Read This Before Your First Visit! A Tochigi Travel Guide with Many Ways to Enjoy the Area
Easily accessible from Tokyo, Tochigi is famous for its World Heritage Sites, grand natural scenery, and rich history and culture.
But that’s not all, it also has resort areas the whole family can enjoy, offering many different ways to travel.
This article gives first-time visitors a comprehensive guide to Tochigi, covering the highlights and attractions of each area, transportation information, model courses, and more.
Tochigi, Where You Can Discover Grand Nature and Beautiful Historic Architecture
Tochigi is located in the northern part of the Kanto region, where Japan’s capital, Tokyo, is also found.
Although it is a landlocked prefecture, mountains rise in the west and east, while the Kanto Plain, the largest plain in Japan, stretches from the central to southern areas.
That’s why a trip to Tochigi offers plenty of chances to encounter grand natural scenery.
Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls are especially popular and are particularly well known for autumn foliage.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, and Nikko Futarasan Shrine, known for their historic buildings in harmony with magnificent natural surroundings, are registered as part of a World Heritage Site together with their related buildings and ruins.
Many people also travel from central Tokyo to Kinugawa Onsen, a hot spring area where you can enjoy the beauty of a gorge.
Head out on a trip to Tochigi, a destination full of attractions including magnificent nature and valuable cultural properties.
Average Temperatures in Tochigi and What to Wear
The climate differs greatly between the plains and mountain areas, with the plains being relatively mild.
Temperatures in the mountains are lower than in the plains, and thunderstorms occur frequently in summer.
Rainfall is heavier in August and September than during the rainy season in June and July.
In winter, the temperature difference between morning and night is severe, and strong dry winds blow, so be sure to dress warmly.
Average Monthly Temperatures in Tochigi
| - | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Temperature (°C) | 2.8 | 3.8 | 7.4 | 12.8 | 17.8 | 21.2 | 24.8 | 26.0 | 22.4 | 16.7 | 10.6 | 5.1 |
Seasonal Clothing Guide for Tochigi
- Spring (March - May): Jacket and light sweater
- Summer (June - August): Light clothing, short sleeves
- Autumn (September - November): Light jacket, coat
- Winter (December - February): Coat, wool suit, thick sweater or jacket
Access to Tochigi
From Tokyo to Tochigi, it takes Approx. 50 minutes by shinkansen.
From Osaka, it takes Approx. 3 hours and 30 minutes with a transfer to the shinkansen in Tokyo.
Since there is no airport in Tochigi, travelers coming from overseas need to go via Haneda Airport.
Access from Haneda Airport to Major Stations
From here, let’s look at how to get from Haneda Airport to Utsunomiya Station, a key transportation hub for traveling in Tochigi.
Haneda Airport is a major gateway for international travelers visiting the Kanto region, and it is also often used when extending a Tokyo trip to Tochigi.
Using the shinkansen increases the number of transfers and transportation costs, but it shortens the travel time by Approx. 40 minutes compared with the route below.
- Route
-
1. Take the Keikyu Airport Line Express from Haneda Airport Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and get off at Shinagawa Station
2. Transfer to the JR Ueno-Tokyo Line at Shinagawa Station and get off at Utsunomiya Station - Travel time
- Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes
Main Ways to Get Around Tochigi
Tochigi has well-developed public transportation, so you can travel around comfortably using just trains and buses.
However, some lines have limited service, so be sure to research carefully before making your travel plans.
Also, the Nikko area and Nasu area in the north are rich in nature, which can make getting around by train and bus alone less convenient.
If you plan to visit both areas, consider renting a car.
The Appeal of 5 Areas to Know Before Traveling to Tochigi
Tochigi’s sightseeing areas can be divided into five sections, so let’s take a look at the attractions and highlights of each one.
Narrowing down the areas you want to visit makes getting around more efficient and lets you see more sightseeing spots.
Use these area-by-area attractions and highlights to help plan your trip.
The Nasu Area, Known as a Summer Retreat and Resort Destination
The Nasu area stretches across the northeastern part of Tochigi.
Centered around the Nasu Mountain Range, with Mount Nasu as its main peak, the area offers grand natural scenery and seasonal landscapes throughout the year.
Nasu Highlands, spreading across the southern foothills of Mount Nasu, is especially famous and is one of Japan’s leading summer retreat destinations.
In addition to various leisure facilities and ranches, it is also home to the resort area of Nasu Onsenkyo, making it perfect for family trips.
