While the morning crop is peak—plus, it’s a great pre-lunch snack!

Yoshimura Strawberry Park is a highly regarded tourist farm in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, famous for its extensive variety of strawberries and family-friendly atmosphere. It is particularly known for having no time limit on its all-you-can-eat picking sessions, which is quite rare in Japan.

Diverse Strawberry Varieties: You can taste and compare up to 10 different types of strawberries, including Tochigi’s famous Skyberry, Tochiotome, and Tochi-Aika, as well as unique breeds like the peach-flavored Kaorino.

Accessibility and Family Comfort: The greenhouses are specifically designed with wide, boarded aisles to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, making it an easy experience for all ages.

Relaxed Experience: Unlike many farms that have 30 or 60-minute limits, this park allows you to eat at your own pace with no time pressure.

On-Site Cafe and Shop: After picking, you can visit their cafe for strawberry smoothies and "mega parfaits," or buy fresh packs and souvenirs to take home.

Kirasse, Utsunomiya’s premier "Gyoza Theme Park," is a specialized food hall managed by the local Gyoza Association that brings the city's best dumplings under one roof.

The Permanent Shops area features five legendary names, including the crispy "winged" gyoza of Menmen and the classic pork-and-cabbage flavors of Minmin. For maximum variety, the Daily Rotating zone offers a rotating menu from over 30 local vendors; here, you can order a Moriawase Platter to sample ten different dumplings at once, ranging from traditional recipes to unique variations like shrimp or yuzu.

After the lunch, we will head down to Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine. Located in the heart of the city, Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine is the spiritual center of Utsunomiya and is considered the highest-ranking shrine (Ichinomiya) in the former Shimotsuke Province. It is so central to the city's identity that the name "Utsunomiya" itself is believed to have derived from "Ichinomiya." Founded roughly 1,600 years ago, it is dedicated to Toyokiirihiko-no-mikoto, the first prince of the 10th Emperor Sujin and the traditional founder of the region.

Significant History: Throughout the centuries, the shrine was a major site for military commanders to pray for victory, including notable figures like Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Architectural Landmarks: The shrine is famous for its massive Otorii gate and a challenging approach of 95 stone steps leading up Mt. Myojin, which offers a panoramic view of the bustling city and Utsunomiya Castle.

Cultural Treasures: It houses several important cultural properties, most notably a pair of Kamakura-period iron komainu (guardian lions) and a "thirty-eight-plate star-helm" (sanjuhachiken-hoshikabuto).

Annual Festivals: The shrine's main festival takes place on October 21st, and it is also known for its Daidai-Kagura performances, which feature 18 different dances and 40 types of masks, typically held in January, May, and September.

Mashiko Town in Tochigi Prefecture is one of Japan's most famous pottery centers, renowned worldwide for its "Mashiko-yaki" style.

This aesthetic, characterized by its rustic, functional beauty and earthy glazes, was championed by Shoji Hamada and the Mingei (Folk Art) movement in the early 20th century. The town remains a vibrant hub for hundreds of potters, ranging from traditional masters to contemporary artists nowdays.