One of the most popular photo spots along the Ryuo Gorge hiking trail Musasabi Bridge is located along the mid-section of the Ryuo Gorge hiking trail in Nikko National Park, and is one of the suspension bridges connecting both sides of the gorge. The geology here belongs to “Hakuryu Gorge,” with the valley below the bridge formed of rhyolite. On both sides lies a well-preserved wetland ecosystem, where skunk cabbage blooms in spring, and in summer visitors can observe the rare forest green tree frog. Compared with Nijimi Bridge at the starting point, the area around Musasabi Bridge feels quieter and closer to nature. Standing on the bridge, away from the crowds, you can listen to the murmuring flow of the Kinugawa River and the rustling of leaves in the breeze—a perfect spot to calm your mind during the hike. Continuing upward from here, you can reach the Seiryu Gorge section, known for its unique rock formations, and enjoy many famous geological sights. It is a hiking journey that combines nature, geology, and tranquil moments.

  Utsunomiya is famous throughout Japan for its gyoza, and so it’s only fitting that an annual festival to the fried dumplings would be held in the city. The Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival has been held at the beginning of November since 1999, with members of the Utsunomiya Gyoza Committee setting up stalls to sell their famous dumplings.   Visitors will be able to enjoy the subtle differences of dozens of dumplings as well as fill empty stomachs at a low cost: A three to five piece portion of gyōza, whether fried, boiled or steamed, will cost just 200 yen.   During the two days of festivities, visitors can also watch music bands and comedians at Miyajazz Inn, or see other live concerts at nearby venues.

In the spring， canola flowers bloom in the park spreads over the riverbed of Kinu River.（Best season:from late April to early May) In the Hōshakuji area， Cosmos festival  held in autumn. There are maintenances the boat pond and the water athletic， tennis courts， baseball fields.

Asahiya Honten is an old Japanese confectioner founded in 1897. The most popular sweets is "Kinton Manjū".That is a kind of dumpling which has sweet pastes made from white kidney beans."Kinton Manjū"is sweets of a well‐known brand of Tochigi.

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.

A peaceful Onsen town on the northern shore of Lake Yunoko, situated in the heart of Nikko National Park. It is said that the Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin, who first built a temple in Nikko about 1200 years ago to introduce Buddhism to the area discovered the Onsen. The milky-white sulphur-infused water is said to help with neuralgia and rheumatism. You can try it out in the foot bath known as “Anyo-no-yu” available free of charge in the town.(Closed for winter)   Taking in the tranquil landscape of the lake and mountains beyond clouds of steam, the Onsen provides a relaxing soak in the midst of some great nature.

A leisure facility covers 300，000 square metres surrounded by abundant nature around a lake. The interactive farm especially delight children through the experiences such as feeding lovely animals， riding horses and milking cows by hands. Other popular attractions are pleasure boats viewing Nasu mountain ranges and park itself from the lake， the Swiss railway running alongside the lake and the nation’s longest “Zip Line” where you zip along a wire over the lake. Refresh yourself with ice creams and daily products made with Jersey milk for a break!

Ashikaga City, the "Small Kyoto" of Tochigi Pref., tinted with fantasy colors   Most famous spots like Bannaji Temple, Ashikaga School and Ashikaga Orihime Shrine would set up lamps, making visitors feel like they are in a dreamy and mysterious world.   The site of Ashikaga School, the oldest school of Japan, would display Flower Hand Water and Wagasa (Traditional umbrella) Light Show produced by Ashikaga Flower Park, and dreamy bamboo lanterns will be displayed in the bamboo forest on the campus.   In the National Treasure “Bannaji Temple”, the lanterns are placed on the bell tower, the main hall, and the 550-year-old ginkgo tree, so that you can enjoy the lanterns while experiencing the historical atmosphere of the temple.   Ashikaga Orihime Shrine, known as a “Sacred Place for Lovers”, would display 90 Ashikaga Meisen lamps on their staircase. The gorgeous Meissen motifs are illuminated by the colorful lights.

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.

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"."

This pool complex features a 200-meter-long lazy river， two kiddy pools， a 25-meter practice pool， and four types of water slide. It is open every day from the third Saturday of July to August 31. The well-equipped complex features， a shop， a parking lot， and other facilities and sees large crowds in the summer."

This restaurant is located inside Subanazaka Park， a nature park on the Subanazaka Hill. Situated near the central starting point for the park's hiking courses， here customers can enjoy handmade soba noodles made with an abundance of local buckwheat flour. The restaurant's traditional flavors， prepared by local housewives， are perfect for enjoying after a nature hike. The restaurant's manju steamed buns， which are made by hand starting from the filling， are also highly acclaimed. The surrounding area is a famous destination for viewing Genji fireflies， and when the fireflies appear in June， a variety of locally-operated food stalls also open up nearby. "

This shopping complex has a wide variety of shops including a restaurant， a cafe， a bakery， a cheese workshop， and more. Other attractions include a Moomin shop， Nordic-themed sundries shops， a wood stove museum， and more. Famous for being a place where kids can meet an official Santa Claus all year long， the complex also regularly holds events. "

This park surrounds Nikko Suginamikimichi， the world's longest tree-lined street. In the park， there is an old-fashioned water mill once used in the production of incense sticks for which the area is well-known， and a traditional wooden farmhouse from 1830."

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 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!

Setsubun Season – Celebrating with “Oni” from Around the World to Pray for Good Fortune and Drive Away Evil The Kinugawa Onsen “Oni” Festival (Shōfuku Oni Matsuri) is a winter celebration that combines the “Oni” in Kinugawa’s name with Japan’s Setsubun traditions. Held annually from late January to late February, the entire Kinugawa Onsen area becomes a festive stage where people and “oni” dance together to bring good luck and ward off evil. With the theme “Demons of the World Gather in Kinugawa – Humans and Oni Join in Festive Exorcism,” the event is both a blessing ceremony and a lively, family-friendly celebration. One of the highlights is the “SL Shōfuku Oni Train,” where participants dressed as oni ride a steam locomotive and interact with adorable local mascot characters like “Kinuta,” “Kinu-chan,” and “Kawa-chan.” Visitors can also enjoy taiko drum performances, monkey shows, chainsaw wood carving, demon-themed food, cultural experiences, and stamp rally games. It’s one of Kinugawa’s most vibrant seasonal events during the Setsubun period.

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.