Hotel Higashinihon Utsunomiya is designed with a British taste featuring a high and spacious atrium and stately and elegant space. The hotel has eight restaurants with a rich international flavor including a teppanyaki restaurant with Tochigi Wagyu as the main feature, a high-end traditional Japanese-style restaurant with a garden view, a Japanese restaurant serving food prepared with seasonal ingredients, and so on. The hotel welcomes guests with spacious rooms. Even a single room is 20m2, and there are also a wide variety of rooms ranging from twin rooms to royal suites, ensuring a relaxing stay.

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.

What started as an oil shop during the first year of the Edo Tenmei era in 1781 became a specialty miso-making company by the end of the Edo period. Please try our special Miso Dengaku or try our miso to make your own traditionally-seasoned dishes.

The museum holds rows of roughly 100 exhibits containing famous swords including important cultural properties and special precious swords， some of which are national treasures. Along with antique samurai items such as armor， tsuba (a sword guard) and a kago (palanquin) are hinawajyu (antique guns) and a meteor."

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."

This huge statue of the goddess Kannon was carved into the wall of a former Oya stone quarry and stands 27 meters tall. It was entirely hand carved as a prayer for those who have fallen in battle and as a hope for world peace. There are well maintained paths and stairs around the statue and from the top you can see all across Oya. If you are visiting Heiwa Kannon, you might also want to check out the Oyaji Temple and the local history museum that are nearby."

The new dessert launched in 2011.Looks like a crepe， but has a spongey texture. The fillings vary depending on the store you go to.  Not just seet flavors， like cream or fruit， but also soba or meat. This is a popular gourmet food available as you walk around the hot springs area."

Selected as one of the “Top 100 Urban Parks in Japan”， lgashira Park includes an expansive natural forest that encircles a pond. The forest is also home to many wild birds with beautiful calls， and is a peaceful place that takes on many different appearances according to the season， including spring flowers， fresh green foliage， autumn leaves， and blankets of snow.

In this event， held at Aramachi Hondori on a Saturday in late August， 2，000 participants march down the street while performing dances.

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?

Tochigi city is famous for its many Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) shops， and Yamamoto Sohonten is the perfect place to try your hand at making your own Wagashi. The friendly Wagashi master gives you detailed instructions on making various pieces of Wagashi to celebrate the coming seasons. Enjoy these traditional seasonal delights!

At the entrance of the Omocha-no-Machi Bandai Museum visitors are welcomed by a full-scale RX-78 Gundam bust (5.6 metres in height) and its pilot Amuro Ray. The museum’s collection includes a large selection of toys from home and abroad dating from the Edo period (1603-1867). Highlights are the world’s leading collection of Thomas Edison’s inventions and the old and rare steam car, the “Pendle Princess” (made in the U.K. in 1919). This is a great place to enjoy learning about the history of toys. Gundam fans shouldn’t miss the “Zaku’s Dream” and “White Base” exhibitions.

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. ☆

Michi-no-Eki Yunishigawa is a roadside station located in the north of Nikko， about 300 metres from the former Aizu-nishi highway (Route 121). It offers natural hot springs and a stone sauna， and local delicacies such as smoked salamander， strawberry buns and Bandai-mochi rice cake (not available in winter). The cafeteria serves uniquely dam-shaped rice and curry as well as locally produced soba noodles. Look out for Kurippa here， a local mascot based on a folk tale of the mythological creature Kappa. Accommodation can be arranged at the information desk. The car park has rapid charging points for electric vehicles. Located 600 metres above sea level， the location offers fine views of the natural surroundings. Enjoy the seasonal beauty of verdant greens， autumn leaves and snowy winter scenes.

A historic Onsen town visited by many great Japanese writers， this unique Onsen-kyo boasts thermal spring water with a range of qualities and benefits. Select a hot spring depending on your physical condition or mood. There are also various nature trails along the mountain stream. Popular both as a summer resort and when the autumn leaves on display， why not take a stroll around the town with the local specialty “To-te-yaki” (something like a thick crepe) in hand?

Your Guide, Ann who has traveled to 30 countries,leads a "Satoyama Experience of Healing and Smiles." Tour the mountains, rivers, waterfalls, hot springs, and literary sites of Nasushiobara, experiencing the region's unique stories and natural beauty. Small group sizes ensure beginners and families can participate comfortably.Themes change seasonally, offering farming, Satoyama lunches, snack making, hot springs, and cultural experiences, allowing everyone to enjoy "time connecting people and nature."

When sunlight hits the spray of the waterfall, a dreamy rainbow appears, making this a breathtaking highlight of your hike. Nijimi Falls is a symbolic scenic spot near Ryuokyo Gorge in Nikko. It is named after the rainbow often created by sunlight shining through the mist. The waterfall is about 20 meters high, and its powerful flow creates a misty spectacle. Visitors can enjoy close-up views of the waterfall from different angles along the well-maintained trail. This spot is an important stop along the Ryuokyo Gorge walking route. The trail is surrounded by lush nature, offering cool shade in summer, vibrant autumn leaves, and refreshing air all year round. It is recommended to wear sturdy walking shoes and take your time exploring. Particularly on sunny mornings, this is the best time to capture photos of the rainbow created in the mist.

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.