Rainy Day in Tochigi: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

Tobu World Square

Why not set out on a round-the-world journey while listening to the sound of raindrops striking the windowpane? Tobu World Square is a one-of-a-kind theme park that precisely recreates, at 1/25 scale, 102 famous structures from 46 countries around the world -- from Egypt's pyramids to Paris's Eiffel Tower, and even Japan's Himeji Castle.

Though they are miniatures, their level of completion is spectacular in a word. Every single window frame of the buildings, even the slight unevenness of the sculptures, is carefully crafted, and you find yourself bringing your face close and gazing intently. Although outdoor exhibits are the main feature, indoor areas and rest spaces where you can leisurely enjoy yourself even in rain are substantial, so it is reassuring for a rainy-day outing. Gazing at the miniatures in a moist, calm atmosphere different from sunny days is actually one of the very best ways to enjoy it.

Best Season and Recommended Times The spring cherry-blossom season (early April) and the autumn-leaf season (October to November) are exceptionally beautiful, as the miniature architecture overlaps with the colors of the season. If you want to avoid crowds, the morning right after opening is the target.

Local Ways to Enjoy In fact, more than 60,000 figures at 1/25 scale are placed among the park's miniatures, and "figure watching" -- searching for "what scene is being recreated" -- is a standard way to enjoy it among local fans. Shooting by making full use of the zoom function of your camera or smartphone lets you take photos full of presence, as if you yourself have become a giant.

Access A surprisingly good location with "Tobu World Square Station" on the Tobu Kinugawa Line right in front. Excellent access, about 2 hours by the limited express Spacia from Asakusa Station, and about 5 minutes by train from Tobu Nikko Station.

Tips for Travelers Since there are scenes where you walk through outdoor areas, it is reassuring to have a folding umbrella and waterproof shoes. The estimated time required is 2 to 3 hours.

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Oya History Museum (Former Underground Quarry)

The hustle of the ground above, and even the sound of rain -- all of it is shut out. The moment anyone steps into the former underground quarry of the Oya History Museum, they lose their words. That space spreading 30 meters underground is filled with an overwhelming scale and silence, just like an ancient temple, or perhaps the entrance to another world.

Oya stone has long been used as a building material representing Tochigi, and the history of its quarrying spans over 1,000 years. The underground space dug out over long years reaches a total area of 20,000 square meters, and in the chisel marks carved into the rock walls you can still feel the breath of the artisans. The underground temperature stays constant at about 8 degrees year-round, so even on a hot, humid rainy day in summer there is a coolness like another world. It is truly a "natural air conditioner."

Best Season and Recommended Times In summer (July to August) the temperature difference from the ground above is greatest, and the emotion the moment you enter underground is all the deeper. On the other hand, in winter, conversely, the underground may feel warmer. The time slot from evening onward, when you can enjoy the dreamlike light-up, is also recommended as the romantic atmosphere rises.

Local Ways to Enjoy The museum has a track record of being used as a location for many movie and music-video shoots, so there is the joy of discovering "so that work was shot here!" Also, collaboration exhibitions with sculptures and contemporary art displayed on the rock walls are held regularly, making it a spot not to be missed by art lovers too.

Access Take the bus bound for "Oya, Shiryokan-mae" from the bus stop at the west exit of JR Utsunomiya Station, about 30 minutes. By car, about 20 minutes from Utsunomiya IC.

Tips for Travelers Since the underground feels very cold even in summer, a thin cardigan or layer to throw on is essential. There are also slippery spots underfoot, so visit in easy-to-walk sneakers. On holidays a wait to enter sometimes occurs, so the early time slot in the morning is the target.

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Tochigi Prefectural Museum

"So Tochigi was such a profound place." When you visit the Prefectural Museum, you find yourself feeling that way. It is a comprehensive museum broadly covering Tochigi's appeal, from Tochigi's rich nature, eternal history, and living folk culture to individuality-rich art, and it is the best place to settle in and savor slowly on a rainy day.

In the permanent exhibition, you can carefully trace the path this land has walked, such as the pioneering history of the Nasunohara plain and the memory of the Ashio Copper Mine. It is also beloved as a place for local children's social-studies field trips, and the clarity and substantiality of the exhibits are guaranteed. In the special exhibitions, famous works from Japan and abroad and precious materials are often displayed, so checking the current exhibition before your visit will broaden the joy of your journey all the more.

Best Season and Recommended Times It can be enjoyed year-round, but in autumn (October to November), when special exhibitions are concentrated, there is a high probability of encountering exhibits worth seeing. The early afternoon time slot lets you view relatively leisurely.

Local Ways to Enjoy The museum shop in the hall stocks Tochigi's folk crafts and region-related design goods, perfect for souvenir shopping for your journey. Since you can also stroll the adjacent Central Park, walking outside when the rain lets up is recommended too.

Access About a 25-minute walk from JR and Tobu Utsunomiya Station, or about 15 minutes by bus. It is easily accessible from the center of Utsunomiya City and a location easy to drop in on between sightseeing.

