Ashikaga City, the "Small Kyoto" of Tochigi Pref., tinted with fantasy colors   Most famous spots like Bannaji Temple, Ashikaga School and Ashikaga Orihime Shrine would set up lamps, making visitors feel like they are in a dreamy and mysterious world.   The site of Ashikaga School, the oldest school of Japan, would display Flower Hand Water and Wagasa (Traditional umbrella) Light Show produced by Ashikaga Flower Park, and dreamy bamboo lanterns will be displayed in the bamboo forest on the campus.   In the National Treasure “Bannaji Temple”, the lanterns are placed on the bell tower, the main hall, and the 550-year-old ginkgo tree, so that you can enjoy the lanterns while experiencing the historical atmosphere of the temple.   Ashikaga Orihime Shrine, known as a “Sacred Place for Lovers”, would display 90 Ashikaga Meisen lamps on their staircase. The gorgeous Meissen motifs are illuminated by the colorful lights.

Ashikaga Machinaka Yuugakukan was opened in March 2003 as a facility to familiarize， enjoy， and learn about the history， culture， and nature of Ashikaga. Remodeled in 2016， the facility has a rest area and conference rooms， and provides tourist information. There are take-out shops for drinks， soups and lunch that can be enjoyed inside the building.On the second floor， visitors can try on traditional clothing made of Ashikaga Meisen silk."

The Ashikaga Museum of Art was opened in April 1994， and is a relatively new museum. t is popular as a place where you can appreciate the fine arts in Japan and develop a wide range of arts and cultural activities， as well as a place where you can enjoy the works closely of artists who was born mainly in Ryomo area. This is an urban art museum that is rare in Japan， together with a residence."

History of Bannaji Temple On the site of the present-day Bannaji Temple, a powerful samurai called Minamoto no Yoshiyasu, who was as famous as Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshitomo (the father of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune) built his castle at the end of Heian period. He is the first generation of Ashikaga family.   In 1196, Ashikaga Yoshikane, the son of Yoshiyasu, built a hall dedicated to Dainichi Nyorai, and the 3rd head of Ashikaga family, Ashikaga Yoshiuji, built a hall tower and other buildings. Since that, the Bannaji Temple bacame the clan temple of Ashikaga family. 150 years later, the 7th head of the family, Ashikaga Takauji, founded the Muromachi Shogunate, which gave the Ashikaga family the reign of Japan. Even in the Edo period, as the temple of the Ashikaga family, the direct descendant of the Minamoto clan, was revered and protected by the Tokugawa Shogun, who claimed to be a member of the Minamoto clan.   Became the National Treasure of Japan In 1923, Bannaji Temple was designated as a National Historic Site as the "Ashikaga Family Residence". The main hall, the bell tower, and the sutra hall were designated as National Important Cultural Properties. It was selected as the one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. The 40,000-square-meter territory is laid out in a square shape, surrounded by a circular fortress and a moat, and retains the characteristics of the Kamakura period's Buke Yashiki (samurai's house).   Annual Events On February 3, the temple hosts the Ashikaga Setsubun Armor Parade, in which more than 150 participants dressed as samurai and wearing armor parade to Bannaji Temple and then perform the bean-scattering ceremony. In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossoms, and in fall, you can see the leaves of the city's natural monument, the Ginkgo tree (about 600 years old), turn yellow, and the beauty of the tree is breathtaking.      

Although officially founded in 1868， the name of this venerable confectionary shop can be found in documents from the late Edo period. Its most famous offering is its Koin Monaka. These monaka (bean jam-filled wafer cakes) feature a motif inspired by the ancient official seals (Koin) of the Ashikaga Clan. Other popular items include its Koin Senbei (rice crackers)， Takauji Senbei and Takauji (Dorayaki， bean jam filled pancake) ， the latter of which was inspired by the character of the Ashikaga Takauji， the first Ashikaga shogun. Another popular item is their Monaka Gokko， which allows you to enjoy the classic flavor of monaka in a casual "make it yourself" style."