Ashikaga in Tochigi prefecture, Japan offers you to enjoy the beauty of nature and the depth of the history. Here is a guide for the best things to do including the famous flower park, historical places, and local food to help you plan a great trip to Ashikaga. Also for those who are looking for things to do near Ashikaga Flower Park.
Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan
Ashikaga city is located in Tochigi prefecture, Japan. It’s in Kanto area. Tochigi prefecture is known for Nikko as well.
Good Destination for a Day Trip from Tokyo
You can go to Ashikaga from Tokyo as a day trip. It takes 1.5 – 2h (depending on the traffic) by car, 2h-3h by train. It’s not super close (maybe from NYC to Philly), but still a good option.
Nature and Historical Places
Ashikaga is surrounded by much nature, mountains and a river called Watarase. Also, Ashikaga Flower park (details below). There are historical places, the oldest school in Japan, the temple which has 800 years of history, in Ashikaga.
You can enjoy both nature and history.
The Best Things To Do in Ashikaga City
What to do in Ashikaga city, Tochigi?
- Ashikaga Flower Park
- Ashikaga Gakko (School)
- Bannaji Temple
- Orihime Shrine
- Local Food
Details below!
Ashikaga Flower Park – Wisteria
Have you heard of the wisteria that is 140 – 160 years old? They have huge wisteria trees that are breathtakingly beautiful!!!! The season for wisteria is around mid April – early May (depending on the weather, of course).
It’s literally a flower park where you can enjoy a lot of kinds of flowers. There are many flowers that you can enjoy even if you missed the timing for those wisterias.
More details >> Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi
Ashikaga Gakko School – The Oldest School in Japan
Ashikaga School is one of Japan Heritages. Still we don’t know when it was started for sure, it’s been said Nara period, Heian period, or Kamakura period. However, we know that it was reviled in 1439.
The Spanish missionary, Saint Francis Xavier, who came to Japan in 1549, wrote about this school, that spread this school to the world.
They replicated the buildings and facilities, a library, dorm, shed, 2 nice gardens (North garden and South garden), small farms, etc. It’s very nice quit peaceful place that I liked. Also, you can find some Wisteria trees in the site if it’s the wisteria season.
Entrance Fee
- Adult : 420 yen
- High School Student : 220 yen
You can pay in cash, or Transportation IC card (Suica, Pasmo). As of 2023.
Bannaji Temple – 800 Years of History
It was built in 1197 by Yoshikane Ashikaga. This site was originally owned by the Ashikaga family, and there was a mansion of theirs. The beginning of temple was, Yoshikane Ashikaga made a Jibutsudo which is a room/hall where a private buddha statue is kept in the site. After his death, his son built a main temple building.
The Main Temple – National Treasure
The main temple building was registered as national treasure in 2013. As I mentioned earlier, it was built by a son of Yoshikane Ashikaga, Sadauji Ashikaga. It’s Zenshu style architecture, which was the latest architectural style at that time. There are not many of Zenshu style architecture in Japan today, so it’s rare.
The Entrance and Roumon Gate
The main gate called Roumon is very beautiful made from wood. The Bannaji temple is surrounded by moat, so you across the bridge to get the gate.
The 650 years old Ginkgo Tree
There is a big ginkgo tree that is around 650 years old..! I walked around the tree, it’s very powerful. The best season to see the leaves changing color is November.
Ashikaga Orihime Shrine – The Rainbow Torii Gate
After going through 229 steps on the long stair leading to the shrine named Ashikaga Orihime Shrine. There has been a weaving industry in Ashikaga, and Orihime is a princess of weaver in the tale of Tanabata = Star Festival. Orihime who is represented “Vega” can see her prince, Hikoboshi who is represented “Altair”, once per year only on July 7th which we call Tanabata day.
Ashikaga Orihime Shrine is known as a shrine to wish for love or/and matchmaking for a good person, because of that love story.
Tanabata Decoration
In Japan, we write a wish on the paper, and hang it on the bamboo tree. This shrine, Ashikaga Orihime Shrine also does the decoration in Tanabata season.
Rainbow Torii Gate
There are 7 colored Torii Gates on the En-musubi zaka Hill. En-Musubi means “matchmaking”. Every color has a meaning of what to match, according to what’s said,
- Red : Person (People)
- Yellow : Health
- Green : Wisdom
- Blue : Life
- Bright-green : Study
- Vermilion : Job
- Purple : Management
I walked through all of them 😉
Enjoy the local Food in Ashikaga, Tochigi
Soba Noodle
It’s been said that the water in Ashikaga is perfect for making Soba noodle. Today, a lot of Soba noodle lovers visit Ashikaga for Soba noodle Since Mr. Katakura opened a soba shop named “Issa an” in Ashikaga. Mr. Katakura was the one who started handmade soba noodle, when it was “normal” to make Soba noodle by machine.
There are many Soba noodle shops in Ashikaga.
Ashikaga Shumai (Dumpling)
Shumai usually made by minced pork and onion, etc. but Ashikaga Shumai is made by only onion (+ potato starch). There are 2 ways to cook, steam and deep fried. And they pour over a sauce instead of soy sauce.
It was invented and developed after the war when there was not enough food. You can taste the sweetness of onion, but for me, the sauce is pretty strong..
Okada’s Panju
Panju is a hemispherically shaped snack that has Anko (sweet red bean paste) inside. The famous Okada’s Panju was started in Taisho Period, and they are still running a business that is loved by locals. They don’t have a store in a building, they have a food truck (car).
It was very sweet and great!
Strawberry – Tochi Otome
One of famous foods from Tochigi is strawberry. The strawberry named Tochi Otome is very famous and popular. It’s beautiful red and very sweet!
Ashikaga Travel Map
Sharing a map that these above are pinned!
More places to go explore in Tochigi? I’d recommend going to Nikko where the Nikko Toshogu Shrine is! >> Nikko Trip
There are a lot of things to do in Ashikaga, get amazed by the beauty of nature at Ashikaga Flower Park, learn the history at the oldest school in Japan, the temple that has 800 years of history, enjoy the local food, etc!
