You can have a kayak experience in Lake Chuzenji - the lake at the highest altitude in Japan. Being able to appreciate nature - from fresh greenery to fall leaves - from the surface of the lake in the great outdoors is a real pleasure. Why don't you experience kayaking with your family or friends?

Fireworks can be seen from summer to autumn! Kinugawa Onsen fireworks will be set off, not only during the summer season, but every Saturday from May to October! The fireworks display, titled "Hyakka Ryouran Hanabi - Kinugawa Enka," begin at 9:00 pm. Depending on the facility, you may be able to see them from the room you are staying in.  

It is a museum featuring Kazuo Iwamura known as the author of the "14 Forest Mice" series. The exhibition includes original drawings for his picture books and conceptual sketches. The museum also holds reading sessions and mini music performances.The museum opened in April 1998. It looks down on the fresh waters of Nasu's Naka River from atop a beautiful hill."

This steam locomotive, called “Taiju”, has been operating since August 2017. “Taiju” is also known as the other name of the Tokugawa Shogun, who is enshrined at Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Tobu Railway, with its network from the Asakusa area in Tokyo to this Kinugawa Onsen area, was once called one of the biggest “kingdoms of steam locomotives”, as it used to operate as many as 85 steam locomotives mainly for forwarding freight. How about enjoying a ride on Taiju on the way to your sightseeing destination? All seats on the Taiju are reserved and can be purchased at Tobu Tourist Information Center Asakusa on the first floor of Asakusa Station, website,or Tobu Railway Line Stations. Shimoimaichi Station and Kinugawa Onsen Station are equipped with railway turntables where you can enjoy watching a dynamic steam locomotive in front of you!

A feature attraction of the Kinugawa River is the river cruises always popular with tourists. Glide along the river and enjoy the incredibly scenic valley. Depending on the season the 40-minute boat ride is a fun way to explore the memorable scenery of wild cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring， sounds of kingfishers and ayu fish swimming in summer or the red leaves of autumn.

Aozora Project THE DAY aims for regional revitalization through outdoor activities. We provide moments to discover the region's charm and deepen the connection between people and nature while enjoying experiences such as E-bike tours, snowboarding, and trekking on ancient trails.

A prefectural park combining Japanese and Western garden design with nature, culture, and disaster-prevention functionsTochigi Prefectural Central Park is located in the center of Utsunomiya City and was created under the theme of “water, greenery, and culture.” Within the park are Western-style sunken gardens, Japanese-style ponds, and multipurpose plazas, which also interact with the neighboring Tochigi Prefectural Museum. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of landscapes, including waterfalls, stone gardens, and the expansive Noh Stage Plaza with its modern fountain pool. Seasonal flowers and meticulously maintained lawns add to the park’s charm. The park also features the “Midori no Shōkansho” (Green Consultation Office), which regularly holds exhibitions and workshops, providing advice on gardening and tree care for citizens. This space serves as a multipurpose area for relaxation, recreation, and environmental education. As a disaster-prevention park, it also has emergency response functions, making it an important part of daily life for local residents.

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.

Otawara City holds the “Yoichi Festival” on the first Friday and Saturday in August every year. This festival is in honor of Nasu Yoichi, the most famous archer in Japanese history. Highlights of the festival is the samurai parade. An actor/actress would cosplay Nasu Yoichi and lead the parade walk around downtown. You can see a traditional dance named “Yoichi Buyo” at night when you walk on street during the festival.

This zoo in Utsunomiya City， Tochigi Prefecture has a theme of “Nature， Animals， and Kids.”  You can see the animals up close and feed and pet some of the smaller ones. Pony rides are popular with the kids. There is also an amusement park on the grounds， a pool that’s open in summer， and a winter fishing pond. "

Grim Forest(Grim no Mori) is a park themed after a forest in the German Grim's Fairy Tales. The Grim no Kan building， which houses a multipurpose hall， is based on the Rottingen government building. The exterior walls are brick and tile， Inside are collections related to the Brothers Grim's fairy tales from all around the world.All of the lighting and other fixtures are German products."

An art museum in Utsunomiya City. Their collection brings together modern art， posters， and designer furniture that focus on the themes of Art and the Region， Art and Life， and Art and the Environment. They also display works of art from local Utsunomiya artists. The museum holds special exhibitions and art related workshops as well as nature viewing excursions into Utsunomiya's Cultural Forest."

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.

The History of Utsunomiya Castle Utsunomiya Castle is believed to have been originally built by the legendary Japanese warrior Fujiwara no Hidesato. During the medieval period, it served as the stronghold of the Utsunomiya clan for generations. After the Utsunomiya clan was stripped of its land by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Utsunomiya Castle became the residence of fudai daimyō (samurai families who had pledged loyalty to the Tokugawa clan before the Battle of Sekigahara) during the Edo period. The castle also played an important role as a key stopover point for Tokugawa shoguns traveling to Nikkō Tōshō-gū to pay their respects. In 1868, the castle was engulfed in the flames of war during the Boshin War, a conflict between the new Meiji government forces and the remnants of the Tokugawa shogunate. Most of the original structures were destroyed in the battle. Today, the castle ruins have been transformed into a historical park, with efforts focused on reconstructing parts of the Edo-period (1600–1867) main keep (Honmaru) to preserve its legacy. Utsunomiya’s Earliest and Most Famous Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot From March to April, Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park is adorned with beautiful cherry blossoms. The season begins in mid-to-late March with the early-blooming Kawazu-zakura, followed by Somei Yoshino, Shidare-zakura, and finally culminating in the Oyama-zakura in mid-April. For a full month, visitors can immerse themselves in a breathtaking sea of pink petals. During cherry blossom season, the park hosts the Utsunomiya Sakura Festival, featuring stage performances, local street food stalls, and festive activities in addition to stunning cherry blossoms. This makes it one of Utsunomiya’s most renowned hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots.

Volcanic rocks， having been eroded by the flow of the Kinugawa River， produce a dynamic vista resembling a dragon wriggling around. You can see this 3-kilometre vista between Kawaji Onsen and Kinugawa Onsen. Many tourists come to see the stunning autumn leaves from late October to early November. The 7-kilometre nature trail leading to Kawaji Onsen is highly recommended for a nice walk.

One of Japan's top 100 urban parks, the famous azalea viewing place in Kanto City, North Kanto City, about 5,000 azaleas in full bloom here, and every year in May will be held “azalea festival”, swarming with many people.   From early April to mid-May (the peak season for cherry blossoms and azaleas), the park is illuminated at night, and the dreamlike flower scene makes people linger.   There are also lawn parks and amusement facilities in the park, which are suitable for family picnics. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Takahara and Mt. Nikko from the observatory in the park.  

This day spa is located in Kawaji Onsen District in Nikko City， Tochigi Prefecture. Its simple weakly alkaline hot springs have earned it the nickname Bihada no Yu for supposedly giving people beautiful skin. It is also said to help with conditions such as nerve and joint pain. The facility features indoor baths and mixed gender open-air baths. The spa， which offers great views of the scenery of the Ojika River， is patronized mostly by locals but also by many tourists."

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."