2025 Utsunomiya Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in August)

🗺 Place Name: Oya Temple ✨Highlights: Oya Temple is located in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. One of its most notable features is the 27-meter-tall Peace Kannon (平和観音 Heiwa Kannon), carved as a memorial to soldiers of the Pacific War and to pray for world peace. It was sculpted from stone quarried at the Oya Quarry and built on the rock wall of Oya Temple. The artist Hida Asajiro (飛田朝次郎) and the stone craftsmen of Oya took about six years to complete the hand-carved statue. If you climb the stairs to the side of the Kannon, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the observation point. 🚅 How to get there: From the west exit of JR Utsunomiya Station, go to bus stop number 6 and take the "Oya-Tatsuiwa-yuki" bus for about 30 minutes. Get off at the "Oya-Kannon-mae" stop and walk for about 3 minutes. 🗣Tips: From December to March, the temple is closed every Thursday and from December 21 to 31.

I want you to go on a normal day off! I've compiled a list of recommended spots in Utsunomiya that are easy to get to from Tokyo on the day you feel like it♥. Wakatake-san is recommended at this time of year, and the mysticism of the Otani Museum is also great! Utsunomiya Zoo is a local place, so you can get close to the animals and there are surprisingly many rides, which is great😂❤️ The local aspect is also interesting! I think it's a seasonal place with that kind of feeling! Adults can totally enjoy it too! You can eat gyoza on the way home, and it's all close so you can go there, isn't it great? 🥹🫰 📍Address: 552-2 Kamikanai-cho, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-2115 🕰️Opening hours: Normal period (March to December) 9:00-17:00 *Last entry 16:30 Winter period (January to February) 9:30-16:30 *Last entry 16:00 #Seasonal places in Japan #Domestic travel #Tourism

Do you know the famous bamboo forest on the outskirts of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture? Today's post will introduce you to "Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm"! --〖What is "Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm"?〗--- "Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm" is a farm that has been growing mainly bamboo shoots and chestnuts for over 100 years🎋🌰 The bamboo forest stretches as far as the eye can see, and on sunny days the sunlight filtering through the trees is beautiful✨ Depending on the season, you can also pick blueberries in the berry fields and experience bamboo crafts, so it's a place that even small children can enjoy! --〖Bamboo forest used as a filming location🎋〗--- "Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm" has been used as a filming location for many familiar things! ・Movies "Rurouni Kenshin" and "Kingdom" ・Commercial "Oi Ocha" And many more! It's irresistible for fans🫶 ---〖Matcha in a bamboo forest🌿〗--- For 750 yen, you can enjoy matcha in a bamboo forest! Isn't it a little expensive...? Some people may think so, but this actually comes with chestnut sweets and a bamboo bowl😗 You can also take the bamboo bowl home◎ Please try taking a break in the bamboo forest✨ ---〖A wide variety of souvenirs!〗--- At "Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm", the souvenir corner is a must-have! Bamboo shoots are in season in April-May, blueberries in July-August, and chestnuts in September-October! However, even outside of the above seasons, we sell additive-free boiled bamboo shoots and chestnut snacks, so please be sure to get some! ---〖Summary〗--- In today's post, we introduced "Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm"! It's been hot lately, but please come and enjoy the soothing sound of the bamboo leaves! ---〖Basic Information〗--- 🎋Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm 2018 Takagihonmachi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi [Access] 🚎JR Utsunomiya Station West Exit Bus Stop Kanto Bus Routes 52, 56, 58 10 minutes walk after getting off at "Nozawadera-mae" [Opening Hours] [Weekdays] 9:00-17:00 [Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays] 9:00-20:00 *Closed at 21:00 from June to August [Closing Days] New Year's Holidays #DomesticTrip

