What started as an oil shop during the first year of the Edo Tenmei era in 1781 became a specialty miso-making company by the end of the Edo period. Please try our special Miso Dengaku or try our miso to make your own traditionally-seasoned dishes.

Try your hand at hand building and wheel-throwing with guidance in English. Lessons are offered to one group at a time, ensuring the ultimate private pottery experience.（Please make reservations via our website)

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.

The Venus of Gyoza is located on the pedway of Utsunomiya Station.Made from the locally produced green tuff known as Oya stone."

About a kilometer from Futarasan-jinja Shrine stands Takinoo-jinja Shrine， standing quietly amid the cedar trees. The atmospheric Takinoo-jinja is a popular place to pray for a successful marriage， pregnancy or birth， but people also come in search of more general luck. According to the legend， if you throw a coin through the small hole atop the torii gate at the entrance， you’ll be blessed with good fortune—but you only get three tries， so aim carefully."

Kegon falls, one of the 3 great waterfalls in Japan, lights up in the evening. Let’s enjoy the rich and plentiful nature, and the magnificent lit up Kegon falls. *This illumination event can be canceled when bad weather is expected, or ill effects on wild animals are concerned. *When it is crowded，please be kind to other people :) *Using tripod is prohibited. *Please bring foot light for dark path walking.

The Shirasagi Shrine enshrines Yamato Takeru， the son of the Emperor Keiko the 12th emperor of Japan who was enshrined in 783.During those ancient days， Yamato Takeru carried the sword Kusanagi and travelled throughout Japan， leading the country to peace. Legend says that as a result， his soul turned into a swan and he continues to protect peace still.The shrine is also home to Japan's largest votive picture at a width of 8m and a height of 4m， which is known a votive picture which grants wishes and bestows happiness."

Shinmeigu Shrine is said to have been built in Kanda-shuku (Present day Kandacho) within Tochigi Castle in 1403. It was relocated to its current location in 1589 by Minagawa Hiroteru and became the guardian of Tochigi town. The name "Tochigi" is said to come from the name of the straw (chigi) used in the roof of the Shinmeigu Shrine."

This local specialty shop is located in the Tochigi Honcho Godo Building. The shop carries a wide selection of specialty products， traditional crafts， and local liquors from Tochigi Prefecture. The shop also provides tourist information."

This pool in Moka City， Tochigi Prefecture， is called the Ichimannin Pool because it's so large that 10,000 people (Ichimannin in Japanese) can swim in it. There are seven different types of pools to play in including a 400-meter lazy river， 200 and 150-meter water slides， and a wave pool. The pool is open every day from mid-July to late August. "

This strawberry farm is operated by a company created through a collaboration between Kanuma City and JA. At the farm, you can enjoy picking Tochigi's representative strawberry varieties, Tochiotome and Tochi-Aika. Reservations are required for strawberry picking, and you can eat as much as you want for 45 minutes. The greenhouses are barrier-free and equipped with toilets, so anyone can pick strawberries in safety. The shop also sells Tochihime, a strawberry that has been dubbed a phantom variety because of its soft flesh and rare availability, as well as the luxury variety Skyberry.

This specialty ham shop is located along Prefectural Route 266 in Yumoto， Nasu Town. Visitors can sample “curved franks” to roast ham， franks with bones， salami， and other hand-made types of ham products， and the staff give advice about the best way to enjoy the foods as well to assist them in their purchases. There’s also an adjoining café that offers ham sets and sandwiches made with ham."

This museum displays artefacts excavated from the adjoining sites such as the National Historic Site-designated Shimotsuke Kokubun-ji Temple Remains and Amadera Ruins， and the Tochigi Prefecture Historic Site-designated Maruzuka Kofun and Atagozuka Kofun. The artefacts on display range from the Kofun period to the Nara period. Many ancient burial mounds， temple and provincial office ruins， and other sites connected to the prefecture's history and culture can be found in the area around the museum. The museum presents the history of Shimotsuke City from a variety of viewpoints， including government administration and the lives of everyday people in the distant past， the relationship between the region and more central areas of Japan， and the development of civil engineering and construction technologies."

Birth of Suga Shrine Suga Shrine was built by a legendary samurai Fujiwara no Hidesato, who prayed to Susanoo-no-Mikoto for victory over his enemies. To thank God for their bless, he brought the God from Gion Shrine (Yasaka Shrine) to Oyama and built the shrine.   The site of the legendary “Oyama Council”, witnessed the birth of the Tokugawa hegemony. It is said that before the Battle of Sekigahara in A.D 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu held the famous “Oyama Council” at Suga Shrine and prayed for the victory of the battle.   After Ieyasu’s victory and the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, Suga Shrine was greatly honored by the Shogunate. In 1658, staff members who had participated in the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, created a miniature version of the Akamikoshi in Toshogu Shrine, which became the pressure of Suga Shrine.   Today Suga Shrine’s Akamikoshi has been designated as a “Cultural Property by Tochigi Prefecture”.   Enjoy the Gion Festival in Tochigi! As a famous Gion Shrine, Suga Shrine is also called “Gozu Tenno Shrine”. Suga Shrine holds “Gion Festival” on July 14 to 21 every year, 25 mikoshi including one massive one that weighs in at 2 tons are carried through the city in “Mikoshi Wataru” on July 20.   According to “Shimotsuke Province Choreography（下野国誌）” written in Edo period, Suga Shrine’s “Gion Festival” is the “best Gion Festival in Shimotsuke Province.”

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."

This long-standing Japanese confectioner in Nikko City， Tochigi Prefecture first opened during the Meiji-period (1868-1912). They use carefully screened red beans and sugar to produce Nikko's popular specialty treat， Nikko Neri Yokan (red bean jelly)."

The first and largest alpaca farm in Japan.This alpaca farm is located along Prefectural Route 305 in Oshima， Nasu Town. About 400 alpacas are being raised on the expansive grounds of the ranch. Throughout the four seasons， you can enjoy watching the alpacas amidst the natural scenery of Mt. Nasudake. Fluffy four-legged friends are waiting for your visit， you can feed them， take a stroll with them， and take many unique photographs together with them. Enjoy watching and petting lovely wonder alpacas!"