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Watanabe Sahei Shoten “Sake Brewery Tour”

Watanabe Sahei Shoten “Sake Brewery Tour”

Watanabe Sahei Shoten is a family run brewery from 1842in Nikko. Their spirit that “Junmai Jyozosyu" is an authentic sake”. *”Junmai” is sake made only with rice, koji , and water *”Koji” is fungus which converts the starch from the rice into glucose Of course, we use Nikko’s natural grand water to make nice sake in Nikko’s very cold winter. Why don’t you try it? The owner can speak English. You can tour around with owner and hear his sprit of sake directly. *English guided tour / max 40 person *Reservation required (by Phone, E-mail, Online)

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British Embassy Villa Memorial Park

British Embassy Villa Memorial Park

After 120 years, the former British Embassy Villa opened its doors to the public as the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park on 1 July 2016. Ernest Satow, a British diplomat who contributed to Japan’s Meiji Restoration, built a private villa at the south bank of Lake Chuzenji in 1896. He loved Oku-Nikko, especially Lake Chuzenji as the area reminded him of the natural landscape of his home country. The villa was used as the British Embassy summer residence until 2008 before being donated to Tochigi prefecture in 2010 to be opened to the general public. In the early years of the villa, Satow’s friend Isabella Bird stayed here for a month and wrote of the impressive landscape of the villa. The British Embassy Villa Memorial Park presents exhibitions on British culture and the history of Oku-Nikko as an international summer resort. Visitors can immerse themselves in this historic setting while enjoying teatime in the villa (additional charges apply) and take in the picturesque view of Lake Chuzenji from the spacious veranda on the upper floor.

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Michi-no-Eki Nikko Kaido Nikoniko Honjin

Michi-no-Eki Nikko Kaido Nikoniko Honjin

The roadside station “Michi-no-Eki Nikko Kaido Nikoniko Honjin” held a grand opening to the public on 27 April 2015. It is located at the junction of three highways known as the Nikko Cedar Avenue (Nikko-Kaido, Aizunishi-Kaido and Reiheishi-Kaido), in the city centre of Nikko. The roadside station is a hub for tourism and transportation that leads visitors to sights such as the UNESCO World Heritage “Shrines and Temples of Nikko” and one of Japan’s most popular hot spring towns, “Kinugawa and Kawaji Onsen”. Nikko’s official “Michi-no-Eki” is home to a commemorative museum to the famous local composer Toru Funamura as well as restaurants and shops offering original local products, locally produced vegetable and fruits. A wide range of events take place in the performance hall and open space throughout the year.

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Shimazaki Sake Brewery

Shimazaki Sake Brewery

Established in 1849, Shimazaki Sake Brewery is open for tours of the brewery and the history of the brewing process (prior bookings required). Along with a selection of local Sake, you can purchase other liqueurs made from Yuzu, strawberries or Ume plums and Sake ice cream made with Ginjo-shu. The “Sakagura Festival” held at the brewery in March offers sake-tasting, quizzes, prize draws and sales of limited edition Sake bottles.

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Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park

Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park

From the mid Meiji to the early Showa periods, the area around Lake Chuzenji was home to foreign embassies and villas and flourished as summer resorts. The villa was built as a summer house for the Italian ambassador in 1928 and used by successive ambassadors until 1997. Along with the main building reconstructed with the original floor, fittings and furniture, the cottage is now open to the public as a history museum of the local international summer resorts. In addition to the buildings, the park pleases the eye with a lovely view of Lake Chuzenji.   The villa was designed by Czech architect Antonin Raymond (1888-1976). Raymond moved to the United States when he was 22 years old where he took up architecture. His first visit to Japan was during the New Year’s period in 1919-20 to work on the project of the Imperial Hotel with his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright. Raymond was advised by local craftsmen on traditional architectural materials. He made a good use of the local Nikko cedar on the walls and his chequered design creates a beautifully modern exterior to the two-storey wooden villa. The whole ceiling of the ground floor was made with cedar bark by wickerwork, a popular technique in the traditional Japanese Sukiya style of architecture. The space of the living room and study is skilfully divided by wickerwork patterns.

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Michi-no-Eki Yunishigawa

Michi-no-Eki Yunishigawa

Michi-no-Eki Yunishigawa is a roadside station located in the north of Nikko, about 300 metres from the former Aizu-nishi highway (Route 121). It offers natural hot springs and a stone sauna, and local delicacies such as smoked salamander, strawberry buns and Bandai-mochi rice cake (not available in winter). The cafeteria serves uniquely dam-shaped rice and curry as well as locally produced soba noodles. Look out for Kurippa here, a local mascot based on a folk tale of the mythological creature Kappa. Accommodation can be arranged at the information desk. The car park has rapid charging points for electric vehicles. Located 600 metres above sea level, the location offers fine views of the natural surroundings. Enjoy the seasonal beauty of verdant greens, autumn leaves and snowy winter scenes.

