Everything about Tochigi Prefecture totally explained
is 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.
Prefectural overview
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.
History
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.
Municipalities
Cities
Fourteen cities are located in Tochigi Prefecture.
Towns
These are the towns in each
district:
Mergers
Industry and agriculture
Taking advantage of the fact that it's 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.
Below are Tochigi-manufactured goods with the highest national market share:
| Product |
Share |
| Camera Lenses |
71.3% |
| X-Ray Equipment for Medical Use |
54.5% |
| Machinery and Appliances for Dental Use |
23.5% |
| X-Ray Equipment Parts |
57.5% |
| Injection Molded Plastic Parts |
14.1% |
(Taken from the 2004 Industrial Analysis Report published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.)
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
Shiitake mushrooms, make up half of the forest industry, its output being approximately 5.6 billion yen.
Education
Tochigi is home to many universities and colleges including those for science and technology, literature, medicine, education, and art. Below is a list of some of the universities located in Tochigi:
Utsunomiya University
Ashikaga Institute of Technology
International University of Health and Welfare, Otawara
Sakushin Gakuin University, Utsunomiya
Jichi Medical School, Shimotsuke
Teikyo University, Utsunomiya
Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Mibu
Utsunomiya Kyowa University, Utsunomiya and Nasushiobara
Hakuoh University, Oyama
Bunsei University of Art, Utsunomiya
Oyama National College of Technology
Tochigi College of Industry and Technology (Central), Utsunomiya
Tochigi College of Industry and Technology (North), Nasu
Tochigi College of Industry and Technology (South), Ashikaga
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Tochigi.
Football (soccer)
Tochigi S.C. (Utsunomiya)
Ice Hockey
Nikkō Ice Bucks (Nikkō)
Basketball
Tochigi Brex
Tourism
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 travel
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.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Tochigi Prefecture'.
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