Tochigi Prefecture

Tochigi prefecture (栃木県)

Tochigi prefectural symbol
Capital	Utsunomiya
Region:	Kanto
Island:	Honshu
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 20th 6,408.28 km² 0.2%
Population  - Total (Jan 1, 2003)  - Density	Ranked 20th 2,011,313 314/km²
Districts:	7
Municipalities:	49
ISO 3166-2:	JP-09
Symbols
Pref. Flower:	Yashio tsutsuji (Rhododendron albrechtii)
Pref. Tree:	Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata)
Pref. Bird:	Blue-and-white flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana)

Tochigi prefecture (栃木県 Tochigi-ken) is a located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya. Utsonomiya is famous for its many delicious "gyoza" specialist shops.

Nikko, whose ancient Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture. Nikko is approximately one hour by train from Tokyo.

Other famous parts of Tochigi indclude a region called Nasu known for onsen and local sake and ski resorts. The Imperial family has a villa in Nasu. Nasu Shiobara is a major Shinkansen station.

Another onsen resort is at Kinugawa.

History

Prior to the establishment of the present-day system of prefectures, Tochigi was Shimotsuke Province.

Three wise monkeys at Nikko Toshogu

The establishment of the Nikko Toshogu in 1617 brought Nikko to national attention. The Tokugawa Shogunate developed the Nikko kaido (part of the major road connecting Nikko with Edo) and required lavish processions to worship Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa line of shoguns.

Geography

Cities

The Kegon Falls in Nikko

• Ashikaga
• Imaichi
• Kanuma
• Kuroiso
• Mooka
• Nikko
• Otawara
• Oyama
• Sano
• Tochigi
• Utsunomiya (capital)
• Yaita

Districts

• Aso
  • Kuzu
  • Tanuma
• Haga
  • Haga
  • Ichikai
  • Mashiko
  • Motegi
  • Ninomiya
• Kamitsuga
  • Ashio
  • Awano
  • Nishikata
• Kawachi
  • Kamikawachi
  • Kaminokawa
  • Kawachi
  • Minamikawachi
• Nasu
  • Bato
  • Karasuyama
  • Kurobane
  • Minaminasu
  • Nasu
  • Nishinasuno
  • Ogawa
  • Shiobara
  • Yuzukami
• Shimotsuga
  • Fujioka
  • Ishibashi
  • Iwafune
  • Kokubunji
  • Mibu
  • Nogi
  • Ohira
  • Tsuga
• Shioya
  • Fujihara
  • Kitsuregawa
  • Kuriyama
  • Shioya
  • Takanezawa
  • Ujiie

Economy

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Statues at Nikko Toshogu

Nikko is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Site. This encompasses Rinnoji, Nikko Toshogu, Futarasan Shrine, and Taiyuin. The Kegon Falls, also in Nikko, is popular with tourists. To travel between the city and the falls, automobiles and buses take the irohazaka, a road with dozens of switchbacks.

Prefectural symbols

Miscellaneous topics

External links

• Official Tochigi prefecture homepage (http://www.pref.tochigi.jp/kokusai/english/index.html)

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de:Tochigi (Präfektur) es:Prefectura de Tochigi eo:Toĉigi (prefektujo) fr:Préfecture de Tochigi ja:栃木県 pt:Tochigi