#足利

When you think of Ashikaga, the Flower Park comes to mind. In 2014, CNN in the United States selected it as one of the world's top 10 dream travel destinations. Although I had wanted to visit for years, I hesitated due to concerns about the crowds during Golden Week (GW). However, this year, I finally made the trip for the first time. On a weekday during GW, I woke up early and headed to Ashikaga to arrive at the park's opening time of 7 AM. While there was about a 10-minute traffic jam to enter the temporary parking lot on the west side, the process was smoother than expected, likely because it was a weekday. Ashikaga Flower Park features four large wisteria trees. Near the west gate (close to the JR station and temporary parking lot) is Wisteria D. Additionally, near the main gate, slightly toward the center, Wisteria A and B are planted side by side. These two trees form a stunning arch where their flowers intersect, making it a popular photo spot, though it’s hard to have it all to yourself during this season. These wisteria trees were originally located in the center of Ashikaga City but were transplanted about 30 years ago in an unprecedented move. At the time, the wisteria trellis, which spanned 500 square meters, was trimmed down to 72 square meters for the transplant. Now, it has grown to cover 1,000 square meters. Due to their vitality and the name "Fuji" (which sounds like "fushi," meaning immortality), these trees are considered sacred and symbols of longevity. Wisteria A, B, and D were in full bloom and absolutely breathtaking, with their sweet fragrance filling the entire park. (I may have missed Wisteria C, which is said to be near Wisteria A and B.) Other attractions, such as the White Wisteria Waterfall, tunnels, and the pale pink bridge, were equally stunning. Although the camellias were slightly past their peak, they were still worth seeing. The purple wisteria screen seems to be just starting to bloom. While I had high expectations, the experience exceeded them, leaving me thrilled. I ended up taking over 300 photos, and sorting through them has been quite a task. I highly recommend visiting during GW! Date of Visit: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 (Weekday) Name: Ashikaga Flower Park Address: 607 Hasama-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Parking: 6,000 spaces Note: Traffic restrictions are in place around the area on holidays during GW Hours: 7 AM–9 PM (during GW) Admission Fee: 2,300 yen (during GW)

If you come to Ashikaga, there is a shrine you should visit at least once! Isn't the name Ashikaga Orihime Shrine cute? What's more, it has colorful torii gates, which are rare! And each one has a meaning, so be sure to visit during Golden Week ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ashikaga Orihime Shrine 📍 3889 Nishimiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ⏰Shrine reception 9:00-16:00 🚃 30 minutes walk from JR Ryomo Line Ashikaga Station / Tobu Isesaki Line Ashikagashi Station ☑︎Great views ☑︎7-colored torii gates ☑︎There are quite a few stairs to climb! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *This information is current, so please check it out before you go! Photo taken: 2025/4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Tochigi #VisitingShrinesAndTemples #AshikagaOrihimeShrine #Ashikaga #0YenTrip

Alongside Ashikaga Flower Park and Ashikaga Orihime Shrine, there are many other tourist spots around Ashikaga! Recommended places relatively close to the station are the historic site of the Ashikaga School and the nearby Hōon-ji Temple. Make sure to visit during Golden Week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Historical Site of the Ashikaga School 📍 2338 Shohei-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ⏰ 09:00-16:30 Varies by season 🚃 15-minute walk from Tobu Railway Ashikaga-shi Station, 10-minute walk from Ashikaga Station ☑︎ The Oldest School in Japan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hōon-ji Temple 📍 2220 Ietomi-cho, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi Prefecture 🚃Tobu Railway Ashikaga-shi Station / 15 minutes walk Ashikaga Station / 10 minutes walk ☑︎Feed the carp ☑︎There are quite a few stairs to climb! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ※This information is current, so please check it out before you go! Photo date: 2025/4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Tochigi #Shrine and Temple Tour #Bannaji Temple #Ashikaga #0 Yen Trip #Ashikaga School Site Historic Site

If you come to Ashikaga, there is an ice cream shop you should definitely stop by! You can customize your own original sweets! Isn't it super cute? ? You can enjoy three different flavors in one ice cream😋♡ It's cute, fun, and delicious! Be sure to visit during Golden Week ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AgROS＊FLOWER 📍 1-2704-5 Dori, Ashikaga City ⏰　12:00-19:00 　Only open on weekends and holidays 💰500 yen-1,500 yen 🚃10 minutes walk from Ashikaga Station ☑︎Check out Instagram for opening hours and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *This information is current, so please check it out before you go! Photo taken: 2025/4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #0 yen trip #Tochigi　#Sweets tour　#Gelato　#Ashikaga

