Ashikaga Itinerary | Top Attractions & Day Trips to Mashiko & Tochigi City

Less than a two-hour train ride from Tokyo, the city of Ashikaga is the gateway to Tochigi Prefecture. Two of the city’s biggest tourist attractions are Ashikaga Flower Park and Ashikaga School, and extended getaways to Ashikaga reveal many more charming landmarks. This Ashikaga itinerary includes enough activities to keep travelers busy for three or four days, or experiences can be combined into shorter one- or two-day trips.

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Kuranomachi Pleasure Boat

The city of Tochigi makes a great day trip from Ashikaga, and one of the best ways to get to know the history and traditions of the area is to take a Kuranomachi Pleasure Boat cruise. Gliding down the Tomoeha (Uzuma) River, passengers will get a front-row view of historic warehouses and neighborhoods. The captain that paddles the pleasure boats doubles as a tour guide and entertainer on the 20-minute trip. During the ride, guests will hear historical accounts of the area and even a traditional song. Guests can board at Kuranomachi Pleasure Boat Agency, located at 2-6 Yamatocho in Tochigi, next to Tsukada Memorial Hall

Hours: daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last ride at 3:50 p.m.) March through November and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last ride at 2:50 p.m.) December through February
Ticket prices: 700 JPY (6.60 USD) for adults, 500 JPY (4.75 USD) for children and 100 JPY (1 USD) for pets (certain rules apply)

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Wagashi Making Experience

Many tourists to Japan get to see many wagashi, or traditional Japanese confections, but have you ever wondered how these bite-size delicacies are made? Wagashi treats come in several varieties and shapes. Typically, wagashi are made with rice flour (mochi) and filled with bean or nut pastes. The candies are expertly crafted and molded into fun holiday or celebration-themed shapes. Wagashi are popular during the holidays but also are available as an everyday treat throughout in Japan. You can find wagashi at many pastry shops in Tochigi, and a great place to learn how to make wagashi is at Yamamoto Sohonten. The Japanese confectionery shop has been around since 1897 and is just a 3-minute walk from Kuranomachi Pleasure Boat Agency.

Hours for Yamamoto Sohonten: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Address: 7-13 Yamatocho, Tochigi
Cost for wagashi-making experience: 1,500 JPY (14 USD) for two pieces of wagashi

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Ashikaga Flower Park

A whimsical outdoor recreation space located on the eastern outskirts of Ashikaga, Ashikaga Flower Park is a scenic phenomena you do not want to miss. With eight distinct growing seasons throughout the year, the park is always in full bloom with fragrant flowering trees and plants that have countless therapeutic properties. From the world’s grandest display of purple wisterias to blooming peonies, crocuses, and roses, the exhibits at Ashikaga Flower Park are always top-notch. If you happen to be in town during October to January, be sure to stop by Ashikaga Flower Park for the holiday lights illumination event; it is one of the top three light-up events in all of Japan. Over five million LED lights are used to create vibrant and bright flower gardens, weeping trees, and other outdoor scenes. The colorful scenery will make you feel as though you have stepped into a page of a fairytale.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in Summer Season (normally March through October) and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in Winter Season (normally November through February). Hours may change depending on the season.
Admission fees: tickets range from 400 JPY (3.80 USD) to 1,900 JPY (18 USD) for adults and 200 JPY (1.90 USD) to 900 JPY (8.50 USD) for children, depending on the season and condition of the flowers.

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Ashikaga Meisen Kimono Dressing Experience

For a guaranteed memory-making experience, dress up in a traditional Ashikaga Meisen kimono and take to the streets of Ashikaga for some of the best photo ops you have ever had! Ashikaga Machinaka Yugakukan, the city’s official tourism center, is one of the best places to rent a kimono in the Ashikaga Meisen style, which is characterized by colorful patterns and locally produced silk. Visitors can find kimono rentals on the second floor of Ashikaga Machinaka Yugakukan. On the first floor, tourists can pick up informational pamphlets and helpful maps before heading out in their kimonos to nearby attractions like Ashikaga School and Ashikaga Museum of Art.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (kimono fittings are from 9 a.m. to noon)
Address: 1-2673-1 Tori, Ashikaga City
Costs: Fees vary depending on kimonos and plans

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Ashikaga School

Regarded as the oldest school in Japan, Ashikaga School is believed to have been established either during the early 9th century or late 12th century. In its early years, the school was used to teach Confucianism, as well as subjects like Chinese classical literature and Chinese medicine, but after centuries of change and loss of financial support, the school closed. Later, several buildings were destroyed, and Ashikaga School eventually was converted into a local elementary school and then became the first public library in Tochigi Prefecture. The site was deemed a National Historic Site in 1921 and underwent restoration in the 1980s. During this time, parts of the school and surrounding gardens were restored to their Edo period style.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (April through September) and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (October through March)
Admission: 420 JPY (4 USD) for adults and 220 JPY (2 USD) for children (high school age and younger)

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Strawberry Picking

Thanks to a temperate climate, Tochigi Prefecture is Japan’s largest producer of a deliciously sweet assortment of strawberries, and picking them at a local strawberry farm is a beloved activity that is enjoyed by the young and young at heart. Travelers who venture through the region between December and May will find berries ripe for the picking, and several local strawberry farms near Ashikaga can be reached in less than an hour.

