Utsunomiya, home to the largest downtown area in Tochigi Prefecture, is famous for its gyoza (dumplings). In the suburbs, there are the ruins of the Oya Stone quarry, which has been used for filming numerous movies, where visitors can explore the underground temple-like space.
Utsunomiya is home to tourist attractions such as Utsunomiya Zoo, Imamiya Shrine, and Mt. Haguro; tourist events such as the Tenno Festival, Crying Sumo, and the New Year Firefighting Ceremony; and local delicacies such as Utsunomiya Gyoza, Kenchin Jiru, and Shimotsukare.
Utsunomiya City is located in the northern part of the Kanto region. Located in the central part of Tochigi Prefecture, the city is the prefectural capital and is designated as a core city. The Oyaishi stone mined in the western part of the city is famous, and is widely used as building material for buildings in various locations in the Kanto region, including for the construction of the Imperial Hotel.
Recently, the city has also become famous for its gyoza (dumplings), and the number of tourists coming to the city for gyoza has been increasing. Cocktails and jazz are also being promoted as themes for local revitalization.
On the other hand, Utsunomiya City is the largest metropolitan area in Japan centering on the core city. A large-scale inland industrial park has been developed in the eastern part of the city, and in 1984 it was designated as the only technopolis area in the Kanto region, giving it an industrial city face.
The Heiwa Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) is a must-see sightseeing spot in Utsunomiya City. This 27-meter-high statue of the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) is located on the site of an Oyaishi stone mining site. Completed in 1954 to pray for world peace, the statue's peaceful expression is indescribably soothing. There is also an observatory on the chest of the statue from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
Futaarasan Shrine is synonymous with Utsunomiya. Utsunomiya City has prospered as the gate town of Futaarasan Shrine. The shrine has a long history as a place of worship for warlords such as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, and as the first shrine in Shimono-kuni, it is also the origin of the word "Utsunomiya.
Tochinoki-Family Land is an amusement park for families located in the southern part of the city. In addition to the standard Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, the highlight of the amusement park is the Hayabusa roller coaster, which is the only one of its kind in Japan.
Kanuma City is located in the central part of Tochigi Prefecture in the northern part of Kanto, and is famous for its satsuki (Japanese azalea) and Kanuma clay. The city also holds an autumn festival, in which carved floats are paraded through the town.
Kanuma City's sightseeing attractions include a visit to Imamiya Shrine. Imamiya Shrine was originally a branch shrine of Nikko Futaarasan Shrine, which enshrined the three deities of Nikko Futaarasan Shrine in Goshomori. The carvings on the main shrine and Karamon gate are a sight to see. The Kanuma Autumn Festival, held on the Saturday and Sunday before Sports Day in October, has been designated a nationally important intangible cultural property.
The main exhibition hall exhibits the carved stalls used in the Kanuma Autumn Festival.
The Utsunomiya Zoo is a theme park where visitors can enjoy interacting with nature, animals and children. At Utsunomiya Zoo, visitors can interact with a total of 400 animals in 95 species, ranging from fierce animals such as lions and Bengal tigers to small animals such as raccoons, raccoons, gira...»
The name of Utsunomiya is said to derive from the fact that this shrine was once called "Ichinomiya" in Shimono. It is said that the history of Utsunomiya began about 1,600 years ago, together with Mt. Futaarasan. The shrine has a long history, dating back to its founding about 1,600 years ago, wh...»
The museum is an underground museum that was built on the site of an Oya Stone quarry. Even if you are not familiar with the name Oyaishi, the texture of the stone should be familiar to you. This stone has long been used as a building material for houses and walls, but where and how it is mined is ...»
Located in Ishi-no-Sato, this is a very rare temple surrounded by natural caves. This temple was built on the site of an ancient cave dwelling, and is known as one of the best cave temples in Japan. Inside the mysterious main hall are 10 beautiful Buddha images carved into the natural rock walls. A...»
A 27-meter-high statue of the Great Kannon carved into a rock wall In Oya, a stone village in Utsunomiya City, there is a huge stone statue of Kannon standing on the site of the Oya Stone Mining Site. The towering statue stands 26.93 meters tall (88 shaku 8 sun 8 min) with a girth of 20 meters. T...»
A place to enjoy the region and its beautiful satoyama. The 46-hectare site is a stay-and-experience farm park with a farm produce stand, a restaurant where you can enjoy local foods, a farm experience farm, a forest play area, a dog run, a hot spring, a swimming pool, and accommodation facilities. ...»
Located in the Kitsuregawa district of Sakura City, Kitsuregawa is an old castle town that prospered as an inn on the Oshu Highway during the Edo period. The hot spring has a wide range of effects and benefits, and is known as a good spring rich in sulfur, salt, and iron, attracting many people from...»
This roadside station is located in Kitsuregawa, Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, which was a castle town on the Oshu Highway in the Edo period. It is also a roadside station with hot spring facilities at Kitsuregawa Onsen, known as one of the three best hot springs for skin in Japan. There are appr...»