Nikko is home to 3 of the 5 ice houses or "Himuro" that currently exist in all of Japan. ("Hi" means "ice"，"muro" means "room".) The other ice houses are found in Chichibu and Karuizawa. Nikko’s natural water is frozen for 2 weeks and preserved in an ice room year round. The shaved ice is soft and won’t give you a headache even if you eat it quickly! Each shop in Nikko has its own shaved ice specialty. Try ujikintoki with maccha (powdered green tea)，syrup and bean jam on top. Maybe strawberry or melon syrup is more your style? Why not try them all!

Furumine Shrine was built to worship the legendary hero Yamato Takeru 1，300 years ago. The shrine is where the monk Shodo Shonin， founder of the temples in Nikko， was trained. The shrine is also known for the enshrined Tengu， a messenger from the gods who protects people from bad luck. People come here to pray for good luck， fire protection， safe voyage， rich harvests， traffic safety， business success and family health as the god is believed to make all these wishes come true.

Water is an important ingredient making up 80 per cent of Sake. Tochigi has abundant clear spring water perfect for Sake， thanks to the range of mountains in the north and its one and only fresh stream near Tokyo. Skilled brewers produce a range of Sakes with unique flavours in various parts of Tochigi. Sake tasting and a tours of the production process are available at these breweries. You can also purchase Sake， cups for Sake and cosmetics and sweets made with Sake.

Many farms across the prefecture offer seasonal fruit picking. Aside from the nation’s largest crops of strawberries， you can enjoy picking a variety of other fruits such as cherries， peaches， grapes， blueberries and pears. Some also provide baking and cake decorating classes and jam making workshops using these seasonal fruits. The farm shops sell a wide range of products made with freshly picked fruits such as organic jams， sweets， gelatos and other gifts. As fruits in season may vary depending on farms and varieties， contact each farm for more information.

Located in the eastern area of Tochigi， this Onsen snuggles into a bend of the Naka River. The simple alkaline hot spring water promotes smooth skin， for which the Onsen is known as the “hot spring of beauty”. Most of the hot spring baths in the area face west， leading to another nickname of “the sunset Onsen-kyo” thanks to the great sunset views. You can also have a splendid view of mountains with wisps of white smoke.

A peaceful Onsen resort in the mountain ravines located in the western Nasu mountains. The clear alkaline hot spring water is known for its health benefits and the Onsen was designated as a “National Health Spa” by the Ministry of the Environment in 1971. Nestling into a natural landscape and surrounded by a richly preserved environment， most visitors come here for in search of the renowned health effects. Long known as a rustic therapeutic spa， the Onsen maintains its distinctive atmosphere. The temperature of the source of spring water is from 38℃ to 45℃， and its lukewarm water is gentle to the body.

Accessible via a 2.5-hour drive from Tokyo or a free shuttle bus service operated from the Kinugawa Onsen station throughout the season. The ski resort is family-friendly and suitable for beginners. It provides a richly varied 11 trails to suit visitors of any ability level， from lower slopes for families and beginners， a child-friendly area for snow play to a cross course and a mogul run for experts.

This retarding basin with a 3，300ha of reed bed is one of the largest in Japan. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreation activities including water sports， cycling， fishing， fireworks show and sports events. The 11.5-kilometre trail by the Watarase River and forests is well worth walking. Watarase-yusuichi was recognised under the Ramsar Convention on July 3， 2012.

An autumn festival in Tochigi city held biennially. Lavishly decorated in detailed carvings, festive floats carrying figurines of deities and historical heroes are paraded through the streets.   For the many tourists coming from outside the region, special rail services from Tokyo are operated on the day of the festival. You can also visit an exhibition about the festival at the “Dashi Kaikan” (float museum) at any time of the year.

The Kanuma Autumn Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event, will be held in Kanuma, Japan, in grand style, bringing the tradition and elegance of the Edo Period festivals to the present day. The “Yatai Event of Kanuma Imamiya Shrine Festival,” the core of this festival, was designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in February 2003, and was also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 1, 2016 as one of the “Yama, Hoko, Yatai Event”.   For two days, 26 gorgeous yatai, which are also called “moving Yangmyongmon,” will parade through the streets of Kanuma in a heroic manner.   On the first day of the festival, “Nuriikomi” begins around noon, when 26 yatai pass through the torii gate and enter the precincts of Imamiya Shrine. At around 5:00 p.m., all the yatai will light lanterns and return to their respective neighborhoods with a musical accompaniment.   On the second day, after the “Citizens' Parade” of “marching bands” and “Mikoshi” in the morning, “Yatai Aligned Pulling (Yatai Parade)” will be held around 2:00 p.m., in which 26 yatai will simultaneously drive along the Kominehara Palace Road (commonly called “Festival Road”).   The highlight of the festival is a musical performance called “Buttsuke” in which three to seven yatai perform at a junction. The music of the festival is a spectacular sight to behold, and the sounds of the heroic “Buttsuke” music will echo through the night on both days of the festival.

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.

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.

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)

Situated at the foot of the Nasu Mountains， the 1230-metre altitude marshland abounds in alpine flora. Over 200 kinds of plants can be found here. The highlight is the bright yellow daylilies known as “Nikko Kisuge” covering the entire marshland during early and mid-July. Visitors can explore the area on a 30-minute walk on the wooden footpath. (From mid-April to mid-December)

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.