Just 50 minutes from Tokyo departure point！ Tochigi Prefecture boasts mysterious "underground shrines" and a hidden town reminiscent of Little Edo
Reported and photographed by reporter Lai Wenxuan / Tochigi, Japan
Tired of Tokyo? When planning trips, many people start venturing to the outskirts of Tokyo. Tochigi Prefecture, just about 50 minutes away by Shinkansen, is one of the best choices！ Located northeast of Tokyo, Tochigi Prefecture preserves a wealth of historical culture and natural landscapes. The "Hidden Town," also known as Little Edo, features traditional architecture that naturally slows your pace. Take a sightseeing boat and listen to the boatman humming a tune—it feels like traveling back in time.
▲ The Papaya River was once a major contributor to the commercial prosperity of Utsunomiya City. Many traditional storehouses ("kura") still stand intact along its banks.
Utsunomiya’s Hidden Town
Over 100 years ago, Utsunomiya City was the prefectural capital of Tochigi. During its most prosperous commercial era, goods were transported via the Papaya River all the way to Tokyo. However, as waterway transport declined, the prefectural capital was relocated. Yet, the old Edo- and Meiji-era buildings lining the river remain well-preserved. Visiting here is like stepping into a time tunnel, which is why the "Hidden Town" is also nicknamed Little Edo.
▲ The Tsukada family ran a timber business, relying on the Papaya River for retail transport. The black wooden walls lining the river have become a landmark of Utsunomiya City.
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A 20-minute cruise on the Papaya River is essentially a round trip along the waterway. As you sail, veteran boatmen sing unique local tunes while sharing stories about the area’s history and culture. Sitting in the boat, you can especially feel the old-fashioned Japanese charm.
Hidden Town Boat Cruise Information
Operating Hours: March–November (10:00–16:00), December–February (10:00–15:00)
Ticket Price: Adults 700 yen, Children (elementary school age and below) 500 yen
Oya History Museum
Tochigi Prefecture houses a mysterious, massive underground space 30 meters deep, dimly lit with only a few lights, creating an eerie atmosphere. Descending floor by floor into the earth feels like gradually entering the underground shrine from an ancient Roman movie scene. Even in summer, stepping into the depths causes the temperature to drop by about 10 degrees, making it quite chilling.
▲ Descending step by step into the earth gives you an adventurous feeling, and the underground temperature is only around 10 degrees, quite cold.
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In fact, this vast unknown underground space is the remnant of the Oya Quarry, covering an area of 20,000 square meters. It was where the specialty stone of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture—"Oya Stone"—was mined. The museum displays mining and transport tools, as well as the evolution of extraction methods since the 17th century.
▲ Many movies have used the underground space of the Oya History Museum as filming locations.
Due to its vastness and unique character, many films, MVs, and even the live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie have been filmed here. The site has also been rented out for concerts, theatrical performances, and even weddings, offering a mysterious yet grand and solemn atmosphere.
Oya History Museum Visit Information
Address: 909 Oya-machi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:00–17:00 (Open year-round)
Admission: Adults 800 yen, Children (junior and senior high school students) 400 yen
▲ Ashikaga Flower Park attracts visitors from home and abroad every year during its wisteria season. (Photo provided by Ashikaga Flower Park)
Ashikaga Flower Park
Once ranked among the "Top Ten Dreamlike Spots in the World," Ashikaga Flower Park captivates visitors with its romantic purple sea of flowers. From April to May, during the wisteria blooming season, pink wisterias bloom first, followed by the grand wisteria waterfall. Finally, dreamy white wisterias and yellow wisterias bring the season to a perfect close.
▲ During the wisteria season, the park holds a nighttime light show. (Photo provided by Ashikaga Flower Park)
Among them, two massive wisteria trees span an area equivalent to 600 tatami mats each. The spectacular wisteria blooms attract both domestic and international visitors to the park every year.
Park staff mentioned that currently, Ashikaga Flower Park is about a 10-minute walk from Tomita Station on the JR Tobu Isesaki Line. However, next year, the line will be extended directly to the park, reducing the walk to just one minute after exiting the station—making flower viewing more convenient for visitors.
▲ A spectacular wisteria waterfall, hailed as one of the "Top Ten Dreamlike Scenic Spots in the World." (Photo provided by Ashikaga Flower Park)
Ashikaga Flower Park Operating Information
Address: 607 Sakuma-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture
Operating Status: Generally open year-round (closed on the 3rd Wednesday and Thursday of February, and December 31)
Opening Hours: 9:00–18:00 year-round, 10:00–17:00 in winter (late November to February)
Admission: Fees vary depending on the blooming conditions.
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