📍Coco Farm Winery 611 Tajima-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 《Access》 Bus stop: Coco Farm Entrance / About 6 minutes walk from Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Opening hours 11:00-17:30 ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ No chemical fertilizers or herbicides are used, and fermentation is mainly done with wild yeast and wild lactic acid bacteria... Established with the aim of helping students with intellectual disabilities become independent, this winery continues to produce high-quality wines that were served at the Okinawa Summit dinner in 2000 and impressed leaders of various countries. The label of the wine "Kokoroze" served there depicts animals gathering under the grapes like in a fairy tale, and you can feel the passion of the winemaker. There are also winery tours available. Lunch on the terrace overlooking the vineyard💕💕 Especially in times like these, it's so open and welcoming. 🙏 It was lunchtime, so I waited about an hour. They also sell wine, jams, and cute original products, so I enjoyed those. Recommended deck lunch I ordered a one-plate lunch of bone-in sausages and vegetables that go well with wine, and pizza I wanted to drink wine, but I had to make do with grape juice because I had to get back home😖 It was rich and delicious. I was also grateful that I could take home the bottle that I couldn't drink🙏 Under the grape trellis, they also had a wine tasting for 1,000 yen with 5 types of wine and snacks~ I bought the popular "Nomin Rosso" wine and enjoyed it at home. It has a gentle taste and is easy to drink. If you go to Ashikaga, please stop by. #wine #winery #lunch #Ashikaga #Tochigi #0yentrip

📍Ashikaga Flower Park 607 Sakomachi, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 《Access》 About a 4-minute walk from the Ashikaga Flower Park Station exit Opening hours 10:00-17:00 ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ Ashikaga Flower Park is famous for its wisteria flowers Not only the wisteria flowers, but the other flower fields are also wonderful. This is the state in mid-June I was immersed in the white and blue world of irises and hydrangeas. Before entering the park, I passed the flower seedlings and souvenir shop, so I was stuck there 😆 There were many beautiful hydrangea pots lined up and they were all 998 yen!! ! I immediately bought two plants. When I entered the park, I saw a variety of flowers blooming together, including roses, petunias, irises, hydrangeas, clematis, etc. #Ashikaga Flower Park #Ashikaga #Tochigi #Flowers #Day trip #0 yen trip

📍Ashikaga Orihime Shrine 3889 Nishimiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 《Access》 Approx. 18 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Ashikaga City Station Approx. 19 minutes on foot from the north exit of Ashikaga Station Approx. 28 minutes on foot from the exit of Noshu-Yamabe Station Opening hours 10:00-16:00 ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ ▶️Ashikaga Orihime Shrine was also used as a filming location for the movie "Chihayafuru" starring Suzu Hirose, and this was used for the scene where she goes up and down the Otokozaka slope to train. ▶️The slope on the left is Onnazaka, and here you can find a seven-colored matchmaking torii gate. First, purple: good management and matchmaking vermilion: good work and matchmaking yellow-green: good studies and matchmaking blue: good life and matchmaking green: good wisdom and matchmaking yellow: good health and matchmaking red: matchmaking with good people Go through the seven torii gates, cross the Otokozaka slope, and reach the top, where you can see the colorful shrine building. ▶️The god of Orihime Shrine, which was built based on the "Byodoin Phoenix Hall" in Kyoto, is said to be a female god. Go through the seven colored torii gates, climb the 229 steps, and reach the top to see the beautiful vermilion shrine building, and look back to see Ashikaga City and northern Kanto. As a result, it has been certified as a sacred place for lovers and a Japanese night view heritage site, and is also popular as a date spot. #Tochigi #Orihime Shrine #Ashikaga #Pilgrimage #Tochigi Tourism #0 Yen Travel January 2025 #Day Trip

