 Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県, Tochigi-ken) - A
prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of
Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya is famous for its many delicious gyoza specialist
shops. Also located in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture has
one of the largest shopping malls in the North Kantō region,
Bell Mall.
Nikkō, whose ancient Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples
UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site,
is in this prefecture. Nikkō is approximately one hour by
train from Tokyo and approximately 35 km west of the capital
Utsunomiya.
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.
Situated among the inland prefectures of the Northern
portion of the Kanto region, Tochigi is contiguous with the
four prefectures of Ibaraki, Gunma, Saitama, and Fukushima.
The climate of Tochigi may be classified as a humid
temperate zone in which there are broad variations in
temperature. Winters are arid with dry winds, while summers
are humid and puncuated with frequent thunderstorms.
The population of Tochigi as of March, 2007, was
approximately 2,014,900 and was increasing up until 2005. In
2006, the population started to decrease mirroring that of
the nation's population decrease. About 500,000 people live
in the prefectural capital city of Utsunomiya, with the
remainder dispersed over 14 other cities and 17 towns.
Situated in the center of the prefecture is the largest open
plain in the Kanto region. To the north stand the mountains
Shirane (2,578m), Nantai (2,484m) and Nasudake (1,917m).
Originating in this region are the Kinugawa, Nakagawa, and
Watarase Rivers, which flow across the Kanto plain before
emptying in the Pacific Ocean. Tochigi is the 20th largest
prefecture in Japan with a total area of 6,408 square km.
 In the late 7th century, Tochigi formed Shimotsuke Province.
During that time was built the Shimotsuke-Yakushi temple,
making it the Buddhist capital of the Kanto Region.
In the early 15th century, Ashikaga University, Japan's
oldest school of higher education, was re-established,
holding over 3000 students by the 16th century. Saint
Francis Xavier introduced Ashikaga to the world as the best
university in Japan.
In the early 17th century, Japan was unified by the Shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu. After his death, Toshogu was built in Nikko
on what the shoguns thought of as holy ground to protect and
worship Ieyasu. The establishment of the Nikkō Toshogu in
1617 brought Nikkō to national attention. The Tokugawa
Shogunate developed the Nikkō kaidō (日光街道, part of the major
road connecting Nikkō with Edo) and required lavish
processions to worship Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa
line of shoguns.
In the late 19th century the Tokugawa Shogunate fell and the
new government established the prefectures. The prefectural
capital was established in the city of Tochigi after the
unification of Utsunomiya Prefecture and Tochigi Prefecture
in 1873. By 1884, however, the capital was transferred to
Utsunomiya.
Taking advantage of the fact that it is located in the area
near Tokyo, Tochigi is home to many corporations and
industrial zones, including the Kiyohara Industrial Complex,
one of the largest inland industrial complexes nationwide.
Industrial production in Tochigi is highly concentrated in
manufacturing, accounting for 36.6% of the Prefecture's
total production output. Vehicle parts and accessories ranks
number one in Prefectural output followed by vehicle
manufacturing, radios and televisions, pharmaceuticals, and
wireless communication equipment.
Tochigi's annual gross agricultural output is roughly 274
billion yen and includes rice, vegetables, and livestock.
Tochigi is also known for its strawberries, Chinese chives,
and Japanese pears which are sold throughout the country as
well as exported to various nations. Approximately 55% of
Tochigi is covered by forests. Mushrooms, such as Shitake
mushrooms, make up half of the forest industry, its output
being approximately 5.6 billion yen.
Nikkō National Park is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage
Site which was registered as the 10th World Heritage Site in
1999. This encompasses Rinnō-ji, Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Mount
Nantai, and Futarasan Shrine. The Kegon Falls, also in Nikkō,
is popular with tourists. To travel between the city and the
falls, automobiles and buses take the Irohazaka, a road with
dozens of switchbacks. In addition, approximately 400
hundred year old Japanese Cedars (about 13,000 in total)
line the famous Nikko Cedar Avenue for roughly 37 km, making
it the longest tree lined avenue in the world.
Japan's oldest university, Ashikaga University, as well as
traditional towns such as the city of Tochigi are also part
of the prefecture's rich heritage.
A more recent and modern attraction is the Twin Ring Motegi
Circuit race course, which hosts the only IndyCar race
outside the United States. The track also hosts many other
race events including Formula One and motorcycle races as
well as festivals and fireworks events.
Tochigi has many traditional festivals and events such as
Nikkō Tōshō-gū's 1000 Samurai Procession and Horseback
Archery Festival, and the city of Tochigi's Autumn Festival
where doll floats are pulled around the city once every five
years.
Other attractions include
Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Rinnō-ji
Futarasan Shrine
Kegon Falls
Lake Chuzenji
Kirifuri Falls
Mashiko
Shiobara Hot Spring
Nasu resort area
Kinugawa Hot Spring
Twin Ring Motegi (motorsports complex)
Transportation and Access
Roadways
Traversing the prefecture along the north-south axis and
connecting to the rest of the country are the Tōhoku
Expressway and the new and old Route 4. From east to west
spans Rout 50, connecting southern Tochigi with Ibaraki and
Gunma Prefectures.
Also connecting Tochigi, Gunma, and Ibaraki is the Kita-Kantō
Expressway, with the 18.5 km that connect the Tochigi-Tsuga
Interchange and the Utsunomiya-Kaminokawa Interchange.
Portions of the Kita-Kantō Expressway are still being
constructed and is set to be fully completed by 2011. The
highway will link the region's other main transport
arteries, the Tōhoku, the Jōban and the Kan-Etsu
Expressways, providing a link to the international port of
Hitachinaka in Ibaraki.
Railways
The main railways running north and south in Tochigi are the
Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) and the JR Utsunomiya Train
Line. From Tokyo Station the shinkansen can reach Oyama
(south Tochigi) in 43 minutes, with the fastest trains
arriving in Utsunomiya in 48 minutes, placing many parts of
Tochigi within commuting range of downtown Tokyo. Along the
east and west, the Mito and Ryomo Train Lines connect
Tochigi to Ibaraki and Gunma Prefectures.
For cargo transportation, freight train lines have a hub in
Utsunomiya at the Utsunomiya Cargo Station.
Air
Within approximately an hour's drive along the Tohoku
Expressway from Utsunomiya is Fukushima Airport.
International and national air transportation is through
Narita International Airport to the east of Tokyo and
approximately three hours by vehicle from Utsunomiya.
Fourteen cities are located in Tochigi Prefecture.
Ashikaga
Kanuma
Mooka
Nasukarasuyama
Nasushiobara
Nikkō
Ōtawara
Oyama
Sakura
Sano
Shimotsuke
Tochigi
Utsunomiya (capital)
Yaita
Information source: “Tochigi Prefecture.” wikipedia.org. Article
date: 27 Feb. 2008. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Mar. 2008 <Tochigi Prefecture>. |
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