This is also a recommended area for hot spring lovers, with hidden hot springs scattered throughout.
The Nikko Area, Home to Tochigi’s Classic Must-See Spots
Located in northwestern Tochigi, the Nikko area is especially famous for the World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikko.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine is one of Tochigi’s classic must-visit spots, and its shrine buildings, decorated with intricate carvings and vivid colors, are designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls, also classic sightseeing spots, are in the Nikko area as well.
These places offer beautiful scenery in every season, but Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls are especially stunning when colored by autumn leaves.
If you visit Lake Chuzenji, take a sightseeing boat and enjoy the vivid scenery from the water.
If you’re traveling in the Nikko area, Kinugawa Onsen is an ideal base. It offers not only relaxing hot springs but also the beauty of the gorge and a sense of faded elegance.
The Central Tochigi Area, Where Urban Life and Nature Coexist
The central Tochigi area spreads across the middle of the prefecture and includes Utsunomiya City, the region’s main city.
Urban life and nature coexist here, with not only commercial and cultural facilities for shopping and food, but also leisure facilities.
At Oya History Museum, a popular sightseeing spot in the area, the enormous underground quarry is illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere and scenery.
Wak竹 no Mori Wakayama Farm is another popular attraction.
A bamboo grove spreads across its Approx. 24-hectare grounds, and the sunlight filtering through the trees creates a dreamy and beautiful scene.
The extraordinary atmosphere here is sure to help you refresh from daily fatigue and stress.
The Eastern Tochigi Area, Where You Can Experience Traditional Crafts
Located in southeastern Tochigi, the eastern Tochigi area is known for its abundant farm produce and beautiful natural scenery.
It also has many cultural facilities, and Mashiko Town, famous for Mashiko ware, one of Tochigi’s representative traditional crafts, is found here.
Mashiko ware is a type of pottery known for its reassuring thickness and the earthy texture you can feel in your hands.
At the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, you can learn about the history and charm of Mashiko ware through exhibitions, and the attached shop sells actual Mashiko ware tableware and goods.
Igarashi Resort is another sightseeing spot worth recommending.
Its five facilities offer many ways to have fun, including athletics, a pool, and hot springs, and depending on the season, you can also enjoy strawberry picking.
Tochigi is known as a famous strawberry-producing region, and you can eat all the fully ripened strawberries you want within the allotted time.
The Southern Tochigi Area, Where You Can Enjoy Sightseeing, Shopping, and Food
The southern Tochigi area spreads across the southwestern part of the prefecture and is blessed with a wide variety of sightseeing spots, including cultural facilities, leisure facilities, shrines, and temples.
Among them, Ashikaga Flower Park is especially popular for its vast grounds filled with seasonal flowers throughout the year.
Its vibrant wisteria trellises, best seen from April to May, are particularly famous, and they are also illuminated at night.
If you visit the southern Tochigi area, be sure to stop by Ashikaga School, a designated National Historic Site.
The buildings and gardens scattered across the grounds let you experience a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Sano City also has many attractions and is famous for its local specialty, Sano ramen.
Sano Premium Outlets, lined with Approx. 180 stores including sports & outdoor, shoes, lifestyle goods, and kids’ fashion, is another highly popular spot.
One more attraction of the southern Tochigi area is its excellent access, just Approx. 70 minutes from Tokyo by limited express train.
How Many Days You Need to Fully Enjoy Tochigi
If you focus on the Nikko area, where many classic sights are gathered, you can still enjoy sightseeing in one day, but if you want to visit other areas as well, you’ll need at least 2 days and 1 night.
If you plan to travel in the Nasu area on the second day, consider renting a car.
It is difficult to visit many sightseeing spots using only public transportation.
A 1-Day Model Course Around Nikko, One of Tochigi’s Most Popular Areas
From here, let’s look at a 1-day model course around Nikko, one of Tochigi’s most popular sightseeing areas.
While experiencing Japanese history and culture through shrines, temples, and World Heritage Sites, you’ll also enjoy magnificent nature.
If you’re unsure how to plan your trip to Tochigi, use this model course as a guide.
This course lets you fully enjoy Tochigi without using a car, so it should be easy to follow.
If you can rent a car, consider staying overnight and visiting Nasu as well, another popular sightseeing area alongside Nikko.
8:50am Start from Tobu Nikko Station
Day 1 of the model course starts at Tobu Nikko Station.
Take a bus from the station and get off at the Shodo Shonin Zo-mae bus stop.
A short walk will bring you to the first spot, Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple.
