A grand festival is held at Nikko Toshogu Shrine twice a year, and in October, includes the Shinto ritual offering of “Yabusame”, firing arrows at targets from atop galloping horses, and the “Togyosai” called “Hyakumonoz..
Nasu-Shiobara surrounds the Mount Nasudake region in northern Tochigi, an active volcano which is part of the Nikko National Park. The natural scenery Nasu has to offer makes the region popular with hikers looking to scale the 5 peaks of Mount Nasu, as well as explore the lower, forested trails prom..
Utsunomiya, city of festivals, gyoza, cocktails, ohya stone, blossoms and romance is best experienced on foot or by bicycle. So, where to go, what to see? Let's start with Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park near City Hall. The park opened in 2007, after the walls, turrets and moat were rebuilt, and ..
Welcome to Nikko! Nikko, located in the northwest corner of Tochigi Prefecture, is known for its picturesque beauty, and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Nikko boasts of three main areas of interest: The World Heritage Tosho-gu Shrine along with other temples and shrines near ..
On a day-trip from Utsunomiya to the charming small town of Ooya, best known for its limestone and its large statue of the Buddhist Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), I wanted to find somewhere for lunch before embarking on the climb to the mountain temple o..
For a quick break between Christmas and New Year one time, I decided to visit Utsunomiya, and after an early start and a long train ride I arrived around lunchtime, very ready for lunch. The staff at Hotel MyStays let me leave my bags, and gave me an..
For those living downtown or here on a short-term stay, getting a cat fix has never been easier thanks to cat cafes. Utsunomiya City has two that I know of. The cafes meet a demand for cat-time, and down time. Cats create a laid-back atmosphere, loun..
Nikko is a town at the entrance of Nikko National Park, famous for Japan's most lavishly decorated temples and shrines, and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Nikko had been a center of Shinto and Buddhist&nb..
Summer in Japan's lowlands, even in Hokkaido, can get unbelievably hot and humid. Hot by itself is bearable, but hot and sticky is just depressing. So you either need to be near a beach, which is what most Japanese do, or take yourself to the h..
Kinugawa is an onsen town about 17km to the north of Nikko. It's an easy drive, or cycle, in my case, and unlike hyperactive Nikko it is best used as a place for relaxing and dining. The hot springs were first discovered in the 1600s by local v..
Tucked in the outskirts of Tochigi Prefecture near the Nasu Highlands is Nasu Rindo Lake View, a quaint theme park that offers a fun weekend trip for the family. The biggest draw at Nasu Rindo Lake View is its 20m-high "Pinky Duck" that loo..
The Akechidaira Ropeway, located just off the famous Irohazaka Winding Road in Nikkō, offers unsurpassable views over Lake Chūzenji and Kegon Falls from the top of a nearby mountain. The ride itself is short and not very exciting, but the views are o..
I've been to Nikko many times but somehow never got around to visiting the Tamozawa Imperial Villa before. It turned out to be well worth a visit. The place has a quiet atmosphere and nice garden, and the residence itself is impressive. In fact..
