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Daichuji Temple

Daichuji Temple

Daichuji Temple is a temple which is famous as the place where Uesugi Kenshin and Hojyo Ujiyasu made peace in 1568. This famous Buddhist temple's main gate is a rare example of ancient temple architecture. The grounds also include seven legendary "wonders": A hearth kept constantly lit to ward away a ghost; a set of stairs whose use is prohibited because they are said to bring bad luck; the "rootless" wisteria which grew from a cane; a well which is said to make the sound of horse hooves and neighing; a haunted toilet; a mountain to the east of the temple from which the sound of a wooden clapper can be heard by the head priest when danger threatens the temple; and a room where it is said that if you sleep in it, you will awaken lying in the opposite direction you fell asleep in. The history of the temple goes far beyond this however as it was originally built more than 800 years ago. The temple had the confidence of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period, and until the end of the Edo period was in a position of command as first among 3 leading temple at the head of the Soto sect. The temple is also home to a 200m path to the temple which is lined with hydrangeas and is spoken of in the Seven Wonders of the World and is also one of the "Tochigi Top 100 Scenic Places"."

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Nikko Botanical Garden

Nikko Botanical Garden

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."

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YOSHIDA MURA Village

YOSHIDA MURA Village

Yoshida Mura is 60 minutes away from Tokyo and is at the eastern edge of Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, where the Kinu River runs nearby. It is a quiet area surrounded by fields. In lush green nature, Yoshida Mura produces rice, strawberries, asparagus, and onions. They have an Italian restaurant called Ristorante Italia Verace, where dishes are prepared with local agricultural ingredients to bring out the taste of nature’s blessing, and also a bakery called Yoshida Mura Bakery. At Ristorante Italia Verace, the chef who received culinary training in Italy makes dishes using plenty of ingredients freshly harvested by local partner farmers. The restaurant is the symbol of Yoshida Mura. At Yoshida Mura Bakery, Chef Numao, who practiced baking at famous bakeries such as The Standard Bakers, an authentic bakery based in Oya Town, Utsunomiya City, and Boulangerie Rire in Shimotsuke City, offers carefully crafted and baked bread.

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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 FARM VILLAGE

NASU FARM VILLAGE

At Nasu Farm Village, you can spend some relaxing time with horses. It offers programs such as the Horse Trekking Program that even beginners can enjoy and the Horse Therapy Program to befriend a horse. Children and people who are still not quite ready to ride a horse can join this program with peace of mind. The restaurant offers the chef’s special lunch boxes featuring seasonal vegetables harvested on the farm. *Guidance for horseback riding is provided in Japanese. For safety reasons, you may only ride a horse if you understand Japanese or if you have an interpreter to explain the instructions for you.

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Moka Summer Festival “Kojin Festival”

Moka Summer Festival “Kojin Festival”

The "Moka Summer Festival," the largest event in Moka City, will be held for three days on late July. More than 20 portable shrines and floats gather together at the festival square, where you can feel the enthusiasm of the festival goers.   On the first day of the festival, "Degyo-matsuri," or the "departure from the shrine," is held at Omae Shrine.Many festival-goers participate in the Degyo-matsuri to pray for the safety of the procession of portable shrines and stalls, a good harvest, the eradication of disease, and the development of industry. After the Degyo-Dashi, "Machiawase" is held, in which the portable shrines are carried across each town council, and the head mikoshi parades through the city.   On the second day, "Festival Plaza" will be held and the city center will become a pedestrian zone. approximately 20,000 fireworks will color the night sky, and "Mikoshi Kawatogo (carried mikoshi to cross the river)" would be held on Gogyo River.

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Yasaka Festival (Tenno Festival)

Yasaka Festival (Tenno Festival)

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.

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CHUZENJI KANAYA HOTEL

CHUZENJI KANAYA HOTEL

This log cabin-style hotel stands amidst the Mizunara oak trees on the shores of Lake Chuzenji. All rooms have a balcony or wooden deck, allowing you to enjoy the natural surroundings of Lake Chuzenji while feeling the seasons. In the dining room, you can enjoy French cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, all while gazing at the Mizunara trees. The hot spring is also surrounded by beautiful nature in every season, and is a proud open-air bath called "Sora-buro." You can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere as you gaze upon the morning sun filtering through the trees and the star-filled sky at night. This is a hotel where you can luxuriously enjoy the charm of the natural surroundings of Nikko National Park. [About the hot spring] Water color: Milky white Spring quality: Sulfur spring Effective: Neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, bruises, chronic digestive diseases, poor circulation, fatigue recovery, etc.

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Kanehon Quarry

Kanehon Quarry

It is an operating open surface quarry of Oya stone. Next to the quarry are a stone processing plant, a stone waste dump and the mountain owner’s residence and office. You can see a flow of stone-quarrying here and make homemade pizzas in Oya stone, wood-fired pizza ovens. You can also take home a bag of Oya stone in an original KANEHON bag. Plus, there is an exclusive offer of Oya stone outlet items and Isseki series by Oya stone craftsman “Takumi” for tour guests only."

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Yuki Tsumugi Kimono Dressing at the Oyama Honba Yuki Tsumugi Craft Museum

Yuki Tsumugi Kimono Dressing at the Oyama Honba Yuki Tsumugi Craft Museum

The Oyama Honba Yuki Tsumugi Craft Museum offers visitors the experience of wearing an elegant kimono made from the fine silk textile “Yuki Tsumugi”. The process of refining the traditional Yuki Tsumugi silk is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In order to allow people to fully appreciate the comfort of their garments the museum provides all-day kimono rental including kimono and obi with dressing assistance included free. Come and experience the light and warm texture of genuine Yuki Tsumugi!

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