This Roadside Rest Stops offering a farming and forest experience, dog park, hot spring, pool, and accommodation. Tochigi Prefecture has the largest production of two-rowed barley – an ingredient used to make beer. Romantic village's brewery has a full lineup of beers including staple original beers, the Mugitaro brand, and Gyoza Roman, a beer that pairs well with Gyoza .Be sure to try a freshly brewed one!

Utsunomiya city hosts the major cycle road race held every October. Top-class cyclists from around the world gather here to compete， the only chance to see the “Tour de France” cyclists in Japan! Oh-dori (main street) is closed off， and the sight of the criterium turning the streets into a racecourse is totally exhilarating.

The old mining site of Utsunomiya’s famous，Oya Stone，has now been turned into a historical museum. The exhibition features the long history of the mining since the 17th century，with many materials on display. The underground cavern，covering 20,000 sq. metres，is large enough to fit a baseball field. With a fantastic atmosphere reminding visitors of the ruins of Ancient Rome.It is used in various scenes such as movie shooting, music videos shooting, weddings, concert, etc. due to its mysterious scenery.

A festival in order to in honor Heike Family The Taira Clan (also called Heike), one of the most powerful family in Heian period, dominated the imperal captain of Heian. However, after the death of their leader, Taira no Kiyomori, their rivals the Minamoto Clan (the Genji),which culminated in the Genpei War (1180-1185 AD). The five-year-long war concluded with a decisive Taira defeat in the naval Battle of Dan-no-Ura.   It is said many Heike family and their samurais ran away from Genji's army, and hided in Yunishigawa Onsen. In order to honor those samurai who fighting for the Heike family, people live in Yunishigawa Onsen hold the "Heike Taisai" every year.   Become a princess of Heike!  A traditional Yunishigawa festival held in early June, featuring Biwa (Japanese lute) performances, dances and theatrical plays. The highlight of the festival is the “Emaki Gyoretsu Procession”, where over 200 people dressed as heroic Samurais or elegant princesses parade through the town. Visitors can also apply to join the march.

Ride Japan's first domestic amphibious bus and explore the Yunishigawa Dam, dam lake, and dam facilities surrounded by magnificent nature. There's a chance you'll see wild deer, monkeys, or gracefully soaring birds of prey while exploring the dam lake! Enjoy unique experiences available only on this tour, such as visiting normally inaccessible dam facilities and cruising the dam lake.

Being 2，000 metres above sea level， this marsh is the nation’s highest wetland and is known for its abundant alpine plants. In the wetland where spring comes late， July is the best time to view the alpine plants blossoming one after another. The grass starts to turn yellow in late August and the leaves paint the entire wetland flaming red in mid-September. Plants and trees are lightly dusted with snow in November and you can see the arrival of migratory birds. Enjoy the diverse nature of each and every one of the seasons!

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.

A tranquil Onsen-kyo nestled in the valley where the Kinugawa and Ojika Rivers meet. Since the 18th century when the spa was discovered， Kawaji has prospered as a post station and a therapeutic spa. The simple alkaline hot spring is an effective treatment for neuralgia， rheumatism and particularly for injuries. The nearby nature trail leading to the scenic “Ryuokyo gorge” offers a lovely way to take in the floral scents and the sounds of local streams.

These highlands， situated 1，200 metres above sea level， are a paradise of alpine plants and are well-known for the “Nikko Kisuge”. With 260，000 Nikko Kisuge blooming from late June to mid-July， the grasslands are carpeted in these bright yellow lilies. Walking paths through the fields are available. Enjoy azaleas in spring， autumn colours and skiing in winter! There are selections of restaurants， accommodations and leisure facilities to satisfy couples and families.

This traditional festival is a re-enactment of the relocation of Divine Spirit of the great shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa from Mt. Kuno in Shizuoka to Nikko. Dressed in extravagant costumes, over 1,000 shrine-parishioners parade down the streets. One the day before the festival, the performance of “Yabusame”, horseback archery, is also worth seeing.

Jump in a rubber boat and work together with your fellow rafters to navigate the white water. Experience the natural surroundings in a way unknown to drivers or walkers. Follow the flow of the river， listen to streams and birds singing， dive into the water from the surrounding rocks， and fly down the rapids as if on a roller coaster， a variety of thrills are waiting for you! 0288-70-1181 (NAOC) 0288-77-2030 (Nikko Nasu Outdoor Service) 0288-77-4802 (eRafting)

With a length of 320 metres, this is the largest pier-less suspension bridge in Japan. Magnificent views of the Shiobara valley can be seen from the bridge. In autumn, the bridge commands enchanting views of the foliage reflected on the lake. Officially listed as a “Sacred Place for Lovers”, this is a romantic location perfect for marriage proposals.

An outlet shopping centre showcasing fashion， sports & outdoors and lifestyle brands. Food courts， cafés and restaurants are on hand for when you need a break. Expanded in the summer of 2012， the mall houses 148 stores. Situated near the IC， the free shuttle bus runs a regular service between Nasu-Shiobara station and the shopping centre. The mall turns magical with the festive lights and decorations during the winter.

Developed since the19th century for its fine quality and proximity to the big market Tokyo， Masiko-yaki pottery has long been liked for its daily use items such as pots， water jars and teapots. There are nearly 260 kilns， 50 shops and potters of youth and experience who create works of great variety. Pottery markets held in spring and autumn attract hundreds of thousands of Mashiko-yaki lovers. Even beginners can join workshops to learn how to decorate， hand-form or use a potter’s wheel， and enjoy authentic ceramic art.

Utsunomiya Gyoza is an important part of the culinary culture of Utsunomiya City. The city has over 300 Gyoza restaurants，and people enjoy queuing in front of their favourite restaurants. These eateries compete in creating unique recipes to be recognised as “one of the best” Gyoza in the city，with all sorts of ingredients and cooking methods. Go from one eatery to another like the locals do，and sample some of thier wide selection! You can even join Gyoza-making classes led by veteran lecturers. Gyoza-related goods are also popular as souvenirs.

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!

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?

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.