Tochigi is a prefecture blessed with rich nature. Chosen as one of CNN’s Top 10 Dream Travel Destinations, Ashikaga Flower Park and its wisteria flowers are a must-see. Other colourfully blooming flowers, fresh green foliage, and vibrant autumn leaves throughout the prefecture will allow you to enjoy all four seasons to your heart’s content. Additionally, you can enjoy bathing and dining at traditional Japanese onsen (hot spring) inns all over the prefecture, including Kinugawa Onsen, referred to as a “retreat from Tokyo.”
History and culture are alive and well in Tochigi Prefecture. The iconic Shrines and Temples of Nikko, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, include the luxuriously decorated Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Nikko Rinnoji Temple with its over 1200 years of history. Additionally, traditional festival culture has been continuously passed down into modern Tochigi. The Kanuma Autumn Festival, where splendidly and precisely carved yatai (floats) made by carvers from the Shrines and Temples of Nikko are pulled through the streets, and the Yama-Age Festival, which features extravagant outdoor kabuki theater against a mountain backdrop made from bamboo and paper, are registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, Tochigi is home to the Ashikaga School, referred to as the oldest school in Japan, and the Oya Stone Museum, which evokes the feeling of an underground temple. These historical sites and more are waiting for you in Tochigi Prefecture!
Despite its central city of Utsunomiya being located only 50 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, Tochigi Prefecture allows you to get your fill of rich nature, history, and culture. Come visit!
(Tochigi Prefecture Tourism Promotional Video Homepage)
https://tochigi.global/the-grace-of-japan-2019/
