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Coordinates: 36°31′N 139°49′E / 36.517°N 139.817°E / 36.517; 139.817
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{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
[[ja:栃木県]]
{{Redirect|Tochigi, Japan|the city|Tochigi (city)}}
{{Expand Japanese|栃木県|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Tochigi Prefecture
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|栃木県}}}}
| settlement_type = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| translit_lang1 = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|栃木県}}
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Tochigi-ken}}
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| total_width = 290
| border = infobox
| perrow = 1/3/2/2/1
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon Gate 2024.jpg
| caption1 = [[Nikkō Tōshō-gū]]
| image2 = Chūzenji-ko 2023-08-25 (3).jpg
| caption2 = Lake Chūzenji
| image3 = Nikko 2013-11-01 (11284590243).jpg
| caption3 = [[Cedar Avenue of Nikkō]]
| image4 = Kegon no Taki 2023-08-25 (3).jpg
| caption4 = [[Kegon falls]]
| image5 = Ashikaga School ac (1).jpg
| caption5 = [[Ashikaga School|Ashikaga Herritage School]]
| image6 = 20190430Ashikaga Flower Park 9.jpg
| caption6 = [[Ashikaga Flower Park]]
| image7 = 益子焼窯元共販センターぽんたくん.jpg
| caption7 = Mashiko Pottery Center
| image8 = 大谷資料館施設の周囲 01.jpg
| caption8 = Ōya Stone Museum
| image9 = Watarase-Yusuichi.jpg
| caption9 = Watarase Reservoir
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Tochigi Prefecture.svg
| flag_size = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Tochigi Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size = 80px
| blank_emblem_type = Symbol
| image_map = Map of Japan with highlight on 09 Tochigi prefecture.svg
| coordinates =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Honshu]]
| seat_type = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat = [[Utsunomiya]]
| parts_type = Subdivisions
| parts_style = para
| p1 = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 5
| p2 = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 25
| leader_title = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name = [[Tomikazu Fukuda]]
| area_total_km2 = 6408.09
| area_water_percent = 0.2
| area_rank = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|20th]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 1897649
| population_as_of = June 1, 2023
| population_rank = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|19th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[JP¥]] 9,262 billion<br />[[US$]] 85.0 billion (2019)
| iso_code = JP-09
| website = {{URL|http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/}}
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country = Japan
| bird = [[Blue-and-white flycatcher]]<br/>(''Cyanoptila&nbsp;cyanomelana'')
| fish =
| flower = Yashio tsutsuji<br/>(''[[Rhododendron albrechtii]]'')
| tree = [[Aesculus turbinata|Japanese horse chestnut]]<br/>(''Aesculus turbinata'')
}}
| population_blank2_title = Dialects
| population_blank2 = [[Tochigi dialect|Tochigi]] ・Ashikaga
| anthem = [[:ja:県民の歌 (栃木県)|Kenmin no Uta]]
}}


{{Nihongo|'''Tochigi Prefecture'''|栃木県|''Tochigi-ken''}} is a landlocked [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of [[Japan]] located in the [[Kantō region]] of [[Honshu]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tochigi prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 967|page=967}}; "Kantō" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 479|page=479}}.</ref> Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,897,649 (1 June 2023) and has a geographic area of 6,408 [[Square kilometre|km²]] (2,474 [[Square mile|sq mi]]). Tochigi Prefecture borders [[Fukushima Prefecture]] to the north, [[Gunma Prefecture]] to the west, [[Saitama Prefecture]] to the south, and [[Ibaraki Prefecture]] to the southeast.


