town
Sorted by number of entries. Start from the name of a town.
INTERESTS / 15
Find by interest
Only the interests found in this prefecture.
Nikko Toshogu · Public domainShrines & Temples30 entries
Nikko Toshogu ／ Nikko Futarasan Jinja
To the listKegon no Taki · 日:Jnn · CC BY 2.1 jpNature & Scenery33 entries
Kegon Falls ／ Lake Chuzenji
To the list
Kinugawa Onsen · 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 3.0Hot Springs11 entries
Kinugawa Onsen ／ Kinu Tateiwa Suspension Bridge
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Utsunomiya Gyoza · CC BY-SA 3.0Historic Districts2 entries
Utsunomiya Gyoza ／ Kura no Machi
To the listAshikaga Flower Park · 京浜にけ · CC BY-SA 3.0Gardens1 entries
Ashikaga Flower Park
To the list
Oya Stone Buildings · 663highland · CC BY 2.5Architecture13 entries
Oya Stone Buildings ／ Nikko Kanaya Hotel
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Oya Chika · Asanagi · CC0Museums13 entries
Oya History Museum ／ Tochigi Prefectural Museum
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Kanuma Buttsuke · Public domainArt & Crafts57 entries
Kanuma Buttsuke ／ Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts
To the listWisteria of Ashikaga · 京浜にけ · CC BY-SA 3.0Contemporary Art4 entries
Wisteria of Ashikaga ／ Nikko Cedar Avenue
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Otafuku Sauce Nikko Plant · cytech · CC BY 2.0Craft Experiences36 entries
Ashio Copper Mine Tour ／ Tochigi Science Museum
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Nasu Classic Car Museum · Public domainCulture & History8 entries
Nasu Classic Car Museum ／ Kobo Omoigawazakura
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Mashiko Pottery Fair · Creator:Shoji Hamada · CC BY-SA 3.0Festivals1 entries
Mashiko Pottery Fair
To the list
Calbee Kiyohara Plant · Taisyo · CC BY 3.0Food & Markets23 entries
Futaba Foods Kitsuregawa Plant ／ Iwashita New Ginger Museum
To the listUtsunomiya Gyoza-kan Bamba Dori · Kyoww et al · CC BY-SA 3.0Experiences39 entries
Tobu World Square ／ Irohazaka
To the list
Hotel Sun Valley Nasu · Linearcity · CC BY-SA 3.0Stays11 entries
Hotel Epinard Nasu ／ Hotel Sun Valley Nasu
To the listHIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of this prefecture
From entries with clearly licensed photos.
Shrines & TemplesNikko
Nikko Toshogu
Craftsmen were gathered from all over Japan to build it, and where they settled afterwards, three crafts were born: Nikko carving in Tochigi, Suruga doll fittings in Shizuoka, and Iwatsuki dolls in Saitama. One great construction project created the crafts of three prefectures.
Nature & SceneryNikko
Kegon Falls
A drop of 97 metres, one of the three great waterfalls of Japan. The water of Lake Chuzenji falls here.
Hot Springs
MuseumsUtsunomiya
Oya History Museum
A vast underground quarry. It averages 8 degrees year round and is used as a film location.
GardensAshikaga
Ashikaga Flower Park
A great wisteria 160 years old, known for its evening illumination.
FestivalsMashiko
Mashiko Pottery Fair
Five hundred stalls in spring and autumn. The town became known when Hamada Shoji settled here.
SMILE NEWS / 136
Smile news from Japan and the world
Stories that lift your spirits a little, collected with their sources.
Moka Ships First Tochiaika Strawberries of the Season in Tochigi
On October 5, Moka became the first place in Tochigi to begin shipping this season's Tochiaika, the prefecture's leading strawberry variety. On the first day, two local farmers delivered a total of 72 packs (about 18.7 kg) to the shipping center.
source: Shimotsuke ShimbunHakuoh University Ashikaga Junior High wins Tochigi's junior science olympiad
Twelve teams from seven schools competed in written and practical science and maths. Hakuoh University Ashikaga Junior High's A team won and will represent Tochigi at the national final in Himeji in December.
source: TochigiMiitan, a 2,800-year-old clay-figurine girl, wins the museum mascot grand prix on her ninth try
Miitan, mascot of the Tochigi Prefectural Museum, topped the Museum Character Award 2026 with a record 32,223 votes. She is modelled on an owl-shaped clay figurine unearthed in Tochigi city.
source: TochigiExplore on Instagram
Hashtags often used for this area. Each opens the tag page on Instagram.
SEASONS & EVENTS
Seasons & events
Kanuma Autumn Festival
2026-10-10 ～ 2026-10-11
114th Mashiko Autumn Pottery Fair
2026-10-31 ～ 2026-11-03
Kanuma Buttsuke
Kanuma
BEFORE YOU GO
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TRAVEL
Transport & stays
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