Tochigi Prefecture [栃木]
Tourist spots in Tochigi Prefecture
Nikko city
Nikko city covers a large mountainous area in the northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture.
After the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu who unified Japan and established Edo (current Tokyo) as the capital in 1603, the mausoleum was built here in Nikko to enshrine him as a deity.
Nikko is located 120 km true north of Tokyo and was regarded in religious tradition as the guardian deity of the northern direction of the Edo.
The main areas are located in highlands at an elevation of over 600 meters, so it is very cold in winter.
Centered around Nikko Toshogu shrine, Futarasan JinjaF shrine and Rinnoji temple are located within the wide area.
Lake Chuzenji is a scenic spot located just 10 km from the sacred site.
However, the elevation rises sharply, and it is the highest lake in Japan at an elevation of 1,269 meters.
In the mountainous area north of downtown Nikko, several popular hot spring resorts are dotted.
Various tourist spots in Tochigi Prefecture
Local foods in Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya Gyoza
Gyoza is a kind of dumpling stuffed with minced pork and vegetables.
Originally, it is one of Chinese foods, and is called "jiaozi" in Chinese.
Japanese people often eat gyoza as a convenient Chinese dish.
Utsunomiya has always been one of the cities that a citizen buys much gyoza in Japan a year.
So, since the 1990s, Utsunomiya has promoted its gyoza as part of efforts to develop the city.
Now Utsunomiya-gyoza is well-known throughout the country.
Compared to regular gyoza, Utsunomiya Gyoza use less ground pork and more cabbage, Chinese cabbage and Chinese chives to bring out their natural sweetness and texture.
You can enjoy Utsunomiya gyoza at many Chinese restaurants and ramen shops in Utsunomiya city.
And, there is also "Gyoza-dori street" in the downtown of Utsunomiya city, where specialty shops selling Utsunomiya gyoza are clustered.
Sano Ramen
Sano is a city located in the southern part of Tochigi Prefecture.
The ramen has been made in Sano since the early 20th century and has become a popular dish in this area.
There are more than 150 restaurants in the city that serve Sano ramen.
The noodles are made using the water and a method of stretching the kneaded wheat dough with bamboo.
The noodles are firm but have a delightfully chewy texture.
The soup is made by simmering chicken bones and pork bones, along with vegetables, resulting in a clear broth.
Yuba dish in Nikko
Yuba is a Japanese and Chinese food known as "tofu skin" or "dried bean curd".
It is an essential ingredient in Buddhist vegetarian cuisine.
It is made by boiling soy milk and collecting the film or skin of protein on the liquid surfice.
In Japan it is the specialty of Nikko and Kyoto.
Kyoto-yuba is thin, but Nikko-yuba is thick.
Because, Nikko-yuba is made by rolling or bundling the thin film.
You can enjoy Yuba dishes at the restaurants located along the approach leading from Nikko Station to the area where temples and shrines are clustered.
Local specialties in Tochigi Prefecture
Kanpyo
Sushi roll of Kanpyo
Kanpyo is one of Japanese foods, and is is a food ingredient that is eaten only in Japan in the world.
It is made by peeling the calabash, shaving it like a long strip with a plane and drying it.
The work of shaving is done before daylight in midsummer and the strips are dried in strong summer sunshine.
Most of Japan's kanpyo is produced in Tochigi Prefecture.
Kanpyo can be simmered in a broth made with soy sauce and sugar.
It is commonly used as one of ingredients of sushi roll.
Mashiko Pottery
Mashiko Pottery is a type of pottery with a plump and thick body produced in Mashiko town located at the southwest part of Tochigi Prefecture.
It is said that the production was started around the middle of the 19th century.
First, pots and water jars had been made.
But a ceramic artist began to create a ceramic jar with rid for tea ceremony and the other craftworks since the 1930s.
Since that, Mashiko pottery has been famous in Japan.
Additionally, Bernard Leach (1887-1979, a British potter) introduced it to Europe.