The scent of wisteria is soothing, and it is well maintained, and the wisteria and other flower gardens are colorful and tastefully displayed. People come from all over the world, so it's a really popular spot, and even if you go early in the morning when the gardens open, there are always people at the wisteria! lol The wisteria soft serve ice cream is so delicious that you'll want to try it whenever you go, and you'll want to eat it 🍦 In recent years, they've been adding other menu items, so it's fun to look forward to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~💜~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ashikaga Flower Park 📍 607 Hasamacho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ⏰7:00~21:00 (opening hours vary depending on the season) 24/4/25~ 💰Adults from 1900 yen (price varies depending on the best viewing period) 🚃3-minute walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station ☑︎Even if you don't have a car, it's close to the station so it's easy to get to ☑︎There is also lighting during the wisteria flower season ☑︎Evening admission tickets are sold from 17:30 ☑︎May is the second half of the wisteria viewing season, azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, and clematis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~💜~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ※This information is current, so please check it out before you go! Photo dates: 2015-2023 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🫧~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now! This moment! Enjoy it to the fullest Maya trip ✔︎A place I'm glad I experienced firsthand ✔︎I hope this will be helpful for your outings♫ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🫧~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Sakura2024 #Ashikaga Flower Park #Wisteria flowers #Purple flowers #Photogenic spots #Girls trip #Wisteria #Flower spots #Tochigi trip #Ashikaga #Popular spots

Ise Shrine in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 A shrine located in the center of downtown Ashikaga. It is said to have been founded in 1151 (the first year of the Nihei era) during the Heian period. It was revered by the Nitta and Ashikaga families as "Ashikaga-sho Ise Shrine," and is known for being revered by Ashikaga Takauji, Mochiuji, and Nariuji after the Kamakura period. It was moved to its current location in 1929 (the fourth year of the Showa era). The shrine is built in the Shinmei-zukuri style and consists of a main hall, a hall of offerings, and a hall of worship, where Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined. If you go around to the back, you will find the Outer Shrine, which enshrines Toyouke-no-Okami, the god of food, clothing and shelter, and Tsukuyomi-no-miya, which enshrines Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the younger brother of Amaterasu-Omikami. This is a rare place in Ashikaga where you can make a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Ise Shrine ꕥAddress: 2-3-1 Isemachi, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉Ashikaga City Station → approx. 21 minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Ashikaga #Shrine visit #Shrine tour #Shrines and temples #Shrine lover

Inari Shrine in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 I couldn't find the entrance to O-Asama on my way there, so I wandered around and found this shrine before stopping by. Cross the Tobu Isesaki Line, go further into the residential area, and go all the way to the back, and you'll see a vermilion-painted torii gate. It's located at the foot of Mount O-Asama behind the trailhead. There are no signs, so the details are unknown. There are stone steps leading up to the torii gate, and you can climb them. There is a small shrine, and a pair of fox statues watch over it on the side. It's a quiet place, but you can get a beautiful view of Mount Akagi from here! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Inari Shrine ꕥAddress: Kariyadocho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉Ashikaga City Station → approx. 18 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Ashikaga #Inari Shrine #Shrine Tour #Shrine Visit

Akashi Benten Itsukushima Shrine in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 Itsukushima Shrine is located at the bottom of Mt. Ryogai. There is a story about a woman named Yae who was born into a family with a short life expectancy and lived in this area. She was grieving over her family's short life expectancy when a travel guide appeared. Yae was advised by the guide that if she made a 100-day visit to Benten Shrine, which has a pond with spring water, things would change for the better. On the 100th day, she met a man and got married. They had a large family, and Yae's short life expectancy came to an end. She is said to have lived to be 102 years old. The deity enshrined here is the beautiful Benten, an incarnation of Ichikishimahime. It is said to protect the beauty that shines from within women, and grant wishes for "beauty, health, and longevity." Benzen is enshrined inside the Bijin Benzendo Hall, with Nade Benzen on either side, and Mizukake Benzen a little further away. The shrine is usually unmanned, but the office appears to be open on certain days. They also issue beauty certificates, and if they are not there you can get one at the nearby Car & Cycle Tanaka. It's a very unique certificate. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Akashi Benten Itsukushima Shrine ꕥAddress: 2-1860 Honjo, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉Ashikaga City Station → approx. 30 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Ashikaga #Shrine tour #Shrine worship #Shrines and temples #Shrine lovers

Otoko Sengen Shrine in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine is said to have been enshrined in 1054 when Ashikaga Castle was built by Ashikaga Nariyuki, the first head of the Fuji-surname Ashikaga clan. The peaks where the two shrines are located were cut off when the road and railway were built in 1902 to bridge the Watarase River. The official name is Ashikaga Fuji Sengen Shrine, and there are two shrines, Kaminomiya (Otoko Sengen) and Shimonomiya (Onna Sengen). Otoko Sengen is at a higher elevation and has a trailhead, so you can start climbing from there. The footing is not too bad, so it is relatively easy to climb. Although there is a slight incline, you can reach the summit in just over 10 minutes. There is a shrine at the top of the mountain, and the surrounding area is a beautiful sight when you look around. If the weather is good, you can see a row of famous mountains, including Mount Akagi, Mount Myogi, and Mount Haruna. You can also see the city of Ashikaga and the Kanto Plain. Although we didn't have time to go, you can also visit Tainai Cave and the mountaintop Ishisongu Shrine! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Otoko Sengen Shrine ꕥAddress: 230 Tanakacho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉Ashikaga City Station → approx. 16 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Ashikaga #Shrine visit #Shrine tour