[[Utsunomiya]] is the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture, with other major cities including [[Oyama, Tochigi|Oyama]], [[Tochigi, Tochigi|Tochigi]], and [[Ashikaga, Tochigi|Ashikaga]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Utsunomiya" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 1019|page=1019}}.</ref> Tochigi Prefecture is one of only eight [[landlocked]] prefectures and its mountainous northern region is a popular tourist region in Japan. The [[Nasu District, Tochigi|Nasu]] area is known for its [[onsen]]s, local [[sake]], and [[Skiing|ski]] resorts, the villa of the [[Imperial House of Japan|Imperial Family]], and the {{STN|Nasushiobara}} station of the [[Shinkansen]] railway line. The city of [[Nikkō, Tochigi|Nikkō]], with its ancient [[Shinto shrine|Shintō shrine]]s and [[Buddhist]] [[temple]]s, is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcom99.htm#913|title=World Heritage Committee: Report of the 23rd Session, Marrakesh 1999|website=whc.unesco.org|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>


[[File:Map of Tochigi Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|Current map of Tochigi Prefecture<br />{{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}}]]
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Japanese prefectures]] for guidelines -->


== Prefectural overview ==
Situated among the inland prefectures of the northern part of the Kantō region, Tochigi is contiguous with Ibaraki, Gunma, Saitama, and Fukushima Prefectures.


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 November 2010 is approximately 2,005,096.
'''Tochigi prefecture''' (&#26627;&#26408;&#30476;; Tochigi-ken) is a located in the [[Kanto]] region on [[Honshu]] [[island]], [[Japan]]. The capital is the city of [[Utsunomiya]].


Located in the center of the prefecture is the largest open plain in the Kantō region. Shirane ({{convert|2,578|m|}}), Nantai ({{convert|2,484|m|}}) and Nasudake ({{convert|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 6,408.09 square km.


As of 1 April 2012, 21% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]], namely [[Nikkō National Park]], [[Oze National Park]], and eight Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |date=1 April 2012 |access-date=18 November 2013}}</ref>

<div style="float: right; margin-left: 2em; margin-bottom: 1ex; width: 300px;">
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="300px">
<caption><font size="+1">'''Tochigi prefecture (&#26627;&#26408;&#30476;)'''</font></caption>
<tr>
<td align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;">
[[Image:PrefSymbol-Tochigi.png|Tochigi prefectural symbol]]<br>
Tochigi prefectural symbol
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>[[Capital]]</td><td>[[Utsunomiya]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[list of regions in Japan|Region]]:</td><td>[[Kanto region|Kanto]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Island]]:</td><td>[[Honshu]]</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Surface area|Area]]
<br>&nbsp;- Total
<br>&nbsp;- % water
</td>
<td>[[List of Japanese prefectures ranked by area|Ranked 20th]]
<br> 6,408.28 [[square kilometer|km&sup2;]]
<br> 0.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Population]]
<br>&nbsp;- Total ([[January 1|Jan 1]], [[2003]])
<br>&nbsp;- [[Density]]</td>
<td>[[List of Japanese prefectures by population|Ranked 20th]]
<br> 2,011,313
<br> 314/km&sup2;
</td>
<tr><td>[[District]]s:</td><td>7</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Municipality|Municipalities]]:</td><td>49</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[ISO 3166-2:JP|ISO 3166-2]]:</td><td>JP-09</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Symbols</th></tr>
<tr><td>Pref.&nbsp;[[Flower]]:</td><td>''Yashio tsutsuji''</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pref.&nbsp;[[Tree]]:</td><td>Japanese horse [[chestnut]]<br>(Aesculus turbinata)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pref.&nbsp;[[Bird]]:</td><td>Blue-and-white [[flycatcher]]<br>(Cyanoptila cyanomelana)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">[[Image:Japan_tochigi_map_small.png]]</th></tr>
</tr>
</table>
</div>


== History ==
== History ==
{{see also|Historic Sites of Tochigi Prefecture}}

Before the [[Meiji Restoration]], Tochigi was known as [[Shimotsuke Province]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>

In the early 15th century, the [[Ashikaga Gakkō]], Japan's oldest school of higher education, was re-established in the prefecture, holding over 3,000 students by the 16th century. Saint [[Francis Xavier]] introduced Ashikaga to the world as the best university in Japan.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

In the early 17th century, Japan was unified under the [[shōgun]] [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]]. After his death, the [[Nikkō Tōshō-gū|Nikko Tōshō-gū]] shrine was built in [[Nikkō]] in 1617 on what the shōguns thought of as holy ground to protect and worship Ieyasu. Its establishment brought Nikkō to national attention.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} Ieyasu's successors as [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shogun]] developed the [[Nikkō Kaidō]] (日光街道, part of the major road connecting Nikkō with [[Edo]]) and acquired lavish processions to worship Ieyasu.

