Greater Tokyo

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Nasu World Monkey Park

Nasu World Monkey Park

Nasu World Monkey Park is a monkey theme park with over 60 different types of rare monkeys from around the world. The plaza where guests can hold and take photos with the cute and rare monkeys is extremely popular. In addition to a petting area, there’s a “monkey theater” with variety shows featuring monkeys. And an “elephant forest” where visitors can ride elephants, along with many other experiences. You’ll also find restaurants that provide various Asian cuisine and shops that sell monkey-themed goods."

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Izurusan Manganji Temple

Izurusan Manganji Temple

Izurusan Manganji Temple was founded in the year 767, approximately 1200 years ago.  This Shingon Buddhist Sect Chizan School Temple in Tochigi City is dedicated to the Thousand-Hand Kanzeon Bodhisattva. It is known as being a powerful spiritual location surrounded by forests and water with perpetual services offered for the deceased, zen meditation, and waterfall meditation. Nestled in nature with towering trees and fresh crisp air, the main temple, Omido, was built in 1368 and was reconstructed in 1764 after the great fire of 1740. The main temple hall has been designated a Prefectural Cultural Property whereas the Deva gate has been designated a City Cultural Property and the Izuru limestone caverns have been designated as City Natural Monument."

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TENTAKA SHUZO Co., Ltd.

TENTAKA SHUZO Co., Ltd.

Tentaka Shuzo established itself in Otawara City, a nature-rich city suitable for sake brewing in Tochigi Prefecture. With a history of over 100 years, the brewery produces organic sake under the motto of “delicious, safe, and enjoyable” and is hosting brewery tours that include tasting. There are two brewery tour courses. One is the Standard Course that takes about 30 minutes, and the other one is the Special Course that requires about 60 minutes. In the Special Course, you can visit many rooms involved in sake production including the rice mill, rice steaming room, yeast growing room, sake brewing room, sake pressing room, and sake filtering room. Why don’t you join the tour and learn about Japanese sake production using the carefully selected ingredients, production method, equipment, and tools? ※Due to production preparation, there are no tours offered between the middle of December and the end of February.

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Mamada Jaga Maita

Mamada Jaga Maita

There is a strange festival which conveys faith in the dragon god called ""Mamada-no Jaga Maita (popularly known as the ""Snake Demon Festival"" that is designated as a national important intangible folk culture asset in Mamada. This event is held before the rice planting to pray to the gods and Buddha for moderate winds, as well as a bumper harvest and the elimination of plagues.   ""Jaga Maita, Jaga Maita, Jaga Maita of April 8!"" These yells echo around the town on the day of the event. This event features 15-meter dragon-head and snake-body animals decorated with fern leaves on the snake body made from bamboo and straw also paraded around the town.   The seven snakes of each district first gather at Mamada Hachimangu Shrine. The snake gathering and purification rites ceremony then takes place. After that, the water of Benten Pond is drunk to the heart's content of the participants before they go around the town again.   This festival was once held on April 8 in Japan's old calendar. However, because the bearers of the event are children of junior high school age and younger, it is now held on May 5 (Children's Day) when the schools are closed.

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Motegi Showa Museum

Motegi Showa Museum

This is a mini theme park with a ""Showa Retro"" theme. Inside, you'll find thousands of retro items densely displayed, including classic enamel signs, old cigarette vending machines, and everyday household goods from the Showa era. The moment you step inside, you'll feel as if you've been transported back in time to the Showa era. Building No. 2 features exhibits of retro stationery and toys, and also has a shop selling dagashi. It's a place that transcends generations, offering a fun experience for young people who find the Showa style refreshingly new, and for older visitors who feel a deep sense of nostalgia. ※ ""Showa Retro"" is a term that refers to the culture, design, and atmosphere of Japan from the 1950s through the 1980s. It is characterized by a nostalgic and warm feeling. This aesthetic is popular across all generations, feeling new and fresh to younger people while evoking a sense of deep nostalgia for the older generation.

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Mt. Ohira Cherry Blossom Festival

Mt. Ohira Cherry Blossom Festival

Famous for its “Warehouse Town” scenery, Tochigi City hosts the Mt. Ohira Cherry Blossom Festival in early April. Located west of the city, Mt. Ohira is covered with about 4,000 cherry trees, forming a spectacular 2-kilometer-long tunnel of blossoms along the sightseeing road from the foot of the mountain. On the opposite side of the summit, the Kenshin-daira Observatory offers panoramic views of the Kanto Plain’s picturesque rural landscapes. On clear days, you can even see Tokyo Skytree and Mt. Fuji. Nearby eateries serve Mt. Ohira’s three famous specialties—rice dumplings, grilled chicken skewers, and rolled omelets—providing a feast for both the eyes and taste buds. At the foot of Mt. Ohira stands Taisan-ji, an ancient Shingon Buddhist temple. Its grounds are home to a 360-year-old weeping cherry tree, said to have been planted by the mother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The weeping cherry season begins in late March. For details, please check the Tochigi City Tourism Association website.