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Sessho-seki (Killing Stone)

Sessho-seki (Killing Stone)

Sessho-seki is a huge lava rock on the slope of Mount Nasu near Nasu Yumoto Onsen. According to literature from the Muromachi period (室町時代) (1336-1573), a fox with nine tails disguised itself as a beautiful woman and tried to kill the Emperor Toba. After fleeing to Nasu, the demon vixen was vanquished and turned into a stone. The stone was named "Sessho-seki " (Killing Stone) because many creatures died from the poisonous air it emitted.This place has been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

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Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Motegi

Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Motegi

The hotel is located in Motegi, a small town rich in nature. It is surrounded by forest and does not receive city lights, so at night the sky is filled with stars. At the neighboring roadside station Motegi, they sell Yuzu Shio Ramen, which won the Grand Prix at Japan's roadside station gourmet competition, as well as freshly baked Baumkuchen. Also nearby is Mobility Resort Motegi, which offers a wide range of activities such as motorsports and athletics, making it the perfect base for car enthusiasts and families.

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Shiroyama Park in Motegi

Shiroyama Park in Motegi

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.

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Kaneda Orchard

Kaneda Orchard

Kaneda Orchard uses electrolyzed water, organic fertilizers, and reduced agrochemicals to grow pears. It offers fully ripe pears grown through a carefully designed cultivation method. Besides opening the orchard for pear picking and selling pears, it also sells a wide variety of processed pear products including pear jelly, pear juice Haga Isshou, Shiawase wo Yobu Kosui Nashi no Cider, and Nikkori Nashi no Cider. The recommended juice preparation is equal parts pear juice and carbonated water. It tastes good with ice, too. It is also delicious when frozen and eaten as sorbet. Come and enjoy yourself at Kaneda Orchard.

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Rossa Berry

Rossa Berry

Rossa Berry is a tourist farm that offers strawberry-picking. It is located by National Route 293, halfway between the Oya area, which has been registered as a Japan Heritage Site, and the famous roadside station Romantic Village. It grows Tochigi strawberry breeds such as Tochi-Aika and has a shop and a café. The shop sells strawberries from the farm and their original processed products. After having fun picking strawberries, enjoy gelato and smoothies in the shop’s café space. At Rossa Berry, the strawberry-picking season runs from the end of December to early June the following year. Please come and experience picking beautiful jewelry-like strawberries that have ripened in abundance throughout the greenhouse.

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Hotel Mashikokan

Hotel Mashikokan

Mashikokan Satoyama Resort Hotel is a homey onsen hotel in a forest. If you open the window of the guest room, a fresh breeze and the sound of the forest gently enter the room. If you turn off the light at night and look up at the sky, the large moon and the starry sky softly light up the room. Meals are prepared with ingredients carefully grown by producers and thoroughly crafted to bring out their natural flavors. They will be cooked and served with love so that you can feel the four seasons of satoyama. Baths are filled with the skin-beautifying hot spring water from the satoyama. In both the spacious indoor bath and open-air bath, featuring a waterfall that the hotel proudly presents, you can enjoy the finest healing time while feeling the nature of satoyama. These baths are also available to non-staying guests. Please visit the hotel as the base of your fun activities in satoyama and enjoy a slow, relaxing time.

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Daigomado, Hall for the Goma Fire Ritual (Nikko-zan Rinno-ji Temple)

Daigomado, Hall for the Goma Fire Ritual (Nikko-zan Rinno-ji Temple)

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?

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Nikko Senhime Monogatari

Nikko Senhime Monogatari

At Nikko Senhime Monogatari, you can enjoy the view of Nikko’s nature from the guest rooms. The view is spectacular: mountains turn light green in spring, cool breezes sweep across the river in summer, an explosion of yellow and red creates a beautiful mountain view in fall, and the view of the mountains and river as if covered by a snow-white wedding dress brings you peace of mind in winter. Guest rooms are designed with a taste of traditional Japanese beauty. There are Japanese-style twin rooms with a bath that is half open-air and half indoor, from which you can enjoy a view that changes with the season. (Baths in guest rooms are not hot spring baths). The communal baths use Nikko hot spring water from this area. Nikko hot spring water is clear, alkaline, and gentle on the skin, alleviates stiff shoulders and nerve pain, and beautifies skin. It is the perfect hot spring to heal the body after a day of enjoying walking around Nikko. 【About the hot spring】 Water color: clear Spring water type: simple alkaline spring water Efficacy: alleviates stiff shoulders, nerve pain, sprains, sore muscles, sleeplessness, etc.

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NASU COUNTRY CLUB

NASU COUNTRY CLUB

Nasu Country Club opened in 1966. It is characterized by undulating greens that require strategic play. The course includes a wide variety of features including moderate ups and downs, dogleg holes, and uphill holes. These features make the course perfect for you to have fun casually with your friends. The fairways are wide, and the course maintenance quality has a high reputation. The wood-framed restaurant hall with a fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere where you can spend time feeling nice and warm. The menu changes each season, and there are also dishes offered only in a specific season. You can look forward to a wide variety of food here. The golf course facilities include a glamping site where you can enjoy the magnificent nature of Nasu. Through the large window of a dome tent, you can see the fresh green of spring or autumn leaves. At night, you can see the starry sky and beautiful landscape. Sign up for both golfing and glamping to indulge yourself in a slow and relaxing time! The country club also has a lodge where visitors can stay at a reasonable price (20 rooms).

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