In the late 19th century, the Tokugawa shogunate fell and the new government established the [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectures]]. The prefectural capital was established in the city of Tochigi after the unification of Utsunomiya Prefecture and Tochigi Prefecture in 1873.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tochigi Prefecture / History |url=http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/english/intro/history.html |website=Tochigi Prefecture |publisher=Tochigi Prefectural Office |access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> By 1884, however, the capital was transferred to Utsunomiya.

In March 2011, following the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]], levels of [[radioactivity]] in Utsunomiya were 33 times higher than normal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greenworldinvestor.com/2011/03/15/nuclear-radiation-levels-and-effect-on-human-health-as-sieverts-increase-in-japan-what-you-need-to-know/|title=Nuclear Radiation Levels and Effect on Human Health as Sieverts increase in Japan – What you need to Know - Green World Investor|website=greenworldinvestor.com|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>


== Geography ==
== Geography ==
The chief city of Utsunomiya is famous for its many [[Jiaozi|gyoza]] specialist shops. Also located in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture has one of the largest shopping malls in the North Kantō region, [[Bell Mall, Utsunomiya|Bell Mall]].


<gallery class="center" widths="170" heights="170">
=== Cities (in order of their founding date) ===
File:Suginamiki2.jpg|Nikkō Cedar Avenue
*[[Utsunomiya]]
File:Kegon.jpg|The Kegon Falls in Nikkō
*[[Ashikaga]]
File:Irohazaka (52506196693).jpg|Iroha Slope, a view of attraction spot in [[Nikkō]]
*[[Tochigi]]
File:Ruins of Sakuyama castle (Tochigi, Japan).jpg|Autumn view over the ruins of [[Sakuyama Castle|Sakuyama castle]] in [[Gotenyama Park|Gotenyama park]], [[Ōtawara]] city, Tochigi prefecture
*[[Sano]]
File:Otawara, Tochigi, Japan.jpg|Otawara
*[[Kanuma]]
File:Central Utsunomiya, southeast side.jpg|[[Utsunomiya]]
*[[Nikkou]]
</gallery>
*[[Imaichi]]
[[File:Tochigi-panorama.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Tochigi City]]
*[[Oyama]]
*[[Mooka]]
*[[Ootawara]]
*[[Yaita]]
*[[Kuroiso]]


=== Cities ===
===Districts, towns and villages (in order of their founding date) ===
{{See also|List of cities in Tochigi Prefecture by population}}
*[[Kawachi]]

**[[Kaminokawa, Tochigi|Kaminokawa]]
{{historical populations|19=1920|20=1,046,479|21=1925|22=1,090,428|23=1930|24=1,141,737|25=1935|26=1,195,057|27=1940|28=1,206,657|29=1945|30=1,546,355|31=1950|32=1,550,462|33=1955|34=1,547,580|35=1960|36=1,513,624|37=1965|38=1,521,656|39=1970|40=1,580,021|41=1975|42=1,698,003|43=1980|44=1,792,201|45=1985|46=1,866,066|47=1990|48=1,935,168|49=1995|50=1,984,390|51=2000|52=2,004,817|53=2005|54=2,016,631|55=2010|56=2,007,683|57=2015|58=1,974,255|59=2020|60=1,933,146|percentages=pagr|source=Censuses<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html|title=Statistics Bureau Home Page|website=www.stat.go.jp}}</ref>}}Fourteen cities are located in Tochigi Prefecture:
**[[Minamikawachi, Tochigi|Minamikawachi]]