Did you know that Yakult runs a cafe? In today's post, we'll introduce you to the Yakult Service Center Gohonmaru✌️ ---〖What is the Yakult Service Center?〗--- The Yakult Service Center is a complex facility that includes a cafe where you can enjoy light meals made with Yakult products, a Yakult cosmetics salon, and a gallery🙌 We want more people to know about Yakult products. We want our customers to find new ways to enjoy Yakult through the cafe and the salon. It seems that this idea has been put into practice 🥺 There are only two stores in the whole country, and both are in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, so it's safe to say that it's a tourist attraction exclusive to Tochigi 😘 This time, I went to "Yakult Service Center Gohonmaru" 🚶♀️ ---〖Photo spot for Yakult 1000📷´-〗--- In front of the "Yakult Service Center", there is a big Yakult 1000, so I took a commemorative photo 📸 Also, there are curtains, lights, etc., and there are Yakult everywhere, and it's super cute 🫶 Please try to find the hidden Yakult! 👀 ---〖Must try "Ice de Yakult"🍨〗--- At the "Yakult Service Center", you can try the online-only "Ice de Yakult"😋 This time, I ordered "Ice de Yakult Gelato & Milk"! This is an extremely rare ice cream, with only 30 pieces per day😮 And the only place you can eat it in person is the "Yakult Service Center Gohonmaru"! 🫢 The taste is... You can really taste the Yakult flavor, which is irresistible for Yakult lovers! ◎ ---〖There is also a beauty salon on the second floor🧖♀️〗--- I didn't visit this time, but there is a beauty salon on the second floor of the "Yakult Service Center Gohonmaru". It seems that you can get a facial treatment using Yakult cosmetics here! 😗 It's also recommended for those who want to try Yakult cosmetics👍 ---〖Summary〗--- In today's post, I introduced "Yakult Service Center Gohonmaru"! If you're looking for a cafe in Utsunomiya, please consider it as a candidate! ☕️ ---〖Basic Information〗--- 🍨 Yakult Service Center Gohonmaru 1-43 Honmaru-cho, Utsunomiya, Tochigi [Access] 🚃13-minute walk from Higashi-Utsunomiya Station 🚃25-minute walk from JR Utsunomiya Station [Parking] Available [Business hours] 10:00~19:00 (L.O. 18:30) [Closed] Wednesday #Domestic trip #Tochigi #Tochigi trip #Tochigi sightseeing #Tochigi gourmet #Cafe #Cafe tour #Cafe lover #Yakult #Yakult cafe #Yakult service center #Cafe activity #Cafe tour

Imaizumi Yasaka Shrine was enshrined as a guardian deity to ward off evil spirits when Utsunomiya Castle was constructed in 1063. It was originally founded as Shinmei-gu Shrine, and in 1910 it was merged with Yasaka Shrine in Bakuro-machi, changing its name to Yasaka Shrine, where it remains to this day. There is a pond on the grounds, with a red bridge spanning it. There are also carp swimming leisurely, which we enjoyed gazing at for a while. The Komainu (little dog) and Komainu (little cat) are a kind of symbol here! They were donated by worshippers in hopes of the long life and health of pets. The shrine office also has pet-related items available, and apparently they hold a guide dog fundraiser every New Year. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Imaizumi Yasaka Shrine ꕥAddress: 4-16-28 Imaizumi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi ꕥAccess 🚉Utsunomiya Station →🚶♀️About 12 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #shrines and temples #shrine tours #tourist spots #Utsunomiya

I went to Utsunomiya with my husband on a business trip. Until now, we've mostly stayed in hotels near the station, but this time we decided to stay at the Marriott Group's Fairfield by Marriott Utsunomiya, which is a little further away from the station (30 minutes by car). The area is a roadside station, so there are a lot of elderly people, but when we got to the hotel, it was very quiet and a lovely space surrounded by greenery and trees. It's a shame there's no breakfast, but when I woke up in the morning, I went to the first floor, poured myself a cup of coffee, and started working, so it was a pretty good start to the day. There were a lot of people working in the lobby, so it might be the best corporate trip for a real startup lol. I stayed well, worked well, and today was a good day ^ ^ #couples trip