Strawberry farms near Ashikaga

• Yoshimura Strawberry Park, 520 Hanawa, Mashiko – hours are from 9am to 4pm daily (closed Monday) from late December to mid-May. Admission fees are 1,300 to 1,800 JPY (USD) per person, depending on the season, and free for children under 2. Admission covers all-you-can-eat strawberry picking, and there is no time limit per visit.
• Iwafune Fruit Park, 1585 Iwafunemachi Shimotsubara, Tochigi – 30-minute tours run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from late December to mid-May, and a reservation is required. Guests may eat as many strawberries as they like during the 30-minute picking session. Strawberries are available to purchase at the gift shop. Travelers who miss strawberry picking season can enjoy picking other fruits, like grapes, pears and blueberries, at different times of the year. Admission is 1,300 JPY (12.15 USD) to 1,600 JPY (15 USD) for adults and 650 JPY (6.10 USD) to 1,600 JPY (15 USD) for children, depending on the time of year.
• JA Ashikaga Agriland, 20 Yayoi-cho, Ashikaga-shi – hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from early January to mid-May (closed Tuesday). Admission is 1,200 JPY (11.25 USD) to 1,800 JPY (16.85 USD) for adults and 600 JPY (5.60 USD) to 900 JPY (8.40 USD) for children, depending on the time of year. Guests can pick all-you-can-eat strawberries during 30-minute tours. The farm is open for business year-round, and visitors who miss strawberry-picking season can enjoy the farm’s selection of homegrown products, like tomatoes, asparagus, daikon radishes, eggplant, and even wheat!

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Mashiko Pottery Making Experience

The small community of Mashiko, often called Mashiko Pottery Town, sits east of Ashikaga and can be reached by car in about an hour and 15 minutes. The town is renowned for its pottery made from a distinctive red-brown clay that is found only in the surrounding area. Visitors to Mashiko will find dozens of shops displaying Mashiko Pottery pieces, which make excellent souvenirs, and many shops offer pottery-making experiences for visitors who want to create their own exclusive pieces. For a well-rounded Mashiko Pottery adventure, tourists can sign up for a pottery-making workshop at one of the local museums and learn about the history of Mashiko Pottery as well.

Mashiko Pottery museums with classes

• Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art/ Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko, 3021 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi – hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from February to October and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from November to January. The museum may close between exhibitions, so tourists should check in advance before visiting. Admission is 600 JPY (5.60 USD) for adults and 300 JPY (2.80 USD) for students. Pottery making experiences cost extra.
• Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum, 3388 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi – hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Monday). Admission is 800 JPY (7.50 USD) for adults and 400 JPY (3.75 USD) for children. Pottery making experiences are priced separately.

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Tonoike Sake Brewery

Following a pottery-making experience in Mashiko, visitors should embark on a tour that showcases another well-known product of Tochigi Prefecture – sake! While Japan’s national beverage did not hail from the region, it’s no secret that sake breweries in Tochigi Prefecture take pride in their process. Tonoike Sake Brewery is an excellent place to learn about the sake-making process and enjoy some samples as well. Founded in 1937, the brewery has been family-owned and operated for three generations and welcomes more than 70,000 tourists each year.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tours are available by reservation only and take place at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tours last about 50 minutes and include samples of three types of sake and snacks.
Address: 333-1, Hanawa, Mashiko-machi
Tour prices: 1,000 JPY (9.35 USD) per person (group rates and tours are available by appointment)

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Ichigaimachi Shibazakura Park

Another inspiring place to explore while visiting Mashiko from Ashikaga is Ichigaimachi Shibazakura Park. Known as “The Flower Carpet” to locals, the sprawling green space is a breathtaking recreation area that boasts more than 250,000 shibazakura flowers that bloom in four colors from mid-April to early May. The flowers are planted in a design that mimics the flow of nearby Kokai River, and the vibrant blossoms bathe the plains in colors of red, pink, purple and white. Even outside of blooming season, Ichigaimachi Shibazakura Park is worth a visit, as neighboring Crystal (Hananosuisho) Lake is an exceptional place to bask in the area’s pristine nature. Walking trails lead visitors from the park to the lake area, and Hana Roadside Station serves up soba noodle dishes and other Japanese food from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day except Thursday. The park and lake areas are open 24 hours a day and are free to enter.

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