You can always find flowers throughout the year as well as paths covered with flourishing trees in Azumayama park. Also, at the peak, there is an observatory where you can enjoy a panorama of Sagami Bay while enjoying a comfortable sea breeze from Shonan. Here, you can enjoy nature and have a relaxing time.When you visit, be mindful of the time of year so you can enjoy the park’s seasonal flowers and nature -- Rape flowers from January to February, Cherry blossoms from late March through early April, Azaleas from late April to mid May, Hydrangeas from late June to early July, and Cosmos in August. In autumn, enjoy the trees’ red vibrant red leaves.An early morning stroll is a special experience, with clear air and few people.

A small natural tidal flat in the inner part of Ena Bay on the southern tip of the Miura Peninsula. It has an abundance of reeds and eelgrass, as well as waterfowl and other diverse creatures.

This historical temple, which holds numerous cultural assets, was built in 829. The main hall has held numerous cultural events. The kitchen, which is a registered tangible cultural property, can hold meetings, receptions, etc., while the temple precincts can be used to stage outdoors events.

Back in the day, the biggest difficulty for those travelling on the Tokaido road was Hakone. The place of healing for them was Hakone Ashinoyu hotspring. More than 300 years ago, in 1715, "Kinokuniya" was born in Ashinoyu. Here you can enjoy the high quality hotsprings.

Kawamura castle was in the limelight starting from the Chusei period through the Sengoku period as the residence of the Kawamura family. Starting in 1989, Kawamura castle ruins were subjected to research and development as a historical park for 6 years, and in May 1994 the "Kawamura Castle Ruins Historical Park" was born. In 1996 it became a the first mountain-castle in the prefecture to be designated as a historic site by the prefecture.

Sano, within a day’s reach from TokyoSano City is located in southwestern Tochigi Prefecture, about 70 kilometers from Tokyo. With its abundant produce and clean environment, it makes a lasting first impression on visitors. The city is also home to many historical sites, telling the long history of Sano’s development. When speaking of Sano’s cuisine, many immediately think of the rich soy-sauce-based Sano ramen. Made with clear water and carefully crafted wheat, this local specialty has become synonymous with the city’s gourmet culture. After enjoying Sano’s culinary delights, be sure to stop by the Sano City Tourist Product Center to take home a taste of Sano! Tourist product center – A comprehensive sightseeing hubInside the Sano City Tourist Product Center, you’ll find more than 800 varieties of souvenirs and specialty products, along with fresh vegetables sold directly from local farms. There is also a wealth of sightseeing information available, making it a convenient starting point for your Sano exploration.    

This is the site of Motegi Castle during the Kamakura Period, and today it is a park that is the symbol of Motegi Town. From the small hill overlooking the center of town, you can see Sakasa River and the steam locomotives running behind the smoke. In spring, various types of cherry blossoms bloom one after another, allowing you to enjoy flower viewing for about a month. In autumn (mid-September to early October), the entire southern slope of Shiroyama Park is dyed bright red with approximately 550,000 red spider lilies, a delight to visitors. It is rare to see a cluster of red spider lilies growing on a slope, and many photographers gather here as they can take photos from a different angle than on the flat land.

This dedicated hall for prayer was constructed in 1998 to fulfill the wishes of many worshippers, making it the foremost Goma prayer hall in Nikko. In this esoteric Buddhist ritual, your prayers are conveyed to the Buddha through sacred fire. Goma prayers are performed daily and are open to all. They offer various benefits such as domestic tranquility, physical health, and prosperity in business. In the inner sanctuary of the Great Goma Hall, the principal image is the "Five Great Kings", surrounded by 30 statues of Buddhas and ancestral masters, including the "Seven Lucky Gods" and the "Twelve Heavenly Generals." Additionally, on the ceiling, you can find a magnificent painting of a "Great Ascending Dragon" that took two and a half years to complete. Why not make a wish and participate in this sacred ritual as a memorable part of your journey?

Gioia Mia is an Italian restaurant based in Nasu that prepares all dishes with hand-picked ingredients. The menu features dishes including appetizers, pasta soup, crispy crust (Roman style) pizza baked in a wood-fired oven, bread, meat dishes, fish dishes, and desserts. All dishes are completely handmade so that guests can enjoy the flavor of the ingredients. Come and enjoy the taste of Gioia Mia in items like seasonal dishes and those using locally produced milk and cheese.