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CLOVER STEAK HOUSE

CLOVER STEAK HOUSE

Clover Steak House is a restaurant offering dishes prepared with hand-picked ingredients. Standing on a hill, it also boasts a splendid view. Clover Steak House was started in 1990 by four people who believe in the power of delicious meals to make everyone happy. Using French culinary techniques as the base, dishes that customers find truly delicious are prepared through creative ideas and ingredients. The restaurant has a cooking competition which all members enter, and the winner’s meal is featured in the monthly lunch menu.

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WAIN – Vintage Rice Barn in Nasu

WAIN – Vintage Rice Barn in Nasu

Originally built in the early Showa period, this traditional Japanese kura (storehouse) and barn were transformed into a warm and inviting guesthouse through extensive renovations in 2023, designed to comfortably accommodate up to two families (up to 8 guests). While preserving the nostalgic charm of the original architecture, we’ve thoughtfully modernized the facilities, adding two fully equipped bathrooms and kitchens to ensure a spacious and comfortable stay for our international guests. After relocating from Tokyo to embrace a sustainable lifestyle, we now cultivate organic, pesticide-free vegetables that we’re delighted to share with our guests. Set on a sprawling 2000-square-meter garden, the property invites you to enjoy open-air activities: play with our two friendly rescue dogs, explore the grounds, catch insects, or savor a barbecue amidst nature’s beauty. This is a space where modern comfort meets rustic tradition, offering a tranquil countryside retreat.

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Yaitashi Shironoyu Yasuraginosato

Yaitashi Shironoyu Yasuraginosato

This day-trip hot spring facility is located at the foot of Kawasaki Castle Ruins. Abundant hot water gushes from the spring, and guests can unwind in the spacious open-air and public baths. At the regular open-air bath, guests can also enjoy various seasonal bath variations, including the "iris leaves bath", "apple bath", and "lemon bath". There is a campsite and a mountain bike track on the premises, and fat bikes (bicyles with thick tires for mountain trails) are also available for rental. After an active day, visitors can relax in the hot spring.

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Otaki Kasen Yuhodo Path

Otaki Kasen Yuhodo Path

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."

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Kanuma City Kaboku Center

Kanuma City Kaboku Center

This large gardening shop complex is located on 400,000 meters of hilly land known by locals as "Moroyama." Its shop offers flowering plants, as well as garden trees, and landscaping and gardening supplies, with a particular focus on satsuki azalea. Some of its many facilities include a plum grove, the Wild Bird Forest, a tourist strawberry farm, and a hilltop barbequing space. It is a great place to enjoy spending a day surrounded by flowers and trees."

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Tenpyo-no-Oka Park

Tenpyo-no-Oka Park

The vast grounds of Tenpyo-no-Oka Park consist of pristine forest containing a number of historic sites. A great number of visitors come to the Tempyo flower festival held in mid to late April when the 450 double-flowered cherry trees bloom. Enjoy strolling through the woods and travel back in time with a visit to one or more of the various museums in the park. The “Botchan Bus” departs from in front of the folklore museum for a 15-minute circumnavigation of the park – popular for families and perfect for sightseeing. A popular sight is the stone-walled keyhole-shaped ancient tomb of Kunimiyama. Clap your hands under the stairs in the ring-shaped area of the tomb, and hear the echoing sounds of a roaring dragon reverberate back from the large stone above. On the first Sunday of November the Tenpyo Imoni Festival is held here serving home-style Imoni soup to 3,000 guests. The soup is made with local produce including dried gourd strips, taro roots and leeks in a huge pot measuring 2.5 metres across. ☆

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Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina

Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina

A beloved summer tradition in Oyama City, the “Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina” is held on the first Sunday of July each year. Dressed in yukata, adults and children gather along the banks of the Omoigawa River, holding paper dolls onto which they place their wishes before sending them to float downstream. These paper dolls, known as Shimotsuke Dolls, range from 10 cm to 40 cm in height and are crafted using the artistry and tradition of Shimotsuke shibori dyeing. The paper is twisted to create beautiful patterns, with each doll featuring a unique hairstyle and kimono design. A tanzaku (narrow paper strip) is attached so participants can write their wishes. The “Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina” is open to everyone. The first 50 participants wearing yukata will receive a “Nagashi-bina” doll as a gift.

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