Izuruhara Benten Pond, the source of the Izuru River, is designated a Prefectural Natural Treasure and was selected as one of the nation’s clearest water sources by the Ministry of Environment. Take a look down into the transparent water and you will find Koi fish with sparkling scales swimming gracefully over swaying water plants. Samples of the pristine water are available to take home from the neighbouring Ichinokan hotel. Be sure to take a close look at the main building of Isoyama Benzaiten Shrine. Reconstructed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333)， this cultural property is constructed without nails and displays the beauty of traditional Japanese architectural methods. Isoyama Benzaiten (nicknamed Fuzai) is a goddess of music, arts and knowledge and is one of seven lucky Sano gods built here in 948. The Benzaiten Shrine was moved here at the request of “Suisha-ko”, a group of devout local worshippers.

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.

Hidden away in primeval forest, this Onsen is known as the last secret hot spring in the Kanto region. Four hot-spring facilities (Kaniyu, Teshirosawa, Nikkosawa and Haccho-No-Yu,) can be found here. Car traffic is restricted to the Onsen-kyo amidst the ancient beech woodland. Visitors can take pickup services arranged by inns or walk about 90 minutes to get there. At the moment two inns offer pickup services, and three inns (not Teshirosawa Onsen) are open to day visitors. Take your time to relax and unwind in these hidden hot spring villages.

Since its debut as the nation’s first local line in 1912, the Mooka line has operated daily. Two models of Mooka steam locomotive run on weekends and holidays when many tourists come to see them working as they have for 100 years. In spring, the railway track is almost wrapped in pink cherry blossoms and the ground a shade of yellow with the spreading rapeseed field. The colour contrast attracts many photographers.

This retarding basin with a 3，300ha of reed bed is one of the largest in Japan. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreation activities including water sports， cycling， fishing， fireworks show and sports events. The 11.5-kilometre trail by the Watarase River and forests is well worth walking. Watarase-yusuichi was recognised under the Ramsar Convention on July 3， 2012.

The Yamaage Festival is one of Japan's most unique festivals，a dazzling outdoor kabuki dance performance that has been carried on is the Karasuyama area since olden times.The festival was first held about 460 years ago by the ruler of Karasuyama Castle，Lord Suketane Nasu，to pray for peace over the land and dispel the plague that had been threatening his domain. The yama or "mountain" in the festival's name refers to the backdrops used in the performances.Handmade washi paper，a apecialty of the region，is pasted onto a bamboo frame and painted to look like mountains and waterfalls.Some of these "mountains" even reach 10 meters in height.Not only the dynamic kabuki and dances performed in front of these backdrops，but also the coordination and teamwork of the young male performers that form the heart of the festival are a sight to behold.In addition，it was enrolled in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in December，2016.

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.

Utsunomiya Gyoza is an important part of the culinary culture of Utsunomiya City. The city has over 300 Gyoza restaurants，and people enjoy queuing in front of their favourite restaurants. These eateries compete in creating unique recipes to be recognised as “one of the best” Gyoza in the city，with all sorts of ingredients and cooking methods. Go from one eatery to another like the locals do，and sample some of thier wide selection! You can even join Gyoza-making classes led by veteran lecturers. Gyoza-related goods are also popular as souvenirs.

From popular sweets to outdoor activities — a delicious and relaxing stop on your hot spring tripKinugawa Okashino Shiro is a multi-purpose tourist facility that combines Japanese and Western sweets, cafés, and hands-on experiences. Inside, more than 30 varieties of handmade sweets are available, including seasonal fried bread, natural shaved ice, and other popular items, making it the perfect spot to buy souvenirs or enjoy sweet treats. The facility also includes “KINU COFFEE” café and “FUN GARDEN” outdoor space, where you can enjoy freshly grilled skewers, cakes, barbecues, and seasonal activities. Visitors can even take part in a dorayaki (red bean pancake) making workshop, adding an enjoyable hands-on element to the trip.

