Discover Ashikaga

The Ashikaga School, located in the municipality of Ashikaga City, is considered Japan’s oldest school. Textile traditions, hiking trails, gardens, and wine offer further concrete themes for planning a trip. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide whether culture, nature, or food and drink should be the focus.

Education, Textile History, and Architecture

In the municipality of Ashikaga City, the Ashikaga School is considered Japan’s oldest school. In 2015, it was recognized as a Japan Heritage site under the title “Educational Heritage of Early Modern Japan – The Source of the Desire to Learn and Respect.” Its collection includes about 18,000 old books, including around 9,800 books written in Japan; the collection figures may change. Visitors interested in Japan’s educational history will find a tangible point of reference here.

The Ashikaga Orihime Shrine in the municipality of Ashikaga City combines cultural significance with scenic connections. It is the starting point of a Tochigi Prefecture nature trail and the start and end point of a trail in a prefectural nature park. The shrine also enshrines the guardian deity of Ashikaga, a city shaped by textile production for 1,300 years. The deity is regarded as a god of economic prosperity and matchmaking, and is widely worshipped by Ashikaga City residents. In June 2004, the shrine was recognized as a nationally registered tangible cultural property.

The Ashikaga Textile Tradition Museum in the municipality of Ashikaga City displays colorful Meisen textiles and materials on Ashikaga’s modern textile history. Textile-related experiences are available there by advance reservation; check the latest booking details before visiting. The Ashikaga Machinaka Yugakukan opened in the municipality of Ashikaga City in March 2003 as a facility where visitors can learn about and experience Ashikaga’s history, culture, and nature. Kimono, including Ashikaga Meisen, and armor dressing experiences are available by reservation. Check the reservation requirements and current availability in advance.

The Butsugaiken Teahouse in the municipality of Ashikaga City is a single-story wooden building with a gabled roof and Kyō-style roof tiles. Its distinctive architectural features make the teahouse an interesting complement to the collections and textile offerings.

Nature Days Among Mountain Trails and Gardens

In the municipality, the Nagusa Giant Rocks are the starting point for an approximately 14-kilometer hiking trail. Families can hike along its mountain paths. The approximate trail length gives you a concrete reference point for planning a day of hiking.

At Ashikaga Flower Park in the municipality of Ashikaga City, spring brings an 80-meter tunnel of white wisteria and more than 350 wisteria plants. The seasonal illumination “光の花の庭” runs from mid-October to mid-February; check the specific event dates before visiting. On the outskirts of Ashikaga, the Kurita Museum is also set within a scenic 30,000-tsubo grounds. The garden design incorporates wild plants from mountains and fields. Nature lovers can therefore choose from a hiking trail, seasonal garden views, and an expansive site.

Wine, Cuisine, and Getting Around

In the municipality of Ashikaga City, Coco Farm and Winery offers winery tours for 500 yen and tastings of two wines for 1,000 yen or five wines for 1,500 yen. The wine is made exclusively from grapes grown in Japan. Coco Farm Cafe in the municipality of Ashikaga City serves homemade wine and dishes made with seasonal ingredients. You can choose between learning about winemaking, wine tastings, and a meal featuring seasonal ingredients.

Taiheikikan in the municipality of Ashikaga City offers tourist information, a café corner, and rest rooms. You can also rent bicycles there, including electric-assist bikes. When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to decide on your priorities in advance: would you like cultural history to shape your trip, or would you rather set aside more time for mountain trails and gardens? Wine offerings and seasonal cuisine provide a different focus. Let the experiences that matter to you during your stay guide your search.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Sano, Kanuma, Oyama, Utsunomiya, Nikkō, Ōtawara, Mashiko, Tochigi.

For the main travel overview: Tochigi Prefecture.