Yakko Sushi Kagetsu 050-5868-1236 3031-1 Tomatamachi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi A sushi restaurant located about 15 minutes by taxi from JR Utsunomiya Station and Tobu Utsunomiya Station. There is not much bus service, so we recommend going by car or taxi. This sushi restaurant has a counter and private rooms, and the budget is 3,000 yen for lunch and 5,000 to 7,000 yen for dinner (drinks not included). The sushi includes ingredients unique to Tochigi, such as Nikko yuba and yashio trout, so you can enjoy Tochigi through food. There is also a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Utsunomiya City that is part of the same chain, so we recommend that you also go there. #Utsunomiya #UtsunomiyaGourmet #Sushi

#Tourist Spot Yahatayama Park 5-1-1 Hanada, Utsunomiya TEL 028-642-0462 Utsunomiya Tower in the park: open from 9:00 to 16:30 Go-karts in the park: open from 9:00 to 16:00 A place of relaxation for Utsunomiya residents, 20 minutes by bus and foot from JR Utsunomiya Station, and 20 minutes on foot from Tobu Utsunomiya Station. In addition to attractions such as Utsunomiya Tower (with observation deck) and go-karts (for junior high school students), the park is also home to 900 cherry trees and 800 azaleas, so you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in April and the azalea flowers during Golden Week. If you have children, there are go-karts and a jungle gym so they can play, and adults can enjoy cherry blossom viewing, making it a fun spot.

Hakata Rairyu 028-666-0178 6-8 Enomachi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Seki Building 1F Business hours: 10:45-24:00 This restaurant is located diagonally across from Utsunomiya Tobu Department Store. This restaurant serves Hakata ramen, which is rare in Utsunomiya. The white tonkotsu ramen has not too much back fat and the noodles have just the right firmness. If you want to eat delicious tonkotsu ramen, this is the place for you! #Utsunomiya

[Access] - Bus from JR Utsunomiya Station Get off at "Kencho-mae" and walk for about 3 minutes - Tobu Utsunomiya Line Get off at Tobu Utsunomiya Station and walk for about 10 minutes 2nd floor of Tochigi Prefectural Cultural Center [Points] ~Hidden gem~ LOKANTA is located inside the Tochigi Prefectural Cultural Center, so it is very clean and has a calm atmosphere. The surrounding atmosphere is also calm, so it is recommended when you want to relax. I think the cafe menu is particularly extensive. *Information as of March 2023.

[Access] 5 minutes walk from Tobu Utsunomiya Station Take the bus from the west exit of JR Utsunomiya Station to Tobu Station, or get off at the west exit of Tobu and walk for 5 minutes [Points] ~A quiet and relaxing space~ The Catholic Matsugaoka Church is located in the city, but once you step inside, you will find a very quiet and relaxing space. It is well-built and anyone can enter freely, so it's a good place to just drop in. *Information as of March 2023.

[Access] Take Kanto Bus Route 52, 56, or 58 from the West Exit of JR Utsunomiya Station Get off at "Nozawadera-mae" and walk for 10 minutes [Points] ~Relax yourself with the bamboo~ Wakatake Farm, as its name suggests, is full of bamboo, so you'll never get bored of looking at it. There are even swings made of bamboo inside. Adults can enjoy it as they return to their childhood. Wakatake Farm is full of negative ions, so it's sure to soothe your daily fatigue. *Information current as of March 2023.

If you go to Tochigi, I recommend Utsunomiya Zoo, which has a B-class amusement park and a zoo!? A zoo located in the northwest of Utsunomiya. Business hours: 9:00-17:00 * Last entry 16:30 (normal) 9:30-16:30 * Last entry 16:00 (mid-January to February 28) Price: 💰 Adults 1,500 yen Children 700 yen Pool Adults 700 yen Children 400 yen All Adults 1,700 yen Children 800 yen It's! Starting with the zoo, there are white tigers! They're rare, so I recommend you see them 🐯 We also had fun feeding the giraffes! The amusement park calls itself a retro amusement park and has a very retro atmosphere, but what I personally found interesting was that they used songs from Universal Studios (Minions) and Disney (Frozen) as background music, which was really fun. There were things like Mickey? Dwarf? here and there, Ultraman?, and a mysterious castle. There were a lot of things to point out, so it was a lot of fun. There were attractions like a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a sky balloon. I went on a weekday, and of course there was no wait time✨ It was the best! Personally, it's a very satisfying amusement park🎡. If you go to Tochigi, this might be the one I recommend the most lol. #TochigiTrip #Tochigi #UtsunomiyaZoo #Utsunomiya #AmusementPark #Zoo