**[[Kamikawachi, Tochigi|Kamikawachi]]
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
**[[Kawachi, Tochigi|Kawachi]]
*[[Ashikaga, Tochigi|Ashikaga]]
*[[Kamitsuga]]
**[[Nishikata, Tochigi|Nishikata]]
*[[Kanuma, Tochigi|Kanuma]]
**[[Awano, Tochigi|Awano]]
*[[Mooka, Tochigi|Mooka]]
*[[Nasukarasuyama]]
**[[Ashio, Tochigi|Ashio]]
*[[Haga]]
*[[Nasushiobara]]
**[[Ninomiya, Tochigi|Ninomiya]]
*[[Nikkō, Tochigi|Nikkō]]
*[[Ōtawara]]
*[[Oyama, Tochigi|Oyama]]
*[[Sakura, Tochigi|Sakura]]
*[[Sano, Tochigi|Sano]]
*[[Shimotsuke, Tochigi|Shimotsuke]]
*[[Tochigi, Tochigi|Tochigi]]
*[[Utsunomiya, Tochigi|Utsunomiya]] (capital)
*[[Yaita, Tochigi|Yaita]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
<!-- template:Tochigi refers to the above header -->
These are the towns in each [[Districts of Japan|district]]:

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Haga District, Tochigi|Haga District]]
**[[Haga, Tochigi|Haga]]
**[[Ichikai, Tochigi|Ichikai]]
**[[Mashiko, Tochigi|Mashiko]]
**[[Mashiko, Tochigi|Mashiko]]
**[[Motegi, Tochigi|Motegi]]
**[[Motegi, Tochigi|Motegi]]
**[[Ichikai, Tochigi|Ichikai]]
*[[Kawachi District, Tochigi|Kawachi District]]
**[[Haga, Tochigi|Haga]]
**[[Kaminokawa, Tochigi|Kaminokawa]]
*[[Nasu District, Tochigi|Nasu District]]
*[[Shimotsuga]]
**[[Nakagawa, Tochigi|Nakagawa]]
**[[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]]
*[[Shimotsuga District, Tochigi|Shimotsuga District]]
**[[Mibu, Tochigi|Mibu]]
**[[Mibu, Tochigi|Mibu]]
**[[Ishibashi, Tochigi|Ishibashi]]
**[[Kokubunji, Tochigi|Kokubunji]]
**[[Nogi, Tochigi|Nogi]]
**[[Nogi, Tochigi|Nogi]]
**[[Oohira, Tochigi|Oohira]]
*[[Shioya District, Tochigi|Shioya District]]
**[[Fujioka, Tochigi|Fujioka]]
**[[Iwafune, Tochigi|Iwafune]]
**[[Tsuga, Tochigi|Tsuga]]
*[[Shioya]]
**[[Kuriyama, Tochigi|Kuriyama]]
**[[Fujihara, Tochigi|Fujihara]]
**[[Shioya, Tochigi|Shioya]]
**[[Shioya, Tochigi|Shioya]]
**[[Ujiie, Tochigi|Ujiie]]
**[[Takanezawa, Tochigi|Takanezawa]]
**[[Takanezawa, Tochigi|Takanezawa]]
{{Div col end}}
**[[Kitsuregawa, Tochigi|Kitsuregawa]]
*[[Nasu]]
**[[Minaminasu, Tochigi|Minaminasu]]
**[[Karasuyama, Tochigi|Karasuyama]]
**[[Batou, Tochigi|Batou]]
**[[Ogawa, Tochigi|Ogawa]]
**[[Yudukami, Tochigi|Yudukami]]
**[[Kurobane, Tochigi|Kurobane]]
**[[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]]
**[[Nishinasuno, Tochigi|Nishinasuno]]
**[[Shiobara, Tochigi|Shiobara]]
*[[Aso]]
**[[Tanuma, Tochigi|Tanuma]]
**[[Kuzuu, Tochigi|Kuzuu]]


== Economy ==
=== Mergers ===
{{main|List of mergers in Tochigi Prefecture}}


== List of governors of Tochigi Prefecture (from 1947) ==
== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; width=100%; line-height:19px;"
|-
! width=1%|No.
! width=10%|Governor<br><small>(Birth–Death)</small>
! colspan="2" width=25%|Term of office
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 37–38
| Jyukichi Kodaira (小平重吉)<br><small>(1886–1960)</small>
| 12 April 1947
| 4 February 1955
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 39
| Kichi Ogawa (小川喜一)<br><small>(1904–1979)</small>
| 5 February 1955
| 4 February 1959
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 40–43
| Nobuo Yokokawa (横川信夫)<br><small>(1901–1975)</small>
| 5 February 1959
| 7 December 1974
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 44–46
| Yuzuru Funada (船田譲)<br><small>(1923–1985)</small>
| 8 December 1974
| 8 December 1984
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 47–50
| Fumio Watanabe (渡辺文雄)<br><small>(1929–)</small>
| 9 December 1984
| 8 December 2000
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 51
| Akio Fukuda (福田昭夫)<br><small>(1948–)</small>
| 9 December 2000
| 8 December 2004
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;"| 52–55
| Tomikazu Fukuda (福田富一)<br><small>(1953–)</small>
| 9 December 2004
| Present
|}


