Tochigi Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture
	Tochigi Prefecture
Japanese:	栃木県
	Tochigi-ken
Capital	Utsunomiya
Region	Kantō
Island	Honshū
Governor	Tomikazu Fukuda
Area (rank)	6,408.28 km² (20th)
- % water	0.2%
	Population (January 1, 2003)
- Population	2,011,313 (20th)
- Density	314 /km²
Districts	6
Municipalities	31
ISO 3166-2	JP-09
Website	English web site
	Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Yashio tsutsuji; (Rhododendron albrechtii)
- Tree	Japanese horse chestnut; (Aesculus turbinata)
- Bird	Blue-and-white Flycatcher; (Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
- Fish
	; Symbol of Tochigi Prefecture
	Template ■ Discussion ■ WikiProject Japan

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Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県, Tochigi-ken^?) 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 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. ^[1] 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.

[edit] Prefectural overview

Situated among the inland prefectures of the northern part of the Kanto region, Tochigi is contiguous with Ibaraki, Gunma, Saitama, and Fukushima prefecture.

The climate of Tochigi may be classified as a humid temperate zone with broad variations in temperature. Winters are arid with dry winds, while summers are humid with frequent thunderstorms.

The population of Tochigi as of March 2007 was approximately 2,014,900. The population increased until 2005,^{[citation needed]} but started to decrease in 2006, as the population of Japan decreased, too. About 500,000 people live in the prefectural capital of Utsunomiya, with the remainder dispersed over 14 other cities and 17 towns.^{[citation needed]}

Located in the center of the prefecture is the largest open plain in the Kanto region. Shirane (2,578 m), Nantai (2,484 m) and Nasudake (1,917 m) mountain are in the northern part of the area. Kinugawa, Nakagawa, and Watarase River originate in this region, which flow across the Kanto plain before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Tochigi is the 20th largest prefecture in Japan with a total area of 6,408 square km.

[edit] History

In the late 7th century, Tochigi formed Shimotsuke Province.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} By 1884, however, the capital was transferred to Utsunomiya.

[edit] Municipalities

The Kegon Falls in Nikko.

[edit] Cities

Fourteen cities are located in Tochigi Prefecture.

[edit] 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

[edit] Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Tochigi Prefecture

[edit] Industry and agriculture

Located close to Tokyo, Tochigi is home to many corporations and industrial zones, including the Kiyohara Industrial Complex, one of the largest inland industrial complexes in the country.

Industrial manufacturing accounts for 36.6% of the prefecture's total output. Vehicle parts and accessories are the primary products, followed by vehicles, radios and televisions, pharmaceuticals, and wireless communication equipment.

Below are goods manufactured in Tochigi with the highest market share in Japan:

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%

(The 2004 industrial analysis report published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

The annual gross agricultural output in Tochigi is about 274 billion yen. Rice, vegetables, and livestock are produced in the region. Tochigi is also known for strawberries, Chinese chives, and Japanese pears sold throughout Japan and exported to other countries. Approximately 55% of Tochigi is covered by forests. Mushrooms, such as Shiitake mushrooms, make up half of the forest industry, with an output of approximately 5.6 billion yen.

[edit] 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

[edit] People

Main article: List of people from Tochigi Prefecture

[edit] 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

[edit] 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 Cedar Avenue of Nikkō for roughly 35 km, making it the longest tree-lined avenue in the world.^[2]

Statues in Nikkō.

Three wise monkeys at Nikkō Tōshō-gū.

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)

[edit] Transportation and access

[edit] 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.

[edit] Railways

The Tohoku Shinkansen and the JR Utsunomiya Line are the main railways running north and south in Tochigi. Shinkansen runs from Tokyo Station to Oyama in south Tochigi in 43 minutes. Utsunomiya can be reached by rail in as little as 48 minutes, and many parts of Tochigi are within commuting range of central Tokyo. To the east and west, the Mito and Ryōmō Lines connect Tochigi to Ibaraki and Gunma.

Freight is served by the Utsunomiya Freight Terminal.

East Japan Railway Company

[edit] 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.