A Cheeky Peek at Tochigi

Posted on 08/31/2021 Last updated on 10/05/2021

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A stone’s throw away from Tokyo, Tochigi prefecture (栃木県) offers a range of beautiful imagery, from soaring mountains to seemingly endless rice paddies that look as if they come from a nostalgic animation. It’s a hidden jewel in Japan, a destination that should absolutely be on anyone’s travel itinerary. So let me take you on a quick tour around a couple of really cool places inside Tochigi!

The Famous Sights of Nikko

Kegon Falls, Nikko

If one place is an absolute must when visiting Tochigi, it is Nikko, the expansive park and final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nestled deep in the mountains, this quaint city is beautiful throughout all seasons. Top attractions include:

Nikko Toshogu Shrine – a UNESCO world heritage site.
Shinkyo Bridge – the one used on all the travel websites, and seen at the top of this article!
Kegon Falls – one of Japan’s three greatest waterfalls.
Edo Wonderland – a Japanese theme park based around the Edo period.

I recommend visiting in Fall for the best views. Be sure to avoid the peak of the season as the traffic can get really bad (trust me!) You can get to Nikko directly from Tokyo, so its definitely worth taking a stroll around. A perfect weekend getaway.

Utsunomiya, the Capital of Gyoza

Heiwa Kannon, Utsunomiya

On the Shinkansen (bullet train) route to the North of Honshu, Utsunomiya is the capital of the prefecture. With strong Jazz roots, this city has a wonderful nightlife to experience. It’s also the gyoza capital of Japan, and has every kind of flavor you can think of! Places I would recommend visiting include:

Oya History Museum – A subterranean cave.
Wakayama Bamboo grove – sometimes used as a location in movies and television programs.
Futaarayama Shrine – a beautiful shrine in the center of the city.
Orion Dori – Shopping street with many restaurants.

If you do choose to visit Utsunomiya in the heart of summer, I suggest taking a look at Oya History Museum. Not only is it an interesting place, but it’s also super cool in the cave! A perfect place to get away from the powerful heat of Japanese summers.

Nasu and the Active Volcano

Mt. Chausu, Nasu

Just above Utsunomiya is probably one of the most beautiful places in the entire prefecture. About 70 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo, Nasu is a wonderful place to go hiking or simply do some forest bathing. Top places to see here are:

Shiobara Onsen Town – a place with many different onsen to choose from.
Mt. Chausu – an active volcano you can actually hike up.
The Killing Stone – the resting place of the ‘Nine-tailed Fox’.

For Nasu I highly recommend climbing the volcano. There is a ropeway that will take you half way up then its around 40 minutes to an hour to get to the summit. The views are fantastic! If like me you like to have a cold bevvy after a hike, there is a small restaurant at the top of the ropeway.

So there we have it, a cheeky look around Tochigi prefecture and what it has to offer. There are so many places that I haven’t listed here that are also worth checking out, but these ones are my top picks for the area. If you do ever choose to take a gander around Tochigi I hope you find it just as magical as I do.

Looking to experience Tochigi for yourself? Join the adventure in April 2022 as an ALT! For more information, read all about being an ALT!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: Aaron Katz on Unsplash

Additional photos for this article were provided by Hanah Dring, used with permission