Onna-sengen Shrine in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine is said to have been enshrined in 1054 when Ashikaga Castle was built by Ashikaga Nariyuki, the first head of the Fuji-surname Ashikaga clan. As you cross the Watarase Bridge towards the station, you will immediately see a torii gate on your right. The official name is Ashikaga Fuji Sengen Shrine, and it consists of two shrines, Otoko-sengen Kaminomiya and Onna-sengen Shimonomiya. By the way, the trailhead for Otoko-sengen is just a few minutes' walk from here. The shrine building stands on a cliff at the top of the stone steps. It seems that it is usually uninhabited, but every year on June 1st, the Petanko Festival is held and goshuin stamps are also distributed. Long ago, the flooding of the Watarase River caused famine and epidemics, and this festival began as a way to protect the lives of young children. The shrine seal is placed on a child's forehead to receive divine power and protect their life. It seems to be held every year as the Hatsuyama Festival. The view of the Watarase River from above was also beautiful. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Onna-Asama Shrine ꕥAddress: 240 Tanaka-cho, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi ꕥAccess: 🚉Ashikaga-shi Station → approx. 9-minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Ashikaga #Asama Shrine #Shrine tour #Shrine worship

Oyama Afuri Shrine in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 It is believed to have been founded by the Oyama Ko, a group of people living in Ashikaga who believed in Oyama Afuri Shrine in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The Oyama Ko itself spread throughout the Kanto region from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. Even now, there are statues of the gods of the Sui, which are said to have been donated by the Ashikaga Ko, on either side of the altar of Oyama Afuri Shrine. From Ashikaga Orihime Shrine, go through the wisteria trellis donated by Ashikaga Flower Park, and there are stone steps on the left. The shrine will come into view after climbing about 109 steps. On both sides of the shrine, there are stone monuments with Oyama Afuri Shrine engraved on them. It has a quiet feel to it, but it seems like the state it was in at the time when faith was strong has been well preserved. If you still have energy, going further is recommended as you can get a panoramic view of the Kanto Plain, and if the time is right you can see the wisteria and azaleas in full bloom! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Ashikaga Orihime Shrine ꕥAddress: 2459 Nishimiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉Ashikaga City Station → approx. 36 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Oyama Afuri Shrine #Ashikaga #Shrine tour #Shrine worship

Ashikaga Orihime Shrine is located on a hill overlooking the city of Ashikaga in Tochigi Prefecture. This shrine is said to have seven divine virtues that create good connections with people, health, wisdom, life, studies, work, and business. It is also popular as a sacred place for lovers and a shrine for matchmaking. There is a hidden heart in the offering box at the main shrine, and it seems to be a popular date spot with the "Love Bell" and heart-shaped padlocks. After praying, head to "Enmusubi no Saka" where you will be greeted by seven-colored torii gates. If you pass through the seven colored torii gates - orange, blue, yellow, green, red, yellow-green, and purple - you will receive even more benefits! It is also a great place for photos. The view of Ashikaga city from the hill is also spectacular. There are many stairs, so be sure to wear comfortable clothes when you go out. [Ashikaga Orihime Shrine] Address: 3889 Nishimiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0284-22-0313 Parking: Available #Domestic travel #Tochigi #Tochigi trip #Tochigi sightseeing #Ashikaga #Ashikaga Orihime Shrine #Shrine #Shrine tour #Girls trip

Ashikaga Orihime Shrine is located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. It is a famous matchmaking shrine in the Kanto region. It is also enshrined as the guardian deity of Ashikaga textiles, which have a tradition and history of over 1,200 years. The Otokozaka, which is a 229-step staircase in front of the shrine, and the Onnazaka, which is a walk through the colorful seven-colored torii gates to the main shrine, are both very impressive and impactful. They are beautifully lit up at night. It was very comfortable, I felt warm, and I received a lot of energy. There are several types of fortune slips and you can also get a goshuin. Please visit it once. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 📍 Address: 3889 Nishimiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 🚃 20 minutes walk from Ashikaga City Station #besttrip2023 #Tochigi #Ashikaga #AshikagaOrihimeShrine #Shrine #ShrineTour #GirlsTrip #FirstVisitOfTheYear #Matchmaking

