Tochigi Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県 Tochigi-ken)
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Map of Japan with Tochigi highlighted

CapitalUtsunomiya
RegionKanto
IslandHonshu
GovernorTomikazu Fukuda
Area6,408.28 km² (20th)
 - % water0.2%
Population (January 1, 2003)
 - Population 2,011,313 (20th)
 - Density 314 /km²
Districts7
Municipalities49
ISO 3166-2JP-09
Web sitewww.pref.tochigi.jp/
kokusai/english/
Prefectural Symbols
 - FlowerYashio tsutsuji (Rhododendron albrechtii)
 - TreeJapanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata)
 - BirdBlue-and-white flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
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PrefSymbol-Tochigi.png
Symbol of Tochigi Prefecture


Symbol of Tochigi Prefecture

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. Utsunomiya 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 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.

Contents

History

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

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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

The following communities agreed to seek the permission of the governor of the prefecture to merge on March 1, 2006:

Cities

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The Kegon Falls in Nikko

(**Ujiie,**Kitsuregawa)

(*Aso District,**Kuzu,**Tanuma)

(**Nishinasuno,**Shiobara)

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Economy

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

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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

  Tochigi Prefecture Missing image
PrefSymbol-Tochigi.png
Symbol of Tochigi Prefecture

Cities
Ashikaga | Imaichi | Kanuma | Kuroiso | Mooka | Nikko | Otawara | Oyama | Sano | Tochigi | Utsunomiya (capital) | Yaita
Districts
Aso | Haga | Kamitsuga | Kawachi | Nasu | Shimotsuga | Shioya
  See also: Towns and villages by district edit
edit Prefectures of Japan Missing image
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Flag of Japan

Aichi | Akita | Aomori | Chiba | Ehime | Fukui | Fukuoka | Fukushima | Gifu | Gunma | Hiroshima | Hokkaido | Hyogo | Ibaraki | Ishikawa | Iwate | Kagawa | Kagoshima | Kanagawa | Kochi | Kumamoto | Kyoto | Mie | Miyagi | Miyazaki | Nagano | Nagasaki | Nara | Niigata | Oita | Okayama | Okinawa | Osaka | Saga | Saitama | Shiga | Shimane | Shizuoka | Tochigi | Tokushima | Tokyo | Tottori | Toyama | Wakayama | Yamagata | Yamaguchi | Yamanashi
Regions of Japan
Hokkaido | Tohoku | Kanto | Chubu (Hokuriku - Koshinetsu - Tokai) | Kansai | Chugoku | Shikoku | Kyushu
Major Cities
23 wards of Tokyo | Chiba | Fukuoka | Hiroshima | Kawasaki | Kitakyushu | Kobe | Kyoto | Nagoya | Osaka | Saitama | Sapporo | Sendai | Shizuoka | Yokohama

See also: Tochigi Prefecture, 1617, 2003, 2006, 23 special wards