In Nikko city， there are lots of handmade soba (buckwheat noodles) shops. (there are over 100 soba shops) It is said that the number of shops rate per the population is No.1 in Japan. Also the production of buckwheat is No.1 in Tochigi prefecture. Additionally Nikko city is rich in fresh ground water for soba which originates from the mountain of Nikko. Of course， soba masters have special skills to make it. That’s why the city of Nikko is called “the city of soba”. We look forward to meet you. [Notes] *Reservation required （by Phone， Fax） *Japanese language only. If you need English assistance， please come with an interpreter.

For the Ryuou Festival at Goryuo Shrine in Ryuokyo Canyon, a priest is invited from Nikko Toshogu Shrine to perform a Shinto ritual. Afterwards, in the evening, a grand festival is held in the hot spring towns of Kinugawa and Kawaji. At the main festival in Kinugawa Onsen, there is a procession of the magnificent Manto Mikoshi, or "Ten Thousand Lantern Mikoshi" (a mikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine), as well as the beautiful Onna-Taru Mikoshi, which is carried by women only. Additionally, there are folk entertainment performances, stalls， and for the grand finale, a brilliant fireworks display that lights up the night sky.  

The festival starts since 40years ago when the city marked 80th anniversary of its birth. Enthusiastic events unfurl for two days in and around the main streets of the city. "

The history of the Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine dates back 1,600 years when the shrine was dedicated to the founder of Utsunomiya，Toyoki-Irihiko-no-Mikoto. Most of the festivals held in the city are related to this historic shrine. Many people come to the shrine on special occasions such as New Year and Shichi-Go-San seasons. The illuminated gate and approach to the shrine are an incredible evening sight. The shrine is also home to some nationally important works of art.

This Onsen rests alongside a verdant gorge carved out of rocks， where the roar of the Kinugawa River cuts through the stillness. Enjoy a splendid view of the gorge， beautiful mountains and great nature! Most of the inns located around the lake and along the valley have open-air baths (roten buro) and there are many scenic sites around the area. The Onsen welcomes many tourists during the seasons of fresh green foliage in mid-May， autumn colours in mid-October and “New Soba Festival” in November.

This traditional festival is a re-enactment of the relocation of Divine Spirit of the great shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa from Mt. Kuno in Shizuoka to Nikko. Dressed in extravagant costumes, over 1,000 shrine-parishioners parade down the streets. One the day before the festival, the performance of “Yabusame”, horseback archery, is also worth seeing.

Cottage Inn Restaurant & Bakery is a restaurant run by Kanaya Hotel Bakery, which is adjacent to the Kanaya Hotel History House. At the restaurant, you can enjoy a wide variety of combinations of bread from Kanaya Hotel Bakery and dishes prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients hand-picked by the chef. The popular Lunch Plate offers choices of Hamburger Stew Stuffed Bread, a hearty dish of oven-baked campagne bread stuffed with a hamburger steak cooked in a demiglace sauce topped with cheese, Sautéed Yume Pork with Ginger Sauce using the Yume Pork brand produced in Tochigi Prefecture, and Beef Stew, a year-round popular dish made with the chef’s original recipe. The restaurant also has the Kanaya Hotel Bakery Shop with a rich lineup of bread and sweets such as cookies.

Murasakizuka Golf Club, designed by John Benzel and Bob Wolf (USA), features technically challenging authentic courses on a vast hilly area of 1.16 million square meters. The contrast in landscape produced by ponds and waterfalls allocated in various parts on the courses is quite popular. The golf club has three courses – Ujiie, Katsuragi, and Saotome – totaling 27 holes (par 108) and 10,396 yards in yardage. The courses are on gentle slopes with an elevation of 10 meters. There are also accommodation sites on the premises, and you can choose your favorite stay style from a hotel, villa, and glamping. The villa comes with a private hot spring bath for you to spend a relaxed time alone with your family and friends.

Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture is the hometown of world famous jazz musicians such as Sadao Watanabe and Haruhiko Takauchi. To make Utsunomiya a Jazz Town, various musical events are taking place throughout the year. New jazz-related groups are being created owing to the efforts of jazz lovers as well as owners of clubs and music houses that have a connection to jazz music. One such group is the Utsunomiya Jazz Association, and its member clubs are hosting live jazz performances where you can feel the vibes of Jazz Town Utsunomiya. If you are a first-timer, no problem! You will be warmly welcomed by regulars and staff members in a bright atmosphere. Enjoy a wonderful night in Jazz Town Utsunomiya.

