Tochigi

  • Utsunomiya City ranks among the top in Japan for annual gyoza spending, with about 200 specialized gyoza restaurants in the city.
  • Tochiotome strawberry, a prefectural product launched in 1996, is among Japan's top in both shipment volume and recognition.
  • The cedar avenue of the World Heritage Nikko Shrines and Temples stretches approximately 37 km, registered in Guinness as the world's longest tree-lined road.
  • Senjogahara in Oku-Nikko is a marshland at 1,400m elevation, popular for alpine plants in summer and grass autumn foliage in fall.
  • Nasu Highlands hosts the Imperial Family's Nasu Villa, with the Nasu Heisei Forest nature education site open to the public.
  • Ashikaga School is called Japan's oldest school and was introduced by Francis Xavier as Bando University.
  • Tochigi Prefecture produces over 99% of Japan's kanpyo dried gourd strips, essential for Edo-mae sushi rolls.
  • The prefecture has over 120 golf courses, among the most in Kanto, with summer resort golf from the Tokyo area being popular.
  • Prefectural Citizen's Day (June 15) commemorates the 1873 merger of Utsunomiya and Tochigi prefectures into the current domain.
  • The Moka Railway's SL Mooka is the only regularly operated tourist steam locomotive in Kanto, running every weekend.
  • Kanuma's carved festival floats are known for intricate woodcarving and are registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage under Yama, Hoko, Yatai Float Festivals.
  • Ashikaga Flower Park, boasting Japan's largest wisteria trellises, was selected by CNN as one of the world's 10 dream destinations.
  • The central region has among Japan's highest lightning occurrence rates, earning Utsunomiya the nickname Thunder Capital.
  • Oya History Museum features a massive underground space popular as a filming location for movies and music videos.
  • Tochigi Prefecture's mascot Tochimarukun features a strawberry hat and Japanese horse chestnut leaves as charm points.