== Industry and agriculture ==
== Culture ==
[[File:Tochigi prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Tochigi prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
Located close to Tōkyō, Tochigi is home to many corporations and industrial zones, including the [[Kiyohara]] [[Factory|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:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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.

== Education ==
Tochigi is home to many universities and colleges including those for [[science]] and [[technology]], [[literature]], [[medicine]], [[education]], and [[art]]. Below is an alphabetical list of some of the universities located in Tochigi.

* [[Ashikaga Institute of Technology]]
* [[Bunsei University of Art]], [[Utsunomiya]]
* [[Dokkyo University School of Medicine]], [[Mibu, Tochigi|Mibu]]
* [[Hakuoh University]], [[Oyama, Tochigi|Oyama]]
* [[International University of Health and Welfare]], [[Otawara]]
* [[Jichi Medical University]], [[Shimotsuke, Tochigi|Shimotsuke]]
* Oyama National College of Technology
* [[Sakushin Gakuin University]], [[Utsunomiya]]
* [[Sano College]]
* [[Teikyo University]], [[Utsunomiya]]
* Tochigi College of Industry and Technology (Central), [[Utsunomiya]]
* Tochigi College of Industry and Technology (North), [[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]]
* Tochigi College of Industry and Technology (South), [[Ashikaga, Tochigi|Ashikaga]]
* [[Utsunomiya Kyowa University]], [[Utsunomiya]] and [[Nasushiobara]]
* [[Utsunomiya University]]

== People ==
<!-- Please restrict this Tochigi article to '''renowned''' individuals and groups. If an individual or group is not notable enough to have their own article, they do not merit inclusion in the List of People from Tochigi Prefecture. -->

{{main|List of people from Tochigi Prefecture}}

== Sports ==
[[File:KansekiStadiumTochigi.jpg|thumb|[[Kanseki Stadium Tochigi]] in [[Utsunomiya, Tochigi|Utsunomiya]], a home association football club of [[Tochigi SC]].]]
The sports teams and events listed below are based in Tochigi.
[[File:Utsunomiya city gymnasium arena h.JPG|thumb|right|[[Utsunomiya Brex]], a professional basketball team of [[B.League]] in [[Utsunomiya]]]]

===Association football===
*[[Tochigi City FC]] ([[Tochigi (city)|Tochigi]])
*[[Tochigi SC]] ([[Utsunomiya]])

===Ice hockey===
*[[Nikkō Ice Bucks]] ([[Nikkō, Tochigi|Nikkō]])

===Basketball===
* [[Utsunomiya Brex]]

===Motorsport===
* [[Twin Ring Motegi]] circuit
* Nikkō Circuit

===Cycling===
[[Tour de Tochigi]], a cat 2.2 three-day [[road cycling race|road race]] of the [[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]] [[UCI Asia Tour|Asia Tour]]


== Tourism ==
== Tourism ==
Nikkō National Park is famous for its [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|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 [[Cryptomeria|Japanese Cedars]] (about 13,000 in total) line the famous [[Cedar Avenue of Nikkō]] for roughly 35&nbsp;km, making it the longest tree-lined avenue in the world.<ref>[http://www.letsgogardening.co.uk/Information/WorldRecords.htm Gardening World Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014231948/http://www.letsgogardening.co.uk/Information/WorldRecords.htm |date=2008-10-14 }}. Retrieved on 2 November 2008.</ref>

[[File:AUnComposite.jpg|thumb|Statues in Nikkō]]

[[File:20100727 Nikko Tosho-gu Three wise monkeys 5965.jpg|thumb|Three wise monkeys at Nikkō Tōshō-gū]]