Tips for Travelers The admission fee for the permanent exhibition is relatively reasonable, and there is also a common ticket with the special exhibition. Since the hall is large, allowing 2 to 3 hours for the time required lets you enjoy it with leeway.

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Nikko Toshogu Treasure Museum

Nikko on a rainy day has a moist stillness different from sunny days. What I want you to visit on such a day is the Treasure Museum of Nikko Toshogu. Even on a day when touring the gorgeous, splendid shrine buildings in the grounds is a little hard in the rain, if you head to the Treasure Museum you can carefully immerse yourself in the deep appeal of Toshogu, under a roof.

Swords, armor, letters, and crafts of high historical value associated with Toshogu, which enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, are carefully exhibited, and at the fact that the items before your eyes were actually used on the main stage of history, a quiet emotion wells up. Even at times when tourists are concentrated in the grounds, the Treasure Museum can often be viewed relatively leisurely, and it is also a hidden spot known only to "connoisseur" travelers.

Best Season and Recommended Times During the spring (April to May) and autumn (October to November) tourist seasons the grounds get crowded, but the Treasure Museum has a calm atmosphere even in such periods. First thing in the morning right after opening is the time slot when you can view most quietly.

Local Ways to Enjoy After viewing the Treasure Museum, casually touring only the "Sleeping Cat" and the "Three Monkeys" in the grounds when the rain lets up is the smart Nikko stroll style of those who know the area well. The rain-wet cobblestones and cedar rows have their own charm too.

Access About 5 minutes by bus from "Nikko Station" or "Tobu Nikko Station" on the JR Nikko Line and Tobu Nikko Line, get off right at the "Omotesando" bus stop. From Asakusa in Tokyo, about 2 hours by Tobu limited express, a distance also suited to a day trip.

Tips for Travelers The Treasure Museum may require a separate admission fee from Toshogu's viewing fee, so confirm in advance on the official website. The grounds have many cobblestones and stone steps and are especially slippery on rainy days, so we strongly recommend visiting in shoes with a firm grip.

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Tochigi Kura-no-Machi Museum of Art

The historic streetscape of Tochigi City, where merchant storehouses continuing from the Edo period line up. The "Tochigi Kura-no-Machi Museum of Art" standing quietly in one corner of it is a one-of-a-kind museum, as if the massive storehouse-style building itself is already art. The sight of the storehouses' black walls glistening wet on the rainy-day cobblestones is just like a single painting. The experience of facing artworks as if melting into that scene produces an emotion different from sunny days.

The permanent exhibition centers on works by artists associated with Tochigi, and the special exhibitions feature works of diverse genres such as woodblock prints, Japanese painting, and Western painting. Precisely because it is a cozy space, the charm of this museum is that you can carefully converse with each work one by one. A region-rooted warmth not found in large, commercialized facilities drifts here.

Best Season and Recommended Times The "Kura-no-Machi" streetscape is especially beautiful with the spring cherry blossoms (late March to early April) and the autumn leaves (November), and strolling it as a set with the museum is ideal. On weekday mornings there are few visitors, and you can view leisurely.

Local Ways to Enjoy After visiting the museum, do walk the storehouse-style streetscape along the Uzuma River. The scenery of the storehouses reflected on the river surface on a rainy day is one of the highlights of Tochigi City sightseeing. Long-established Japanese-sweets shops and eateries using local ingredients are also scattered nearby, so you can spend a luxurious time enjoying art, food, and history at once.

Access About a 10- to 15-minute walk from "Tochigi Station" on the Tobu Nikko Line. The route walking while gazing at the storehouse town from the station is fun too, and even on rainy days you can enjoy an atmospheric stroll while holding an umbrella.

Tips for Travelers Since the content of the special exhibitions changes each season, we recommend confirming the latest information on the official website or the Tochigi City Tourism Association's page before your visit. Since the hall is small in scale, the time required is about 1 to 1.5 hours. A plan to spend half a day slowly, combined with a stroll of the surrounding storehouse town, is perfect.

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Access Information

The main gateways to Tochigi sightseeing are the two of JR Utsunomiya Station and Tobu Nikko Station. Let us summarize the access to each spot.

• Tobu World Square: Right at "Tobu World Square Station" on the Tobu Kinugawa Line. About 2 hours by limited express from Asakusa, about 5 minutes by train from Tobu Nikko Station.
• Oya History Museum: About 30 minutes by bus bound for "Oya, Shiryokan-mae" from the bus stop at the west exit of JR Utsunomiya Station.
• Tochigi Prefectural Museum: About 15 minutes by bus from JR and Tobu Utsunomiya Station, or about a 25-minute walk.
• Nikko Toshogu Treasure Museum: About 5 minutes by bus from "Nikko Station" and "Tobu Nikko Station" on the JR Nikko Line and Tobu Nikko Line.
• **Tochigi