9:00am Stroll Through Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, One of the Shrines and Temples of Nikko
Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple is said to have begun when Shodo Shonin, the founder of Nikko, built Shihonryuji Temple.
Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple is the collective name for the temple halls, pagodas, and sub-temples as a whole.
Its highlight is Sanbutsudo Hall, the largest wooden structure on Mount Nikko, where three Buddhist statues, Senju Kannon, Amida Nyorai, and Bato Kannon, are enshrined.
Be sure to stroll around the grounds, which are full of many other highlights as well.
10:10am Pray for Good Relationships at Nikko Futarasan Shrine
After exploring Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, head to Nikko Futarasan Shrine, Approx. 10 minutes away on foot.
Nikko Futarasan Shrine enshrines Nikko Sanzan, the three sacred mountains of Nikko, including the main peak of the Nikko mountain range, as its sacred objects of worship.
It is also known for blessings related to good fortune and matchmaking.
Cross the beautiful vermilion wooden bridge called Shinkyo, which marks the entrance to the Nikko mountain area, and admire historic buildings such as the Romon Gate and the worship hall.
11:50am Visit the Beautiful Shrine Buildings of Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Next after Nikko Futarasan Shrine, head to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Approx. 5 minutes away on foot.
This shrine enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, and features 55 lavish shrine buildings, including 8 National Treasures and 34 Important Cultural Properties.
Built by master craftsmen gathered from around Japan, the buildings are decorated with lacquer and vivid colors, and many carvings adorn the pillars and other parts.
Take a walk through the grounds, where sumptuous architecture and rich nature exist in harmony.
1:00pm Enjoy Local Cuisine at Nikko Yuba Maki Zen - ZEN
After leaving Nikko Toshogu Shrine, walk along the Nikko Kaido road to Nikko Yuba Maki Zen - ZEN for lunch.
The star of the menu is Nikko yuba maki, made by wrapping rice and local ingredients in Nikko yuba, a specialty of Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture.
Owner-chef Naoki Saito, who trained at French and Japanese restaurants, serves carefully selected ingredients such as Maenikko Kogen Wagyu, Tochigi Wagyu, and seasonal local vegetables, chosen through his own discerning eye and paired beautifully with Nikko yuba.
3:10pm Feel the Power of Nature Up Close at Kegon Falls
After lunch, return to Tobu Nikko Station, take a bus, and get off at the Chuzenji Onsen bus stop.
From the bus stop, it is Approx. a 5-minute walk to Kegon Falls.
Many waterfalls flow in Nikko, but Kegon Falls is the most famous of them all.
The waters of Lake Chuzenji plunge all at once down a 97-meter cliff, creating a grand waterfall where you can enjoy both the power of nature and the beauty of its form.
You can take an elevator down to the observation platform near the basin, so experience the roar of the falling water and the spray up close.
3:50pm Stroll Through the Scenic Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park
After taking in the power of nature at Kegon Falls, walk Approx. 10 minutes to the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park.
The Italian Embassy Villa was built on the shores of Lake Chuzenji, which was also popular as a summer retreat for foreigners from the Meiji period to the early Showa period.
Designed by architect and diplomat Antonin Raymond, the interior and exterior walls made of cedar bark arranged in a checkered pattern are especially beautiful.
Its appearance blends naturally into the shores of Lake Chuzenji, and from the broad veranda you can enjoy sweeping lake views.
6:00pm Enjoy French Cuisine Made with Local Ingredients at Chez Hoshino
From Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park, take a taxi to Chez Hoshino, a restaurant with a Western-style appearance that perfectly matches the atmosphere of the Lake Chuzenji area.
The menu centers on authentic yet reasonably priced course meals, with main dishes featuring local ingredients such as rainbow trout, yashio trout, and branded Tochigi pork being especially popular.
Enjoy French cuisine made with Tochigi ingredients for dinner and wrap up your day trip in Tochigi.
3 Local Gourmet Foods You Shouldn’t Miss in Tochigi
From here, let’s take a carefully selected look at Tochigi’s local gourmet foods.
If you visit Tochigi, be sure to enjoy not only the sightseeing spots but also the food.
Nikko and Sano City in particular have many local specialties, so make sure to set aside time for meals in your travel plans.
1. Imo Fry
Imo fry is a dish made by skewering steamed potatoes, coating them in batter, and deep-frying them.
It is typically eaten with sauce, and many shops use their own special sauce.
It is also loved as a snack and is such a familiar local food that it is even sold in supermarket deli sections.