Ryogaiyama is located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, at an altitude of 251m. The summit is the remains of the main citadel of Ashikaga Castle, and at the foot of the mountain is Ashikaga Orihime Shrine, famous for matchmaking. To get to Ryogaiyama, start hiking in the direction of Orihime Park, which offers a panoramic view of Ashikaga City. There were a few rocky areas along the way, but it was a straight path and easy to walk on. I'm not used to mountain climbing, so after 30 minutes of walking and taking breaks, I safely reached the summit of Ryogaiyama. The view from the summit was spectacular. There were no bugs during the winter hike, the air was clear, and the scenery was beautiful. I also recommend the easy access by train and on foot. Please do go. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 📍20 minute walk from JR Ashikaga Station to Orihime Shrine From there, it's a 40 minute walk onto the hiking trail (I'm a beginner at mountain climbing.) #besttrip2023 #Tochigi #Ashikaga #Ryogayama #mountain climbing #hiking #great view #great view spot #winter trip

Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. Ashikaga Flower Park is a paradise of flowers and light where you can enjoy a 160-year-old wisteria and flowers of every season. It is also very famous for its illuminations, but this time I went to the Wisteria Festival. The blooming wisteria was so beautiful and powerful that I was simply captivated. The white wisteria was also blooming very beautifully. In addition to wisteria, there were many other flowers in bloom, which gave me healing and power. I was moved by how beautiful it was. I visited during the day on a weekday, but it was quite crowded. Also, at lunchtime, there was a long line in front of the restaurant, and it took a long time to find an empty seat, so I think it's a good idea to shift your lunch time a little. At night, it is lit up, so you can see a fantastic wisteria that is different from the daytime. At Ashikaga Flower Park, you can enjoy various flowers and illuminations throughout the seasons. Please visit once. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -📍 607 Hasamacho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, 329-4216 #besttrip2023 #Tochigi #Ashikaga #AshikagaFlowerPark #flowers #wisteria #outing #healing #illumination

(Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture and Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, formerly Shimotsuke and Ueno) Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) and Nitta Yoshisada (1301-1338), known as the main players in the conflicts of the Northern and Southern Courts period, were both samurai descended from the Minamoto clan, and their main territories were close to each other across the Watarase River. Of the two clans' main territories, which are now Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, and Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, Ashikaga City became a tourist and cultural city symbolized by the Ashikaga School and textile industry, while Ota City became an industrial city with the automobile manufacturer "SUBARU" (its predecessor, Nakajima Aircraft Company, was founded by Nakajima Chikuhei, who was born in Ota City). Both Ashikaga and Ota have art spots that can be the reason for visiting the city, as they have developed by making use of their respective histories and characteristics. ① Kurita Museum (Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, photos 2-5) Hideo Kurita (1912-1996), who was born into a merchant family in Ashikaga and enjoyed great influence as a businessman and politician, was fascinated by a small Imari ware (Imari is the name of a place in Saga Prefecture today. The name was given because porcelain fired in Arita, Saga Prefecture, was shipped from the port of Imari) that he came across by chance in his youth at an antique shop. Since then, he has poured his rare passion into collecting masterpieces from all over the world, past and present, alongside his main job. The number of pieces reaches 10,000, and the collection, which is limited to Imari ware and Nabeshima ware (Nabeshima ware, porcelain fired in a kiln directly operated by the Nabeshima family of the Saga domain. Known as a luxury gift item), is unprecedented in its content. In order to spread the appeal of these items, Kurita bought a 10,000m2 site in his hometown of Ashikaga and established a museum. The Kurita Museum of Art was born in a scenic location surrounded by azure mountains, with sharp architecture and gardens blending in. The museum is divided into several facilities, including the main building, history hall, and ceramics hall, and each is a calm space where the arrangement of the vessels and the intensity of the lighting have been thoroughly studied. In particular, Nabeshima ware, which is rarely seen elsewhere, has a beautiful harmony of elegance and delicacy in the patterns, and a rich texture that naturally exudes. No matter how small the vessel, you will be captivated by its worldview. Incidentally, in 1986, Freddie Mercury, the vocalist of the world-famous rock band "QUEEN," also visited the museum privately. It is said that he was deeply moved by the exhibits and requested to purchase the vessels. This fact fully conveys the timeless appeal of vessels, which once attracted the world's attention as an important export item for overseas trade. Access: About 10 minutes walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station ② Ota City Museum of Art and Library (Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, Photos 1, 6-10) "Creative Ota people"--- These words, which Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, has set as the philosophy of the "Ota City Museum of Art and Library," show its pride in its history and future as a "town of manufacturing." Ota City, which has the third largest population in Gunma Prefecture after Takasaki City and Maebashi City, has formed a large industrial complex centered on the global automobile manufacturer "SUBARU" and its related companies, and boasts the highest shipment value of products in the northern Kanto region and one of the largest in the country. On the other hand, this industrial structure has created a "suburban" urban infrastructure, which has led to a serious decline in the central city area. The Ota City Museum of Art and Library has become a base to address this issue and contribute to the lives of local residents. The museum, which holds exhibitions focusing on contemporary art, and the library, which also has picture books and art books from around the world, are coexisting in one facility without any boundaries, appealing to the sensibilities of users from various angles. The interior, based on a deep textured white, is pleasantly stimulated by playful colors and shapes, and the sunlight that gently colors them is let in through the large glass windows that open up the exterior walls. The architectural design is sharp, yet has a spiral structure that "wraps" you in, and the rooftop, which is the end point, is a green space reminiscent of a "miniature garden." While enjoying the clear view swept away by the sharp wind, thinking back on the scene inside the building, you can feel that it is a "platform" that condenses the diverse lives of citizens, such as art appreciation, picture book readings, studying for tests, and coffee breaks. Access: About 1 minute walk from Ota Station Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★ (There are quite a few people, but it's a large place so it doesn't bother me) Visited: Around 2pm on the first Saturday of October #Kurita Museum of Art #Ota City Museum of Art #Ashikaga #Tochigi Prefecture #Tochigi trip #Tochigi sightseeing #Ota #Gunma trip #Gunma sightseeing #Museum of art #Art lover #Art tour #Life with art #Imari ware #Nabeshima ware #Life with pottery #Architecture lover #Architecture tour #Modern architecture #Famous architecture #Architectural design #Life with travel #Domestic travel

