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Nasu Yuzen Shrine

Nasu Yuzen Shrine

History of Nasu Yuzen Shrine It is said that a hunter named Kano found onsen here when he was trying to hunt a white deer. He built this shrine for thanksgiving. According to an article written in Nara period (A.D 710~794), we can confirm that the shrine already existed during that time.   During the Genpei War in 12th century, an archer called Nasu Yoichi came here to pray for victory over Taira family’s army. He shot down a fan by one arrow that enemy put on the front of their boat when he stood on the ground. It made him became legend and the shrine became very famous for blessing Yoichi. Yoichi donated his bow and arrow to the shrine, which became shrine’s tressure later.   Shrine’s famous festival The most important event of the shrine is the “Dai Festival”, which is held on October 8 and 9 every year. They dedicate onsen to the God, and perform a traditional dance called “Urayasu Dance”.   Then on October 9, people perform another traditional dance called “Ozawa’s Lion Dance,” which is designated as the “Intangible Cultural Property of Nasu Machi” to pray for prosperity.   There is also a famous festival be held on the last weekend of May, the “Nasu Seshosseki Gojinka Festival”. The highlight of the festival is a parade from Yuzen Shrine to Sesshoseki by participants attired in white clothing with torches.

Nikko kaido Oshu kaido TOCHIGI
Roadside Station Domannaka Tanuma

Roadside Station Domannaka Tanuma

“Domannaka” means “the center,” and the name Domannaka Tanuma comes from the fact that it is located roughly at the center of Japan. In the farmer’s market, fresh vegetables from local producers fill the shelf every morning. You can buy vegetables that are fresh, safe, and reliable. The rice shop offers carefully selected rice such as Koshihikari. There are also an authentic Chinese restaurant and a self-service Japanese and Western food restaurant. The self-service restaurant has a rich lineup of menu items including Sano Ramen noodles and deep-fried potatoes, which are both local foods of Sano City, and Yamizo soba made with water from the Yamizo Mountains in Tochigi Prefecture. Both restaurants are spacious and have over 100 seats so that you can relax and enjoy your meal. There are also shops offering a wide variety of sweets: a gelato stand offering products made with the blessings of nature, a pancake café featuring original pancakes, and a fruit sandwich stand. You can also buy custard pudding to take home with you. On the premises, there is a foot bath filled with onsen water that leaves your skin silky smooth and massage chairs that make you feel you are receiving a massage in zero gravity.

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Tonoike Shuzo

Tonoike Shuzo

This brewery produces an array of choice sake and received a gold medal at the Annual Japan Sake Awards for its Sanran-daiginjo brew. Their facility tour is popular with tourists, where the brewer explains its history in detail. Come learn about the tradition and techniques of sake production. A gift shop on the grounds sells choice brews and cosmetics made with sake. Enjoy coffee brewed with the same water used for the sake, sweets with sake lees, a sake tasting set, and more at their café."

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Tachiki Kannon,Nikkosan Chuzenji Temple

Tachiki Kannon,Nikkosan Chuzenji Temple

This branch temple of Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple was founded in 784 by Shodo, the first head priest of Nikko. The wooden statue for which it’s named—which represents Kannon, the thousand-armed goddess of mercy—is said to have been carved by Shodo himself. The temple is also home to several historically significant Buddha statues. It is also the 18th stop on the 33 Kannon Temple Bando Pilgrimage route, so many pilgrims visit to see it."

Nikko kaido Oshu kaido TOCHIGI
Yugawara Plum Grove “Banquet of Ume (Plums)”

Yugawara Plum Grove “Banquet of Ume (Plums)”

This event is held every year from early February to mid-March in the Yugawara Plum Grove (Makuyama Park). On the foot slope of "Makuyama" where magnificent natural scenery can be seen throughout the four seasons, approximately 4,000 red and white plum trees bloom like a carpet of plum blossoms, and fill the park with the fragrance of plum blossoms, allowing you to enjoy a "plum blossom banquet".Mt. Makuyama has roughly 4,000 plum trees that bloom red and white. The park holds its Umenoen event, a plum blossom festival when the flowers reach their peak. The plum grove is lit up at night, offering a completely different scene from the day.

Nature & Views Tokaido Koshu kaido KANAGAWA
Moka Summer Festival “Kojin Festival”

Moka Summer Festival “Kojin Festival”

The "Moka Summer Festival," the largest event in Moka City, will be held for three days on late July. More than 20 portable shrines and floats gather together at the festival square, where you can feel the enthusiasm of the festival goers.   On the first day of the festival, "Degyo-matsuri," or the "departure from the shrine," is held at Omae Shrine.Many festival-goers participate in the Degyo-matsuri to pray for the safety of the procession of portable shrines and stalls, a good harvest, the eradication of disease, and the development of industry. After the Degyo-Dashi, "Machiawase" is held, in which the portable shrines are carried across each town council, and the head mikoshi parades through the city.   On the second day, "Festival Plaza" will be held and the city center will become a pedestrian zone. approximately 20,000 fireworks will color the night sky, and "Mikoshi Kawatogo (carried mikoshi to cross the river)" would be held on Gogyo River.

Nikko kaido Oshu kaido TOCHIGI
Mt. Berry Oku-Nikko

Mt. Berry Oku-Nikko

Having a cool average temperature from summer to fall, Oku-nikko and Senjogahara have the perfect environment for growing sweet and tasty strawberries. Mt. Berry Oku-Nikko grows special strawberries using the blessing of grand nature, taking advantage of the climate, water, and soil, and carefully selected fertilizers. From July to October, they open their field for ‘Tenku no Kogen Ichigo’ picking. It’s an all-you-can-eat (although depending on the harvest situation) strawberry picking program featuring three breeds of strawberries: Natsuotome, the breed cultivated only in Tochigi Prefecture, Yotsuboshi, and Pechika Honoka, which made its debut in 2024. Taste the difference among Natsuotome having a good balance of sweetness and acidity, Yotsuboshi with strong sweetness and aroma, and Pechika Honoka boasting its top-class sweetness among all summer-fall strawberries. Since you need a reservation and they accept only a small number of people at a time, you can enjoy picking strawberries in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Auto Camp Nakagawa Station

Auto Camp Nakagawa Station

Auto-Camp Nakagawa Station is a drive-up camp ground where you can see the blue waters of the Naka River, the Kanto region's greatest, flowing right before your eyes. It's a great location to watch the river's flow reverse and is also an optimal base camp for mountain biking, hiking and river recreation such as canoeing and kayaking.There canoe and kayak rides and rentals, as well as a school where you can challenge yourself at a pace that suits you. In addition to camping in tents, campers can also stay in air-conditioned bungalows and lodges with AC power (outlets are for charging cell phones only) or in teepee tents (Native American tents) equipped with sunken fireplaces."

Nikko kaido Oshu kaido TOCHIGI