This museum introduces Oya stone and is 30 meters underground and 20,000 square meters in size. Dramas and movies have been filmed here, so even if you bring your children, they can learn a lot and it was fun. The admission fee is 800 yen per adult, which is a bit high, but it would be nice if it was a bit cheaper. Junior high and elementary school students also have to pay 400 yen. That night, we stayed in the deluxe room at MYSTAYS again. The room was spacious and we were able to rest comfortably. We would definitely like to go again. That's all ~ #couplestrip

I came to Utsunomiya for work, so I used the points I had collected and stayed at MYSTAYS. It was a double bed and a business hotel, so it was very cheap. It was about 7,000 yen on a weekday, as expected from trip.com, I'm grateful lol This hotel is about a 5-minute walk from the station, and there is a Family Mart on the first floor and a 7-Eleven nearby, so it's very convenient. It's not at a busy exit, so it's very quiet♪ The room was clean and it's safe even for a woman traveling alone~ That's all. #Utsunomiya

The taste itself is not that different from any other conveyor belt sushi chain. Side dishes other than sushi, such as ramen and udon, are not uncommon these days. Also, you can play a game called Bikkura Pon once every five plates you eat, which is popular with children. It's rare to win, but when you do, you get a prize in a capsule like in a gachapon machine. This time it was Konan, so I wanted one, but I lost after three tries, so I gave up 🤦‍♀️ This time, there was a parking lot and many customers with children, so I was reminded that this is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant that is popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender. That's all~#gourmet

[Access] About 18 minutes walk from Utsunomiya Station on the Shonan Shinjuku Line and Shinkansen About 5 minutes by bus from the west exit of Utsunomiya Station [Points] ~Make sure to visit when sightseeing in Utsunomiya!~ Futarasan Shrine is a shrine with a long history. It is said that many festivals in Utsunomiya originate from Futarasan Shrine. During cherry blossom season, you can see beautiful cherry blossoms halfway up the stairs. *Information as of March 2023.

[Access] From JR Utsunomiya Station, take the Kanto Bus bound for Otani/Tateiwa from bus stop number 6. It's about a 2-minute walk from Otani Kannon-mae. [Points] ~A must-visit spot~ The Peace Kannon was started to be carved to commemorate the war dead and pray for world peace, and all of it was hand-carved. It is about 27 meters tall. Use the stairs to reach the eye level of the Kannon. The view from the top is amazing! *Information current as of March 2023.

[Access] From the west exit of JR Utsunomiya Station, take bus stop No. 6. Take the Kanto Bus bound for Otani Tateiwa for about 30 minutes. Get off at "Otani Kannon-mae" and it's a 3-minute walk. [Points] ~A place to relax~ Otani Kannon is said to have been built by Kobo Daishi in 810. You can't take photos inside, but when you go, take your time to look at the impressive Kannon statue. There is also a Bentendo Hall on the premises, and it is said that you will receive good fortune if you pray and stroke the white snake. *Information current as of March 2023.

[Access] Take the Oya/Tateiwa bound train from bus stop 6 at the west exit of JR Utsunomiya Station for about 30 minutes. Get off at the "Museum Entrance" and walk for 5 minutes. [Points] ~A must-see tourist spot in Utsunomiya~ The "Oya Stone Underground Mine Site" inside the museum is particularly attractive. It's used for various photo shoots and has art pieces on display, so it's worth going! The Oya Museum is far from the station, but it's a must-visit tourist spot. *Information current as of March 2023.

[Access] From JR Utsunomiya Station West Exit No. 6 bus stop, take the Otani/Tateiwa bound bus for about 30 minutes. Get off at the "Museum Entrance" bus stop and walk for 5 minutes. [Points] ~Buy souvenirs that are unique to the Otani Museum!~ Rockside Market combines a souvenir shop and a cafe. In particular, ornaments made from Oya stone are souvenirs that are unique to this place. It's a great place to buy one as a memento of your visit. If you want to take a break after visiting the Otani Museum, there is also a cafe menu. There is also terrace seating, so it looks like it will be fun in the coming season. *Information as of March 2023.