This hotel is just a five-minute drive from the World Heritage Site "Shrines and Temples of Nikko," including Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Surrounded by abundant nature, you can enjoy beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons from the guest room windows. The 25-square-meter rooms exude the warmth of wood, and although compact, they are spacious and functional, and the bathrooms are rain shower-type, so you can enjoy the comfort of being enveloped in soft rain. With a comfortable stay and easy access to tourist spots, this hotel is the perfect base for sightseeing in Nikko.

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.

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.

You can not only see the famous cherry trees "Someiyoshino", but also a special cherry variety "Omoigawa" trees at Oyama City. Omoigawa blooms about one week after Someiyoshino. It means we can enjoy cherry blooming for about a month at Oyama.   Many events and light up held on every cherry bloom spots in Oyama during the cherry blooming. ◆Night cherry blooming spots ①Shiroyama Park（1-1 Shiroyama-cho, Oyama City） ②Mamada Hachiman Park（2330 Mamada, Oyama City） ③Sakura Avenue nearby Toyohogawa River（nearby Kami-ishitsuka, Oyama City） ④Omoigawa Onsen（1475 Kizawa, Oyama City）

Nature Planet's leisurely paddling style is the perfect way to refresh yourself after a long day.   Enjoy the time flowing slowly while freeing yourself from the stresses of everyday life.   This is a canoe touring for beginners that allows you to enjoy nature in each of the four seasons.   The canoes used for the tour are highly stable recreational kayaks (double-sided paddling type), and single boats (for one person) and tandem boats (for two or three people) are available.   The field is a dam lake with no current, so even first-time canoeists can participate safely.   Need to make a reservation ■Eligibility: Healthy people between 3 and 70 years old. ■Number of applicants: 2~30 people. ■What to bring and wear: ①Wear clothes that are easy to move in and can get wet (preferably synthetic fibers). Underwear that can get wet is also recommended. ②Shoes that can get wet (sneakers or sports sandals with a fixed heel) ※Sneakers or sports sandals with a fixed heel are not acceptable. ③Towel and change of clothes. ④Other things that are good to have: Drink (plastic bottle or something with a lid that can be closed), hat, rain wear (top and bottom separates), eyeglass band (eyeglass wearers should wear eyeglass bands), sunscreen  

What is Setsubun Armor Year-cross? Every year’s February 3 is “Setsubun” festival in Japan, symbolling the end of the winter. On this day, Ashikaga City holds “Armor Year-cross” event, over 200 people would dress as samurai to join the event. The parade walk to Bannaji Temple from Orihime Community Center. People celebrate their victory when they arrived at Bannaji Temple, and pray for city’s prosperity. History of Setsubun Armor Year-cross Back to the Kamakura period about 750 years ago, a powerful samurai called Ashikaga Yasuuji led 500 samurai to assemble at Bannaji Temple, the residence of Ashikaga Family, in order to honor their family. 120 years later, his descendant, Ashikaga Takauji, became the Shougun of Japan and created the Muromachi period. This event was closed in the late Edo and Meiji eras, but in 1915 (Taisho 4) it was restarted by a group of fiber workers. Ashikaga City has samurai armor and kimonos for visitors to try on.

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.

Experience Oya's usually inaccessible underground stone quarry on a special underground cruise that takes place in total darkness . （Please make reservations via our website)

The Ohtaki Kasen Yuhodo is a strolling path that runs for approximately 1 kilometer from the Kinuiwabashi bridge at the upper reaches of the Kinugawa River down to the Kamitakikasen Park. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the riverbank as you listen to the gentle babbling of the Kinugawa River. The Otaki Park is located along the route， and on a clear day you can see all the way to Mt. Keichozan. A free parking lot is located at the foot of the Kinuiwabashi Bridge， allowing you to easily take a refreshing stroll in nature amidst beautiful surroundings."