The Yasaka Festival, or more commonly as the Tenno Festival, is a festival held at Okoto Shrine where people go to pray for good health and to prevent the spread of illnesses during the summer.   Participants in the festival carry and parade a portable shrine called the “Great Tenno-sama,” which weighs approximately 1 ton.   Highlights of the festival include over ten stunning floats and mikoshi parading through the town, streets lined with stalls selling delicious food and unique crafts, and a grand gathering on the second night of the festival after 8PM. Here, all the mikoshi and floats come together for a spectacular display of traditional music and energetic performances.

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.

Nikko Botanical Garden is an institute for research and education of Graduate School of Science， University of Tokyo. The main activities of the Botanical Garden have centered on enriching the collections of temperate and alpine plants of Japan and adjacent regions for the purpose of botanical research and education. A total of 2，200 species (130 species of pteridophytes， 70 species of gymnosperms， and 2，000 species of angiosperms) are planted in the garden. Visitors can enjoy the garden's cherry blossoms in spring and the fall foliage in the fall."

This art museum stands at the southern edge of Ashikaga Park. The museum displays the artwork as well as the personal effects of Tazaki Soun， a Southern School painter who was active in Ashikaga from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji period. Known as a late Edo period loyalist painter， Soun studied under artists such as Kanai Ushu and his works have been highly praised outside Japan. Soun was also chosen to be the first Imperial Household Artist， once the highest honor for an artist in Japan， and the museum stores， conserves， and presents his artwork and personal effects. A thatched roof residence believed to have been the home of Soun stands in the museum's garden."

Gorgeous atmosphere created by Japanese umbrellas and ikebana arranged flowers, blending into the nature in the magical light will mesmerize the visitors. Many events will be held at this venue, such as music concerts performed with traditional Japanese instruments under the moonlight, sake and gourmet sales. Andon Japanese lantern craft experience, and more.   Why don't you stay in Kinugawa onsen and take an autumn walk?

The Mibu-machi Toy Museum provides displays of model trains on an elaborate landscape diorama along with a model train driving experience. 18 world heritage sites including temples and shrines of Nikko are placed on the N-gauge (25m2) diorama. The driver’s seat on the HO-gauge (37m2) provides excellent views, and is equipped with a sound system to give visitors a realistic railway experience.   The museum has an interactive app-based game, which you can unlock fun quizzes and characters on your device. Collect answers and points within the specified time limit to break the hidden seal in the castle! The app is the perfect way for the whole family to play and learn about the museum.

Kitsuregawa is a historic castle town and prospered as a post station on the Edo road. The Onsen is located along the rivers running through the town. The light-brown, salty, slightly alkaline water is one of the best in quality containing the three key elements of hot spring water: sulphur, salt and iron. Accessible in about 30 minutes from Utsunomiya, the prefectural capital, this is a popular Onsen for a day visit. You can also stop by the nation’s first roadside station with Onsen facilities inside.

The little gorge formed by an eruption of nearby Mt. Nantai is a uniquely scenic spot. A row of approximately 70 Jizos are lined up along the south bank of the river. The group of Jizos is called “Baké-Jizo” because it is said that they are uncountable; if you try to count them， each time you will end up with a different number. Legend has it that the Sanskrit character “Kanman” on an upstream cliff was inscribed by Kobo Daishi， the founder of Shingon Buddhism， by throwing his brush. The Nikko Botanical Garden is on the opposite shore of the Jizos， and visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty in the seasons of spring verdant greens， autumn colours and snowy Jizos.

Kurobane Castle Ruins Park is known and loved for its flowers; the Kurobane Hydrangea Flower Festival is held here when the roughly 6,000 hydrangeas in the area come into bloom.   From inside the park, visitors can admire the flowers that line the old moat from the bridge. During the festival, various events including a haiku contest and photography contest are held, and stalls are set up. In the evening (from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm), the hydrangeas are lit up so that visitors can admire them even at night-time.