Ashikaga was the home of the Ashikaga clan, who became the Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and was home to the Ashikaga School, a high school in the Middle Ages. In addition to being a cultural city backed by the history mentioned above, it was also known as the home of ancient textile manufacturing. The city center is mainly located near JR Ashikaga Station on the north bank of the Watarase River, and restaurants line the roads leading to tourist spots such as Ashikaga School. As night falls, the tourist scene calms down, but the shops that start to light up create a high-quality atmosphere full of local feeling. ① Tabisuru Oden Mokumoku (photos 1-5) The Kitanaka-dori street that runs from Ban'anji Temple to Ashikaga Orihime Shrine was once a bustling entertainment district. Today, retro buildings line the streets, and it is said to have been chosen as a filming location for movies. (Ashikaga City is actively promoting filming locations, and the results can be seen in the special space at JR Ashikaga Station.) After enjoying the illumination of Orihime Shrine at sunset, I found a unique lantern while walking through the streets. Oden on a skewer is floating in the soft flesh-colored light. The humorous yet tasteful silhouette makes you smile. When I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by a large number of handwritten menus. In addition to the signature oden, there are also plenty of home-style dishes. The obanzai dishes made with seasonal vegetables and wild plants are particularly intriguing. The "obanzai mori" is a "little bit of everything" of six different dishes, which is a delight for solo customers, and the mellow taste of the "shinzoyaki" (similar to a Western-style omelette) is particularly memorable. The main dish of oden has a light taste with a clear broth, which paradoxically brings out the elasticity of the fish paste and the saltiness of the kelp. And it is worth mentioning that the proprietress of this restaurant is the editor of the local magazine "Ashikaga no Yome". The magazine introduces the charms of Ashikaga from the perspective of a migrant (= someone who married into Ashikaga), and her warm gaze seems to convey the town's calm "normal temperature". Back issues are also available in the store, and if you come at the right time, you may be able to learn about the editor's attention to detail and the charms of the town! Menu example: Oden mori (1 portion 750 yen), homemade grilled satsumaage (580 yen), sake (120 ml about 660 yen) ② Shucha (photos 6-10) Leaving Kitanaka-dori behind, we walked along the bank of the Watarase River while feeling the cool river breeze, and at the end of the road, the neon sign of "Shucha" (toys) was illuminated. As the name "Famous Sake Place" suggests, the attraction of this place is the abundance of sake! The sake bottles "displayed" on the walls of the store are sake from breweries all over the country, and even the different colored labels of different brewing methods are lined up, giving it the feel of a museum. As I was overwhelmed by the sight, an elderly woman sitting at the counter beckoned me, saying "Sit over here." When I looked, she seemed to be reluctantly tilting her tokkuri, and I thought she was a regular customer who had started drinking early, but she handed me a menu and asked, "What kind of sake would you like?" I was a little surprised, and she replied, "I'd like something light to start with," and she stood up, took a bottle from the refrigerator, and poured it into the tokkuri and then into the sake cup she had chosen earlier...We toasted and asked her, and she told me that she was the proprietress of the restaurant. Her son, who is the owner of the restaurant, was in the kitchen, and the proprietress herself enjoys a drink at the counter every night, and she warmly welcomes customers from the "customer's perspective." As we continued to talk about sake, we learned that this shop is also frequented by sake brewery owners and master brewers from all over the country, and there are items throughout the shop that show this connection. But above all, I was convinced that the attention to detail and ideas they put into "tasting sake deliciously" is what impresses even professionals. A good example of this is the mysterious set of vessels that are brought to you when you drink half of your tokkuri. It's a large-scale object that doesn't seem to fit on the counter, and I was confused, but it has a logical purpose: "water for diluting sake," "water for rinsing sake cups," and "a vessel for discarding the rinsed water." The excitement is further increased by the "manual feeling" of it. Of course, the side dishes are also abundant, mainly seafood, and are all things that go well with sake. Furthermore, many of the real regulars who came in later were "connoisseurs" who had traveled around the country drinking sake, and I learned a lot from their deep meaning. Even when you leave the store completely drunk, the proprietress will be at the counter seat to see you off with a smile. When you want to thoroughly enjoy sake, when you want to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter in an unknown place, when you want to feel the warmth of the town and its people... this is a one-of-a-kind store that will satisfy all of your desires. Menu example: Various types of sake, itawasa (400 yen), squid shichimi-yaki (650 yen) #Ashikaga #Tochigi Prefecture #Tochigi

