Southern Tochigi Travel Guide: Top Attractions Just 40 Minutes from Tokyo

Step away from the usual tourist spots and explore southern Tochigi, a destination you’ve never experienced before! About 40-minute Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station brings you to Oyama Station, the starting point of your journey.
Introducing 6 Must-Visit Spots in Southern Tochigi!
This region is full of attractions where you can enjoy strawberries, sake, and art. Be sure to check out these places worth visiting!

Indulge in Tochigi Strawberries
Tochigi has been Japan’s top producer of strawberries for 56 consecutive years. Their sweetness and juiciness are second to none. Add a dollop of whipped cream, and you’ll have pure bliss!

Premium Sake from Tochigi
Tochigi is also known for its exceptionally high-quality sake. Since you've come all the way to Japan, why not try some sake made in Tochigi? In Japanese, the word “Tashinamu” (嗜む) means to enjoy something with affection and enthusiasm. Experience sake in southern Tochigi and take this spirit of “Tashinamu” home with you.

From December to May, you can enjoy picking Tochigi's premium strawberries, such as ''Tochi-Aika'' and ''Skyberry''. At the on-site cafe, you can enjoy delightful desserts with freshly picked strawberries.

Yoshimura Nouen Farm in Mashiko town, Tochigi Prefecture offers a strawberry-picking experience as a tourist attraction. You can also enjoy freshly harvested strawberries for sale and a variety of café menu items.

The museum houses and exhibits works by artists connected to Chikusei City, including ceramic artist Hazan Itaya and Western-style painter Shigeru Morita.

A long-established sake brewery founded in 1872 (Meiji 5), designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Its signature brand is “Mongai Fushutsu.” On the same premises, the Nikko Kaido Oyama Distillery produces “Tetsu,” the first whisky made in Tochigi Prefecture.

The brewery of “Sanran,” a local sake brand from Mashiko. You can enjoy sake tasting and guided brewery tours (available for a fee and by reservation), as well as coffee and amazake soft-serve ice cream at the adjoining café.

The “Garden of Illuminated Flowers,” featuring over 5 million lights, will be held until Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Southern Tochigi is more than just a destination—it’s an experience of authentic Japan. Taste the sweetest strawberries, savor world-class sake, and immerse yourself in local art and culture. About 40 minutes from Tokyo, yet a world away from the ordinary.
Plan your trip today and discover the hidden charm of Southern Tochigi!

※The information provided is current as of December 2025.
※The information posted is subject to change.