I've put together 7 great spots that I actually visited on my trip to Tochigi! 🥰 ① #Nikko Toshogu Shrine ② #Kegon Falls ③ #Otani Museum ④ #Utsunomiya Gyoza ⑤ #Utsunomiya Futaarasan Shrine ⑥ #Tobu World Square ⑦ #Nasu Kogen Rindoko Family Farm I hope this will be helpful for your trip to Tochigi✨ #Tochigi #Tochigi Trip #Tochigi Tourism

[Access] Directly connected to Utsunomiya Station on the Shonan Shinjuku Line and Shinkansen 1st floor of Paseo [Points] ~Choose what you want to eat depending on your mood!~ The food hall on the 1st floor of Utsunomiya Paseo is a food court that has a full range of bread, rice, and noodle dishes. Some stores even sell Utsunomiya's specialty "gyoza 🥟". It's okay to come with your family or friends and have different things you want to eat! The entrance is very busy and opens quite frequently, so it's also a good way to prevent infection. *Information as of March 2023. #Gourmet

1-23 Kawamukae-cho, Utsunomiya 028-627-8500 10:00-22:00 (some stores open at 7:30) "Utsunomiya Food Hall" opened in the Utsunomiya Station Building Paseo. It is a food court with the theme of promoting the new Tochigi and Utsunomiya brands. It is located right after entering Utsunomiya Station, so you can have a quick meal even if you are just about to board the train. Gyoza is good in Utsunomiya, but it's also nice to eat at a restaurant like this! #Utsunomiya #UtsunomiyaGyoza

5-8-9 Chuo, Utsunomiya TEL 028-634-6945 Business hours 10:00-17:30, closes when sold out Closed on Wednesdays Utsunomiya is famous for its gyoza, but there are surprisingly many yakisoba restaurants in the city, and this is the most famous one. The restaurant is about a 10-minute walk from JR Utsunomiya Station. It's also about 5 minutes from the downtown area, Orion Street. The menu allows you to choose how much topping you want of vegetables, ham, omelette, and meat, as well as the size. It's best to top everything on it. The noodles are thick and I personally thought they were good because they were slightly browned. #Utsunomiya #UtsunomiyaYakisoba

Access: Tochigi Prefecture. There is a large parking lot. Tourist attractions: Photogenic stone walls and rock surfaces Dining & Restaurants: There are stylish cafes and restaurants. It's a beautiful shop that looks like it could be in Tokyo. Shopping: You can buy stone accessories (flower pots, etc.), plates, cups, and cups. It's cool in the summer, so you can have a great time! All photos were taken with an iPhone 11 Pro. They are probably all normal and unedited. You can see the history of how mining methods changed over time from hand digging to machine digging. The stone walls have evenly cut marks, which makes you feel mysterious. #SummerTrip #SummerResort #StoneWall #Trip Quarry

Address: About 15 minutes walk from Utsunomiya Station Atmosphere/Facilities: Basement of Mega Donki Recommended points: A food court with all kinds of gyoza brands from Utsunomiya, a city famous for gyoza. There are two areas: permanent menu and daily menu, and when it gets busy you will need to wait a little with a numbered ticket (linked to LINE). I was so satisfied that I couldn't finish all the types! #Utsunomiya #Gyoza Average price: 1,000-3,000 yen

This is the spot I'd like to recommend the most recently❤︎. It's in Utsunomiya, so if you're coming from Tokyo, you can go there for a day trip❣️ . [Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm🎍] Personally, I liked it more than Arashiyama in Kyoto or the illuminations😂✨ I feel like I've found a great place!♪ Apparently it was also used as a filming location for Rurouni Kenshin and Kingdom＾＾ There is a parking lot, so I recommend going by car, but you can also get there by train and bus☺︎ If you're not sure what to do this weekend, please come♡☺️ #Forest bathing