Myogetsubo is a grill & steak restaurant. Its building has been renovated from a former lodging house of Nikkozan Rinno-ji Temple, a temple with over 1,250 years of history. Our recommended dish is the authentic Tochigi Wagyu steak. Tochigi Wagyu is one of the top beef brands in Japan. It is a Japanese Black breed rated A4 or higher and is produced in Tochigi Prefecture with a natural environment ideal for cattle raising. Having received the Award of Excellence at the national fair for two consecutive years, Tochigi Wagyu is one of the most recognized wagyu brands in Japan. In an exquisite environment surrounded by world heritage sites, please come and try Tochigi Wagyu and indulge yourself in the slow flow of time while thinking of the distant past.

The Pottery Fair have been held twice a year since 1966.Once in the spring during Japan’s Golden Week Holiday, and once in the fall around November 3rd. There are about 50 shops and as many as 550 tents set up selling pottery. There is a great variety of pottery sold from traditional Mashiko pottery, such as vases and pots to articles for daily use like cups and plates. The Pottery Fair provides a great chance to enjoy talking with young artists and local potters in the shops and tents. Besides pottery, freshly-harvested vegetables grown in Mashiko and some other speciality items from the region are big attractions of the fair. Every year about 600,000 people come to enjoy the fair.

Developed since the19th century for its fine quality and proximity to the big market Tokyo， Masiko-yaki pottery has long been liked for its daily use items such as pots， water jars and teapots. There are nearly 260 kilns， 50 shops and potters of youth and experience who create works of great variety. Pottery markets held in spring and autumn attract hundreds of thousands of Mashiko-yaki lovers. Even beginners can join workshops to learn how to decorate， hand-form or use a potter’s wheel， and enjoy authentic ceramic art.

Originally flourished as a post station in the 17th century， Tochigi city later developed into a merchant city on the banks of the Uzuma River. The river was an important trade route to and from Edo (Tokyo). The black merchant houses and white-walled storehouses can still be seen along the Uzuma River and on Kura-no-Machi Oh-dori (the main street). Go for a stroll and feel the classical atmosphere!

This park is famous for its beautiful view of the Tateishi coastline, where Mt. Fuji can also be seen in the distance. This scenery was captured by the famous Edo period artist Ando Hiroshige. Today, visitors enjoy walking along the shore, and admiring the view from the park.

The house that was created in the Edo period remains as it is and there are many materials such as agricultural tools that help us understand the life of the rural people back then. Free tours are available and various events are held such as the Bamboo Lantern Festival in September. It is the first cultural asset that was registered in Yokohama City.

Every year, about 5,000 people come to the Bon Odori in early August to remember and give thanks to their ancestors. In addition to a Bon Odori dance on the temple grounds, there is a Bon Odori parade by dance teachers from Honmonji-dori shopping street to the main temple gate in the evening.

Overview of the Furukawa Ashio History Museum Ashio Copper Mine is one of the most important copper-producing sites in Japanese history. Discovered during the Sengoku period (1550), it was later mined under the direct control of the Edo shogunate. It once served as an essential source of material for Kan’ei Tsūhō, the currency of the time. As output later declined, the mine was taken over by the Furukawa family during the Meiji period. Due to advances in technology, new ore veins were found, and under the then national policy of enriching the country and strengthening the military, the mine prospered, making the Furukawa family magnates of the mining industry.   The Furukawa Ashio History Museum tells the stirring story of that industrial dawn. In addition to models of the Ashio Mining Office and stories of successive managers, it also exhibits the various tools used by miners in those days, recounting the history of the Ashio area.

Commonly, shakyo and shabutsu involve copying of the whole sutra or the whole image of the Buddha, but at Chuzenji Temple, we have prepared sheets of a sutra and an image that you can finish tracing within 15 to 20 minutes. In 16-character shakyo, you will trace a part of the Kannon Gyo sutra, written in light gray, with a brush pen. In shabutsu, you will trace the central area of the image of the Buddha, drawn in light gray, with a brush pen. In both practices, you will receive blessings by having your mind connected with the Buddha, feel relaxed both mentally and physically, and have the time to familiarize yourself with the Buddha and reflect on yourself. Time thus spent will be a priceless experience for you. After shakyo and shabutsu, you will be given a special red stamp as proof of paying respect to the temple and submitting the sutra/image. ※You can borrow a brush pen from the temple.