Tochigi Prefecture Article Index for
Tochigi
Website Links For
Tochigi
 

Information About

Tochigi Prefecture




  Name Tochigi
  JapaneseName &#26627&#26408&#30476 ''Tochigi-ken''
  Symbol PrefSymbol-Tochigipng
  Capital Utsunomiya
  Region Kanto
  Island Honshu
  TotalArea 6,40828
  AreaRank 20<sup>th</sup>
  PCWater 02
  PopDate January 1 , 2003
  Population 2,011,313
  PopRank 20<sup>th</sup>
  Density 314
  Districts 6
  Municipalities 33
  ISOCode JP-09
  Flower Yashio tsutsuji<br/>(''Rhododendron albrechtii'')
  Tree Japanese horse Chestnut <br/>(''Aesculus turbinata'')
  Bird Blue-and-white Flycatcher <br/>(''Cyanoptila cyanomelana'')
  Map Japan Tochigi largepng
  Website [http://wwwpreftochigijp/kokusai/english/ wwwpreftochigijp/<br/>kokusai/english/]


is a Prefecture located in the Kanto Region on the island of Honshu , Japan . The capital is the city of Utsunomiya . Utsunomiya is famous for its many delicious Gyoza specialist shops.

Nikko , whose ancient Shinto Shrine s and Buddhist Temple s 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 include 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 .

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

14 cities are located on Tochigi Prefecture.


Towns and villages


These are the towns and villages in each District .


Mergers

(as of March 20, 2006)












TOURISM ATTRACTIONS

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.





EXTERNAL LINKS