Daisei Gama, established in 1861, is a leading pottery studio in the pottery town of Mashiko. Its shop, a renovated traditional Japanese house, showcases a wide variety of pottery ranging from standard products to basic products with a few additional touches to the design, clay, and taste. Daisei Gama has been using a climbing kiln for generations since its establishment. Among climbing kilns operated by many pottery studios in Mashiko, it is the largest one. Daisei Gama uses Japanese red pine as fuel and traditional glaze that has long been used in Mashiko such as persimmon glaze as well as rice-bran white glaze, black glaze, amber glaze, and celadon glaze. Currently at Daisei Gama, the sixth-generation family head Kuninori Otsuka and the seventh-generation family head Seiichi Otsuka, together with craftworkers, are creating traditional, simple Mashiko pottery with a glimpse of strength and warmth inside. Visitors can view the climbing kiln. There is also a gallery in a separate building.

The Lakehouse the restaurant offers you a garden gastronomy experience with seasonal local vegetables. Starring unique vegetables grown in the great nature of Tochigi Prefecture, dishes are prepared with carefully selected cooking methods using many herbs and spices. Here, you can enjoy multi-course meals for you to savor the flavor of the ingredients. Décor in the dining hall including sketches and pressed flowers of animals and plants found at Lake Chuzenji as well as lighting and artworks inspired by fishing will enhance your lakeside dining experience. The restaurant also has the takeout menu “Grab & Go,” including sandwiches with a lot of seasonal local vegetables, smoothies, cookies, coffee and other drinks. Please drop by and grab some for a picnic or a walk around the area.

Chuzenji Temple was established by Shodo Shonin in Nikko-zan in 784. Enshrining Nikko’s oldest Buddha statue, which is six-meters tall and was carved in a standing Japanese judas tree, the temple is a prayer temple (where visitors pray to the Buddha). Juzu, or prayer beads on a string, is one of the ritual items that people use to count how many times they have read a sutra or recited Buddha’s name. According to Siddhartha Gautama, praying to the Buddha repeatedly will remove earthly desires from people and make them happy. Those who visit to pay respect to the temple can join the prayer beads craft workshop. They can choose beads of their taste, made of natural stone and/or natural wood, with a wish in their minds to create a bracelet-shaped juzu. Their juzu becomes nenju when monks offer a prayer at the gomadan (fire ritual platform), and they can take it home as a wearable lucky charm.

Steak House Jyuraku serves Tochigi Wagyu. Tochigi Wagyu is a Japanese Black breed carefully raised in the grand nature of Tochigi. It is brand beef that has received the Award of Excellence many times at the national Wagyu fair in Japan. The steak house purchases Tochigi Wagyu directly from its producers and thus has full confidence in the meat quality. You will never forget the fine and delicate meat texture and its aromatic fat once you try it. Jyuraku’s recommendation is A5 Tochigi Wagyu steak. The Sirloin has beautiful marbling, a rich taste, and a texture that melts in your month. The Fillet is red meat that is very tender and moist. Please come and try the Wagyu steak that Jyuraku proudly presents.

Each year from around late September through until middle-October, cosmos flowers bloom in a space of 5 hectares at the Nabatame Cosmos Field in Mashiko Town. The cosmos here come in a variety of colors including orange, pink, purple, and white. And you can pick some flowers from the fields and take them home too.

Kanuma's native species of brown buckwheat has characteristically small seeds with a relatively thick, aroma-rich hull. Grown to full ripeness in Kanuma’s large, rainy forests, it has a profound flavor. Kanuma soba is prepared using locally-sourced water and buckwheat flour, giving it a unique sweetness and aroma that are popular among its fans. Soba is a staple food in Kanuma, and nira soba was born out of the local tradition of using nira (garlic chives) to both add volume to and spice up their soba.

Ashikaga local gift shop / tourist information center welcomes you with a warm heart of Japanese hospitality “Omotenashi”. Best place to start your discoveries during your stay here. ■Tourist Information Tourist Information of Ashikaga is provided here ■Gifts Local Gifts and Ashikaga Brand products offered here ■Rest Area Coffee and other beverages are sold here. Good for a short break time ■Bicycle Rental Availability: 18 Bikes（11 of them are assisted with motor） Available Time：AM9:00 to PM4:00 Return：Must return by PM5:00 Price： Conventional Bike　400 yen for the first 3 hours（100yen for every additional hour） One Day use　800yen Motor Assist Bike　600yen for the first 3 hours（200yen for every additional hour） One Day use 1200yen ※Must show one piece of government issue ID before rental ※Reservation not accepted"

This Shinto Ritual is held in June 1st every year in Sengen Mountain (“Otoko Sengen” and ”Onna Sengen”). It is said that if you bring a baby born during last 1 year and pay visit to the shrine on this mountain and red stamp is put on the baby’s forehead, the baby will grow up in good health without illness. This Shinto ritual has begun more than 400 years ago and has been designated as an important cultual prpperty of Ashikaga City. Boy visit Otoko Sengen (Higher Mountain) and Girl visit Onna Sengen (Lower Mountain) If you can not pay visit to the shrine due to illness, etc., red seal will be stamp on the baby’s underwear.

Lake Chuzenji is located in the area leading into Okunikko. It has a circumference of 25 km and the water reaches a depth of 163 m. It is said that lava from the eruption of Mount Nantai 20,000 years ago blocked the valley to create the initial form of the lake. Because of the spectacular view in each season, the lakeside area used to be a popular summer retreat for foreigners. That areas still features the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park and British Embassy Villa Memorial Park. The pleasure boat of the Tobu Chuzenjiko Cruise sails through the beautiful scenery and near these tourist destinations. In fall, you can see mountains covered in explosions of red, orange, and yellow from the lake. It is truly a picturesque view. The tour takes about 55 minutes in total, but there are tickets available for visitors to get on/off along the course.

The Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art features works by the late Mr. Shoji Hamada， who was a designated Living National Treasure， as well as works by other ceramists associated with the town of Mashiko. On the same site， there are also the Sasajima Kihei Hall， which has permanent exhibitions of works by the printmaker Kihei Sasajima， who studied under Shiko Munakata， and the Mashiko Arts & Crafts Residence， which hosts artists-in-residence from all over the world as part of an international exchange program. Shoji Hamada's House， which has been designated as a Cultural Property by the town of Mashiko， includes a reconstruction of the climbing kiln that Mr. Hamada used. You can also pick a cup you like and enjoy tea or coffee at salon located on the premises of the museum. There is also a museum shop in the salon where you can buy Mashiko pottery and more."

This ranch is located in Toyoharaotsu， Nasu Town. Their cow’s milk comes from jersey cows， rare in Japan， and the milk is pasteurized after being squeezed and processed in a way that keeps the fat globules from shrinking and preserves the natural non-homogenized taste. They sell milk， ice cream， “squeezable yogurt” in a tube， and other processed goods， and the cafe offers drinks and sweets made with the milk they produce and lunch sets that use locally grown vegetables and other options."

Nasu is known as the largest volcanic zone in Japan. Several large eruptions in the past have claimed many victims here. The villagers in the neighboring area started to cleanse themselves to appease the anger of the mountain, visit Nasu Yuzen Shrine, light the fire of the Avici hell and worship this as gojinka (sacred fire). This then became established as an event to pray for a bumper harvest and sound health before long.   The Gojinka Festival features a parade from Nasu Yuzen Shrine to Sesshoseki by participants attired in white clothing with torches. A large torch (gojinka) is then lit to create a fantastic atmosphere.   While the gojinka burns, the folk entertainment of hakumen konmo kyubikitusne drums is presented at Sesshoseki - the site of the legend of kyubinokitusne (nine-tailed fox). The general public can also participate in the torch parade which involves a walk through the dark.

Torinoko Sansho Shrine consists of a main hall, a worship hall, a tower gate, a Torii gate (at the prefectural border of Tochigi and Ibaraki) and the main shrine. The shrine is known for its lucky owl, a messenger from the god who brings good luck. The temple complex contains the nation’s largest statue of an owl, an owl post, an owl bell and an owl statue on which visitors pour water to wash their troubles away. Other notable sites include a miraculous turtle well that has never dried up and the building known as Gochiin where famous feudal lord Mitsukuni Tokugawa once stayed.

Climbing Mt. Nantai, a Sacred Site in Nikko The Tohai Kosha Taisai is the largest festival of Futarasan Jinja Shrine Chugushi, and has been held continuously for over 1,200 years since the late Nara period. Deeply rooted in the worship of Mt. Nantai, the festival takes place annually from July 31 to August 7. During this period, many visitors climb Mt. Nantai to pay their respects. In addition, pilgrims can climb Mt. Nantai at night during the festival. This allows climbers to reach the summit and witness the sunrise. At the shrine office, participants can receive items such as amulets, climbing certificates, sacred water, and coffee. Every year, around 2,000 climbers gather at night for this event. Before dawn, they set out, reaching the summit at around 4:40 a.m. to witness the rising sun. The sight of the glowing sun emerging from behind the sea of clouds is a truly awe-inspiring spectacle. The festival continues with rituals and ceremonies at the mountaintop.

From Confections to Crafts, the Best Selection of Tochigi’s Local Goods All in One PlaceThe Tochibiyori Store is a local specialty shop directly managed by the Tochigi Prefecture Tourism and Local Products Association. It is located on the 2nd floor of the JR Utsunomiya Station building, PASEO, within Tochigi Grand Marché. Conveniently situated right by the station, it is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs and gifts before heading off. The store offers a wide range of Tochigi’s signature products, such as confectioneries made with fresh local fruits, including Tochigi strawberries, as well as yokan (sweet bean jelly), Nikko yuba (tofu skin), local sake, pickled vegetables, and more. Visitors can also find Mashiko ware pottery and other traditional crafts. Limited edition goods and popular local snacks are also available, making it easy to take home the “taste of Tochigi.”

Located at the foot of Mt. Chausu at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Omaru Onsen Ryokan has been preserved by generations of innkeepers for over 200 years. Rich in metasilicic acid, the spring water is known for its moisturizing properties and is often called “Bijin-yu” (Beauty Hot Spring). The historic Kawa-no-Yu bath draws its water directly from the river source, where hot spring water gushes from the mountainside to form an open-air bath along the river. Here, guests can soak while listening to the gentle murmur of the stream, enjoying the secluded charm of this hidden onsen. Omaru Onsen’s water, abundant in metasilicic acid, has long been treasured for its skin-beautifying effects. The ryokan features mixed open-air baths such as Shirakaba-no-Yu, Ajisai-no-Yu, and Azami-no-Yu, making it a great choice for families. The on-site restaurant serves local Nasu vegetables, Tochigi Wagyu beef shabu-shabu, and “Nasuhikari” rice produced in Tochigi. Sake enthusiasts can also try shochu diluted with hot spring water. During the Meiji period, General Nogi Maresuke visited Omaru Onsen every year for convalescence. The ryokan’s lobby still displays valuable artifacts, including his clothing, diaries, and letters.

This steakhouse is located in the Nasu Highlands, which spread out at the foot of the magnificent Nasu Mountains. We pursue the true flavor and deliciousness of beef and serve steaks that have been aged to perfection. We welcome you with safe, healthy, and body-friendly dishes. Please enjoy our steaks, which are cooked with care.