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Tochigi Prefecture is a popular tourist destination located approximately 100 kilometres north of Tokyo and is easily accessible. Be surrounded by nature after just a 50-minute Shinkansen ride or 90-minute drive from Tokyo.
Popular throughout the year, cool winters let you enjoy hot springs (Onsen) surrounded by snow. The cool, northern mountainous areas have always been famous as summer resorts. Large temperature differences between day and night allow the growth of rich agricultural products.
In Japan there are marked changes in the four seasons, and the trees and flowers appear different in each season, including the cherry blossoms in spring and the autumn leaves in fall. In Tochigi Prefecture, mid-April to June following cherry blossom viewing season is an especially good time to see wisteria blooms that form a canopy under the sky and azalea with lovely red and pink flowers. Here, we introduce Tochigi Prefecture as a noted place for viewing flowers.
There are numerous historical buildings scattered throughout Japan, including in the ancient capital of Kyoto and in Kamakura where the samurai culture flourished. Counted among them is the World Heritage site, the Shrines and Temples of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. Part of the complex site is the popular Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which retains its stunning appearance 400-plus years after it was constructed. We take a tour of Toshogu Shrine with a shrine carpenter responsible for its repairs to explore the beauty of its construction.
On the island nation of Japan, a variety of cultures have taken root in each region. Distinctive traditional cultures have been fostered in various areas of Tochigi Prefecture as well, including traditional crafts utilizing regional resources and festivals that pass down history. Among them are onsens (hot springs) created by Tochigi’s abundant nature that can be called a culture deeply connected to each region’s history. This article introduces the onsen culture in Tochigi where there are over 600 springs.
Japan stretches north to south and differs by region in climate, culture, and local specialties nurtured by the regional soil. Tochigi Prefecture is situated approximately 100 km north of Tokyo in an area that extends from mountainous land into an open plain. It also has a variety of local specialties nurtured by the mountains and clear streams that flow from those mountains. Among the many local specialties of Tochigi Prefecture, here we focus on well-known specialties unique to Japan—wagyu (Japanese beef), yuba (tofu skin), and Japanese sake (rice wine).
