6 Activities Nikko's Lovely White Birch Larry Knipfing This story focuses on a simple thing of beauty--the white birch. There are many in Nikko, especially in Senjogahara and Odajirogahara,..
10 Culture Fountainhead of Nikko Yumoto Onsen Tomoko Kamishima It is said that Priest Shodo who discovered most of the inner Nikko area also discovered a fountainhead in Yumoto in 788. He set..
Culture Nikko’s Yunoko Lake Tomoko Kamishima Yunoko Lake is a 3km round lovely lake in inner Nikko. A good walking trail circles the shore, and rental boats are available at..
Culture Tosho-gu Shrine’s Secret Magic - 2 Tomoko Kamishima Kano Tanyu designed huge numbers of sculptures and carvings for each building. There are 5173 in total. I would like to focus on..
10 Activities Nikko’s Senjogahara Josef Diermair Senjogahara, a 4 square kilometer marshland located just behind Ryuzu Falls, is simply amazing and I am psyched every time I go..
Culture Kanuma Buttsuke Autumn Festival 2026 Mid Oct A festival of food, music, dance and elaborate floats celebrated each year in October.
15 Otawara, Tochigi: Full of Surprises Louise Archer A few days in Otawara? This region has much more to be seen and done that you might expect
12 Ashikaga Flower Park: Water Lilies Larry Knipfing Ashikaga Flower Park is known for its beautiful Wisteria in spring. But in summer, the featured flower is the Water Lilly.