Tochigi Prefecture

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 Onsen.

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:

Haga District

Kamitsuga District

Nishikata

Kawachi District

Kaminokawa

Nasu District

Nasu

Nakagawa

Shimotsuga District

Shioya District

Shioya

Takanezawa

Mergers

Industry and agriculture

Taking advantage of the fact that it is 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

People

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

Motorsport

Twin Ring Motegi circuit

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, 400 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 and the JR Utsunomiya Line. (south Tochigi) can be reached in 43 minutes from Tokyo Station by shinkansen, with the fastest trains arriving in in 48 minutes, placing many parts of Tochigi within commuting range of central Tokyo. To the east and west, the Mito and Ryōmō Lines connect Tochigi to Ibaraki and Gunma Prefectures.

Freight is served by the Utsunomiya Freight Terminal.

East Japan Railway Company

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.