The sweetness and fluffy texture of the steamed potatoes pair perfectly with the mildly sweet sauce.
It’s also great for eating while walking, so if you visit Tochigi, be sure to try it at least once.
2. Sano Ramen
Sano ramen is beloved mainly in Sano City.
It is a soy sauce-based ramen known for its light taste, but the richness and umami vary depending on the broth used, so each shop offers a different flavor.
Chicken bones and pork bones are commonly used for the broth.
While the thickness and shape of the noodles vary by shop, one major hallmark of Sano ramen is that the noodles are made using green bamboo.
These bamboo-kneaded noodles are uneven, giving you a different texture with each bite.
Another feature of Sano ramen noodles is their excellent heat conductivity, which makes the boiling time quite short.
You’ll be able to directly enjoy their firm chew and the flavor of the wheat.
3. Nikko Yuba
Nikko yuba, which also appears in the model course, is another local specialty famous in Tochigi.
Yuba is a soybean-based food made by lifting and eating the thin skin that forms when soy milk is heated.
It is commonly eaten like sashimi with soy sauce or ponzu, and its rich, creamy soy milk flavor fills your mouth.
Kyoto is also known as a famous producer of yuba, but Nikko’s yuba differs in both the production method and the kanji used.
Kyoto yuba is made as a single layer, while Nikko yuba is lifted in a folded style, creating two layers.
In Nikko it is written as “湯波,” while in Kyoto it is written as “湯葉,” so keep an eye out for the difference.
Because Nikko yuba has two layers with soy milk between them, it has an even deeper soy milk flavor.
Top Cherry Blossom Spots in Tochigi for Stunning Spring Scenery
Tochigi is known not only for its fall foliage spots but also for its many cherry blossom spots.
If you visit Tochigi in spring, be sure to include flower viewing in your travel plans.
If you’re not sure where to go, first consider adding Nikko Kaido Cherry Tree Avenue, one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan,” to your itinerary.
Approx. 1,500 cherry trees transform Approx. 16 km of roadway into a tunnel of blossoms.
Senjuyama Park, where Approx. 300 cherry trees and over 1,000 azaleas bloom in abundance, is also recommended.
The park also has a small amusement park where you can view the cherry blossoms from a Ferris wheel.
Hachimanyama Park in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi’s central city, is another famous cherry blossom spot.
Take a walk through the grounds colored by Approx. 800 cherry trees.
For Tochigi’s average annual cherry blossom blooming date, full bloom date, and best viewing period, please refer to the table below.
Please note that the blooming date, full bloom date, and best viewing period vary depending on the year’s climate, temperatures, and the specific spot.
- Blooming date
- March 30
- Full bloom date
- April 6
- Best viewing period for cherry blossoms
- April 6–April 12
Reference: Japan Meteorological Agency Cherry Blossom Bloom Status
Reference: Japan Meteorological Agency Cherry Blossom Full Bloom Status
Top Fall Foliage Spots in Tochigi, Where Grand Natural Scenery Turns Beautiful Colors
Tochigi’s grand natural scenery takes on a different look in autumn.
The beauty of its mountains and valleys, colored in crimson and gold, is especially striking.
The Nikko area has particularly many famous fall foliage spots.
Lake Chuzenji, surrounded by mountains glowing in autumn colors, and Irohazaka, where you can enjoy trees painted in many shades from the car window.
At Ryuzu Falls, you’ll find spectacular scenery where the waterfall and trees in crimson and gold come together beautifully.
If you want to fully enjoy Tochigi’s natural scenery, autumn is a wonderful time to visit.
Another plus is the long season for enjoying the leaves, from late September to November.
Please note that the best viewing period varies depending on the year’s climate, temperatures, and the specific spot.
FAQ about Tochigi Travel
Q
What season is recommended for traveling to Tochigi?
A
Autumn is recommended, when the grand natural scenery is colored by fall foliage.
Q
Which area is recommended for a family trip to Tochigi?
A
The resort area of Nasu has many leisure facilities, so both children and adults can enjoy themselves to the fullest.
Summary
In this article, we introduced the attractions of Tochigi’s different areas, useful transportation information, and a 1-day model course.
If you travel with this article as your guide, you’ll discover not only grand natural scenery and World Heritage Sites, but also the many other charms of Tochigi.
If you want to learn more about sightseeing spots in Tochigi, please check out the article below as well.
You may find yourself wanting to extend your trip to one or two nights instead of making it just a day trip.