Exploring Tochigi Prefecture
This spring we visited Michael’s sister for the weekend. She lives in Japan and since it’s so close to Korea, we visit her when we can. She loves the countryside more than the city so she wanted to show us around her area, Tochigi prefecture. Today we’re exploring Tochigi prefecture, so follow along as we see everything this little area has to offer.
Tochigi is one prefecture above the Tokyo area, and the capital Utsunomiya is 2-3 hours from Tokyo, making it a good day or weekend trip. The main draws in Tochigi are the historic village of Nikko which we’ve written a separate blog about, and the city of Utsunomiya. On this day, we went to Utsunomiya and started in Moka, a small town in Tochigi.
To get around Tochigi easily I recommend renting a car because it’s quite rural. There are buses and a local train network, but unlike the larger cities, they don’t come as frequently. We made a reservation at Toyota in advance.
When we picked up our car the agent explained a ton of information but luckily Kati speaks Japanese so we understood what to do. We needed an international driver’s permit, and it was relatively cheap. Don’t forget Japan drives on the left side of the road!
Starbucks
We will start our road trip by going to Starbucks! I know, Starbucks is everywhere but this was different. It was the beginning of Sakura season and we wanted to try their new seasonal menu. We got beautiful pink drinks and treats. For me, it didn’t taste all that special but the colors were pretty. I kept seeing it on Instagram so it was nice to try out the trend.
Tsumiki Restaurant
After snacking at 7-Eleven, we decided to dine at a restaurant near Mashiko. This restaurant has everything from nirigi, ramen, and don katsu. The portions there are VERY big, so be prepared to be full. Everything tasted fantastic and the food was crisp and clean. I recommend this restaurant because it is very beautiful. I recommend taking the train because it’s only an 8-minute walk.
Jonaizaka Pottery Street
We arrived at the true beauty of Mashiko. The streets are lined with cute local pottery shops. Mashikago is famous for handmade pottery. There are so many unique pieces and colors so if you would like high-quality hand-made pottery this is the city to go to.
Note: Be careful when taking pictures. Some shops have signs that clarify you cannot take pics. Not all shops have these rules but many do so be aware.
We walked around and visited most of the shops in about an hour. You can see everything from dishes to pots and more. There are so many options and designs so I would recommend having an idea of what you are looking for ahead of time.
The prices are medium to high, but remember this is some of the highest-quality pottery in Japan. It can be expensive but it is worth it. I bought a plate for taking food pictures, and Michael bought a mug for traditional tea. We use them daily and we love them a lot.
Moondogg Espresso Roasters
There is not much to do in Mashiko. If you’re exploring Tochigi prefecture, you’re probably going to go through Utsunomiya. This is the capital of Tochigi and by far the largest city. If you don’t know us by now, we visit a specialty coffee shop every time we travel. I’ve gotten great at finding specialty shops, even though I don’t drink coffee. I found this shop through Instagram. The urban aesthetic and naturalistic vibes of the shop were nice and unique. I got a juice and Michael got a pour-over. We decided to get takeout since there was more we wanted to do.
Michael: Out of all of the countries in Asia, Japan drinks the least coffee, and specialty coffee is very rare. It wasn’t the best shop we’ve ever been to, but having a good cup of coffee in Japan is like visiting an oasis in a caffeine desert!
Big Echo
We asked Kati to suggest an activity and she said karaoke. Of course, we had to do it since karaoke was invented in Japan. We have done karaoke many times in Korea but I wanted to see how it compared. It is very similar to Korea, but it was so much fun singing songs in Japanese, English, and Korean. At this chain, you can get a room for an hour or more depending. There is an unlimited beverage machine that has soda, coffee, tea, and even slushies. Kati and I sang and Michael danced his heart out!
Hama-Sushi
Our last stop is sushi. Hama-sushi is a popular sushi chain with great prices. It is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant where your order is on a tablet and the sushi comes to you on a belt. Since this is a popular chain, be prepared for a wait; we had to wait outside for about 40 minutes.
I recommend visiting this chain especially if you’re on a budget, there are various menu options and everything is delicious. Even at cheap restaurants, Japan takes sushi very seriously.
Thoughts on Tochigi
We had a simple and fun day exploring Tochigi Prefecture. It was a nice and calm day compared to the bustle of being in the city. Between Nikko, Ashikaga, and Utsunomiya Tochigi has a lot to offer. Make sure you check out our other blogs to see everything to do in Tochigi!