[Ashikaga School] (Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, Former Province Name: Shimotsuke) It is not clear when "Ashikaga School" existed in Ashikaga, Shimotsuke Province (present-day Tochigi Prefecture). There are records that the school was "rebuilt" in the middle of the Muromachi period, so it is assumed that it had already taken on a certain form as an educational institution by that time. It is said that its origins came from Shimotsuke Province's national studies (a school for training officials established in each province under the Ritsuryo system) or that it was built by the Ashikaga clan, whose main territory was the area, in the Kamakura period, but there are many conflicting theories and no conclusion has yet been reached. In any case, after its restoration in the Muromachi period, students came from all over the country, and its prosperity led Francis Xavier to call it "the largest and most famous university in Bando in Japan." The man who played a key role in this revival was Uesugi Norizane (1410-1466), a feudal lord who served as Kanto Kanrei during the Muromachi period. During the mid-Muromachi period when Norizane was active, the relationship between the shogunate shogunate in Kyoto and the Kamakura kubō, who ruled the entire Kanto region from Kamakura, was delicately balanced. Meanwhile, the Kamakura kubō, Ashikaga Mochiuji (1398-1439), looked down on the 6th shogunate shogun, Ashikaga Yoshinori (1394-1441, son of the 3rd shogun Yoshimitsu and father of the 8th shogun Yoshimasa. He was originally a monk, but was said to have had a lifelong complex about having become shogun by "drawing lots." He tried to improve the status of the shogun through authoritarian politics, but was assassinated by the Akamatsu clan), as a "secular shogun," and the conflict between the two became serious. Norizane repeatedly remonstrated with his lord, Mochiuji, and attempted to mediate with the shogunate, but Mochiuji instead distanced himself from Norizane and tried to subjugate him. Finally, the shogunate invaded Kamakura, with one of its aims being to support Norizane, and Mochiuji surrendered. (The so-called Eikyō Rebellion) Yoshinori ordered Norizane to kill Mochiuji, who had been taken prisoner, but Norizane, even though they were in conflict, did not approve of killing his lord, and continued to stubbornly plead for his life to be spared. However, Yoshinori could not forgive Mochiuji for scorning the shogun, which had stimulated his own complexes, and he also grew distrustful of Norizane, who refused to kill him. At this point, Norizane entrusted the books and treasures that had been passed down through generations to the Ashikaga School, which was in his own territory, and was forced to kill Mochiuji with the determination to die. Immediately afterwards, he gave up all his positions, became a monk, and severed all ties with the secular world. Norizane, who was originally a scholar, not only actively protected the Ashikaga School, but also supported its prosperity by donating a huge amount of materials as mentioned above (similarly, he also worked to restore the "Kanazawa Bunko" in Musashi Province). For this reason, Norizane is still revered as the founder of the school's revival at the Ashikaga School, and a wooden statue of him is enshrined on campus. The school today is a restoration of its Edo period appearance, but there are many things to see, such as the tranquil and deep approach of the "school route" and the majestic and impressive Hojo that appears at the end. Inside the Hojo, you can learn about the school's history, its education system, and its influence on politics in the eastern provinces. If we trace these things in detail, Norizane respected Confucianism, preached the importance of its teachings to students, and donated classic books to them. From this fact, we can see Norizane's sincere spirituality as a subject and a man who tried to learn and embody the way of life, but it is also clear that he was deeply troubled by the tyrannical changes of the times and his own heavy position. It was only natural that Norizane's anguish at having ended up killing his lord would drive him to become a monk and live in seclusion. After becoming a monk, Norizane set out on a journey, not even caring that his own children had lost their lives in the midst of political strife, and he ended his life quietly in a hermitage at Tainei-ji Temple in Nagato Province (present-day western Yamaguchi Prefecture), far from the Kanto region. Norizane's honesty and integrity, which may have been considered unusual in a world plagued by constant war, caused him deep anguish during his lifetime, but in the Edo period, when Confucianism began to be valued throughout the country, he is remembered as a brilliant figure. One of the reasons why Ashikaga School has been carefully preserved and passed down to this day is that the "path" that Norizane tried to embody throughout his life still lives on. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★ (There are a fair number of people, but it's a large place so it doesn't bother you) Visit date: Saturday, the third week of April, around 2pm Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Ashikaga Station #AshikagaSchool #Ashikaga #TochigiPrefecture #TochigiTrip #TochigiTourism #DomesticTravel #DomesticTravelLover #Architecture #ArchitectureWalk #HistoricalSite #HistoricalSiteTour #CulturalProperty #WarringStatesPeriod #ShortTrip #TravelDiary #HistoricalSites #History #ILoveHistory #SoloTravel #SoloTravel

