Family Travel In Tochigi! 5 Great Spots For Parents And Kids
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Where’s the ideal destination for a family trip with your parents? How about places you can enjoy with children? We introduce five perfect spots in Tochigi, just two hours by train from Tokyo, including Edo Wonderland and Shiobara Onsen Village!
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Tokyo, Japan
Tochigi Prefecture is a popular sightseeing area accessible in about two hours by train from Tokyo. It’s filled with places ideal for a family trip with your parents or with children!
In this article, we’ll introduce five of our most recommended spots.
Table of Contents:
1. Travel Back in Time at EDO WONDERLAND!
2. Entertainment for All Ages at TWIN RING MOTEGI
3. Relax with Fall Leaves and Footbaths! Shiobara Onsen Village
4. Visit Mashiko for Elegant Pottery and Cafés
5. Buy Everything You Want! Sano Premium Outlets
1. Travel Back in Time at EDO WONDERLAND!
Many people dream of time travel. EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura is where that wish will come true!
Picture courtesy of Nikko Edomura
In EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura, a recreation of an Edo period town, you’ll find a shopping district, samurai residences, and ninja villages. People dressed in Edo period clothing walk around the streets.
When visiting EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura, you can also put on Edo period clothing and time travel back to the past! At Jikuu, you can transform into a merchant, samurai, noblewoman, or feudal lord.
In the Edo village, you’ll find a facility where geta (Japanese wooden clogs) and ukiyo-e (woodblock paintings) are on display. There are also areas where you can try making senbei rice crackers, play the shamisen (*1), and have your makeup done Edo period style.
*1 Shamisen: a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument.
Picture courtesy of Nikko Edomura (left and upper right)
You can also enjoy stage performances in the village. There’s a ninja show with realistic action featuring lights and music, a romantic comedy about a beautiful oiran (*2), and a period drama about the punishment of a villain. The Oiran Courtesan Procession, an event where visitors can see the oiran courtesan performing a ceremonial walk, is another must-see!
*2 Oiran: a highly ranked courtesan during the Edo period.
2. Entertainment for All Ages at TWIN RING MOTEGI
This is one of the most internationally leading racing circuits in Japan, located right in Tochigi.
Picture courtesy of TWIN RING MOTEGI
TWIN RING MOTEGI, the Japan venue for the annual FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP), attracts road racing fans from all over the world.
You can also enjoy other activities in addition to motorsports at TWIN RING MOTEGI.
Picture courtesy of TWIN RING MOTEGI
Mobi Park is an amusement area where children can drive all types of motorcycles and cars. They can also make their own driving license. This is great fun for kids!
Picture courtesy of TWIN RING MOTEGI
At the Honda Collection Hall approximately 300 wheeled vehicles made by Honda, a Japanese motor manufacturer, are on display. You can also try assembling an electric cart here yourself.
The circuit is also filled with fun for adults, including Hello Woods’ zip lines (Mega Zip Line TSUBASA and Forest Zip Line MUSASABI) in a huge forest, and a chance to drive a car on a real racing track.
Picture courtesy of TWIN RING MOTEGI
There are also restaurants, a hotel, and a camping area at TWIN RING MOTEGI. Play your heart out at the circuit with your family!
3. Relax with Fall Leaves and Footbaths! Shiobara Onsen Village
The surrounding valley at Shiobara Onsen Village transforms into red hues in the autumn. This is an ideal destination for relaxing with your parents.
Picture courtesy of Tochigi Prefecture
Momijidani Bridge is Japan’s largest non-stiffening girder suspension bridge. It is a famous and popular autumn spot in Shiobara. You can take in the beautiful gradation of colors of the reddening valley from the bridge.
The area has a romantic atmosphere and is believed to be a good spot for couples. This is sure to help your parents remember memories of their dates together.
Café Restaurant Yoto (Japanese) is a popular restaurant on the second floor of Shiobara Imagination Archives in Shiobara Onsen Village. At the riverside tables you can enjoy your meal with a view of Kurenai Bridge, a bridge surrounded by fiery red leaves.
When you visit an onsen area, you just have to go to a hot spring! We recommend the footbaths for those who don't want to go into a bathhouse. Yuppo no Sato (Japanese) is especially fun and is Japan’s largest footbath facility.
The baths here differ in temperature depending on the area. Sit in the area with a temperature right for you, soak in the footbaths, and enjoy viewing the foliage.
To access Shiobara Onsen Village, you can take the bus from Nishi-Nasuno Station. By using the Shiobara Valley Free Use Ticket (Japanese), you’ll be able to ride the buses in this region as much as you want for a day and will be able to see other spots as well.
4. Visit Mashiko for Elegant Pottery and Cafés
Picture courtesy of Tochigi Prefecture
The town of Mashiko is famous for its Mashiko ware. This pottery has a history of over 160 years and is recognized for its luster and slight thickness.
Mashiko also strives to preserve its traditions while keeping up with contemporary technology and designs. The variety of creations, made with a fusion of traditional and new methods, are popular with all ages of customers. In fact, families traveling together often visit Mashiko.
In Mashiko, cafés fused with shops carrying Mashiko ware are common, allowing customers to find goods to their liking while they take a break.
Kokoro (Japanese) is a café where you can enjoy food and drinks served on Mashiko ware. The dishes, with their calming hues and sturdiness, will help bring out the flavor of sweets and keep your drinks warm.
The café sells Mashiko ware made by the owner and local potters. You will find various styles, including modern patterns and simple designs.
Picture courtesy of Tochigi Prefecture
A large pottery fair is held during the spring and autumn in Mashiko. Bring your parents here and discover treasures!
5. Buy Everything You Want! Sano Premium Outlets
Shopping is a necessary part of your itinerary, even on a trip with your parents or with children!
Picture courtesy of Tochigi Prefecture
Sano Premium Outlets, an outlet inspired by America’s east coast, contains over 170 stores. Some of these include Western-style clothing, accessories, household goods, and Sanrio, a brand selling character goods popular with children. You can also purchase European brands such as Gucci and Prada for reasonable prices. This is a shopping outlet that appeals to people of all ages.
In addition to the outdoor rest area, the outlet also has restaurants and cafés that allow you to enjoy shopping while taking breaks. The outlet also offers a delivery service to all regions of Japan.
Every season there is something fun to do here. For example, the outlet is decorated in a strawberry theme in the spring, and romantic illuminations light up during the winter.
Special discounts for international tourists are available at Sano Premium Outlets. You can receive the coupon book by simply showing your passport to the staff at the service center. It is useable at all participating stores within the outlet.
Buses going directly to Sano Premium Outlets depart every day from Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, Haneda Airport, and Narita Airport. It is also convenient to travel to Ashikaga Flower Park, a popular theme park, from Sano Premium Outlets.
Tochigi – Full of Sightseeing, Hot Springs, and Shopping!
Tochigi is a prefecture enjoyable by families and visitors of all ages, with wonderful sightseeing areas, hot springs, theme parks, and shopping spots. How about making plans for your next family vacation?
Website for Tochigi: VISIT TOCHIGI
Tochigi - A Treasure Trove of Scenic Views! https://matcha-jp.com/en/tochigi
Written by Chia
Sponsored by Tochigi Prefecture
Written by
Tokyo, Japan
MATCHA's promotional account for corporate and local government advertising. We aim to provide useful information to our readers in an enjoyable manner.
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