Tochigi Hidden Gems
Home to Nikko's lavishly carved shrines and the mountains and lakes behind them — the classic day trip north of Tokyo.
6 spots
Climate & Best Season
Hot plains summers and cool mountain air in Nikko/Oku-Nikko, which sees snow. Late October–November for foliage.
Famous For (Food)
- Utsunomiya gyoza
- Yuba (tofu skin)
- Strawberries
- Soba
Signature Sights
- Nikko Toshogu (UNESCO)
- Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji
- Kinugawa Onsen
- Ashikaga Flower Park wisteria
Toshogu Shrine — Golden Temple of the Shogun
Toshogu Shrine is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and represents the absolute z…
Shinkyo Bridge — Sacred Vermilion Arch
Shinkyo is a vermilion-lacquered wooden bridge that arcs over the Daiya River at the entrance to Nikko's shrine district…
Mashiko Pottery Town — Mingei Craft Village
Mashiko is a pottery town 100 kilometers north of Tokyo that became the spiritual center of Japan's mingei (folk craft)…
Tochigi Kurazukuri — Edo Warehouse District
Tochigi City was a prosperous merchant town during the Edo and Meiji periods, serving as a distribution hub for goods tr…
Oya History Museum — Underground Stone Cathedral
The Oya History Museum is built into a former underground stone quarry where Oya Stone — a light, porous volcanic tuff u…
Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa — Meiji Elegance
Tamozawa Imperial Villa was built in 1899 as a summer retreat for the Taisho Emperor (then Crown Prince Yoshihito) and h…