Ashikaga Flower Park 607 Sakomachi, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture JR Ryomo Line Japan, Sakomachi, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture A 2-minute walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station, you can enjoy seasonal flowers and trees. The west entrance was closed. The admission fee and opening hours vary depending on the state of the flowers, and details such as event information are listed on the official website. The water lilies were in full bloom and at their best, and work was underway to put up the electric lights in preparation for the illuminations that will start on October 16th. #Tochigi #Ashikaga #Hanami #SummerShortTrip #Hanami

📍Ashikaga Flower Park 607 Sakomachi, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 《Access》 About a 4-minute walk from the Ashikaga Flower Park Station exit Opening hours 10:00-17:30 Period April 12th (Sat) - May 18th (Sun) Illumination April 19th (Sat) - May 18th (Sun) Admission fee (varies depending on the period) 2025. April 1st - May 31st Adults 900 yen - 2,300 yen Children 500 yen - 1,200 yen ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ It's fantastic and wonderful, and the 140-year-old wisteria is the highlight! The wisteria reflected on the water, the white wisteria waterfall, and the purple screen are breathtaking♥. The winter illumination has also been ranked number one in the national illumination rankings for six consecutive years, and the wisteria illuminations, decorated with 5 million bulbs, were amazing. It was my first time seeing so many wisteria flowers, and it will be a memory I will cherish forever. #Tochigi #Ashikaga Flower Park #Wisteria flowers #Photogenic spot #Amazing view #Ashikaga #Amazing view spot #Spring 0 yen trip

#night #lighting #wisteriaflower #ashikaga Visiting Ashikaga Wisteria is an unforgettable experience, especially when lit up at night. It is recommended to arrive at dusk to enjoy the beautiful scenery during the day, and then wait for nightfall to witness the beauty of the garden illuminated by lights. The wisteria flowers at night exude a faint fragrance, and the soft lighting creates a unique atmosphere. Bring some snacks and drinks, sit down in a comfortable corner in the garden, and wait for the tranquility and beauty of the evening. Remember to bring your camera to capture these beautiful moments as memories.