A more recent and modern attraction is the [[Twin Ring Motegi]] Circuit race course, which hosts the only [[IndyCar Series|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:
* [[Ashikaga Flower Park]]
* [[Cannabis Museum (Japan)|Cannabis Museum]]
* [[Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura]]
* [[Futarasan Shrine]]
* [[Kegon Falls]]
* [[Kinugawa (hot spring)]]
* Kirifuri Falls
* [[Lake Chūzenji]]
* Mashiko
* [[Nakagawa Aquatic Park]]
* [[Nasu Animal Kingdom]]
* Nasu resort area
* [[Nikkō Tōshō-gū]]
* [[Rinnō-ji]]
* Shiobara Hot Spring
* [[Tobu World Square]]

== Transportation and access ==

===Roads===
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 [[Japan National Route 4|Route 4]]. From east to west spans [[Japan National Route 50|Route 50]], connecting southern Tochigi with Ibaraki and Gunma Prefectures.

Also connecting Tochigi, Gunma, and Ibaraki is the [[Kita-Kantō Expressway]], with the 18.5&nbsp;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 Expressway|Jōban]] and the [[Kan-Etsu Expressway]]s, providing a link to the international port of Hitachinaka in Ibaraki.

===Rail===
[[File:JR Utsunomiya West Side April 2020.jpg|thumb|[[Utsunomiya Station|JR Utsunomiya Station]]]]
[[File:Tobu Nikko Station, ekisha.jpg|thumb|[[Tōbu Nikkō Station]]]]
The [[Tōhoku Shinkansen]] and the JR [[Utsunomiya Line]] are the main railways running north and south in Tochigi. Shinkansen runs from [[Tokyo Station]] to {{STN|Oyama}} in south Tochigi in 43 minutes. {{STN|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 Line|Mito]] and [[Ryōmō Line|Ryōmō]] Lines connect Tochigi to Ibaraki and Gunma.

Freight is served by the Utsunomiya Freight Terminal.
*[[East Japan Railway Company]]
**[[Karasuyama Line]]
**[[Mito Line]]
**[[Nikkō Line]]
**[[Ryōmō Line]]
**[[Shōnan-Shinjuku Line]]
**[[Tōhoku Shinkansen]]
**[[Utsunomiya Line]] ([[Tōhoku Main Line]])
*[[Mooka Railway]]
*[[Tobu Railway|Tobu]]
**[[Tobu Isesaki Line|Isesaki Line]]
**[[Tōbu Nikkō Line|Nikkō Line]]
**[[Tobu Kinugawa Line|Kinugawa Line]]
**[[Tobu Utsunomiya Line|Utsunomiya Line]]
**[[Tobu Sano Line|Sano Line]]
*[[Utsunomiya Light Rail]]
**LIGHTLINE (Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line)
*[[Watarase Keikoku Railway Watarase Keikoku Line|Watarase Keikoku Line]]
*[[Yagan Railway]]


===Air travel===
== Prefectural symbols ==
[[Fukushima Airport]] is approximately an hour's drive from [[Utsunomiya]] on the [[Tōhoku Expressway]]. International and national air transportation is through [[Narita International Airport]] to the east of Tokyo, approximately three hours by vehicle from Utsunomiya.


== Miscellaneous topics ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== Sources ==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC ''Japan Encyclopedia'']. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; {{Oclc|58053128}}.
*[http://www.pref.tochigi.jp/kokusai/english/index.html Official Tochigi prefecture homepage]


== External links ==
{{Commons category|Tochigi prefecture}}
{{Wikivoyage|Tochigi}}
* [http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/ Tochigi Prefecture Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://tia21.or.jp/life/english/index.html Tochigi International Association Website] {{in lang|en}}


{{Tochigi}}
<div align="center" style="clear: both">
{{Governors of Tochigi Prefecture}}
<hr noshade size="4" width="100%">
{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
[[Prefectures of Japan]]
{{Authority control}}{{Coord|36|31|N|139|49|E|region:JP-09_scale:500000|display=title}}
</div>
[[Category:Tochigi Prefecture| ]]
[[Category:Kantō region]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]

Latest revision as of 02:16, 10 December 2024

"Tochigi, Japan" redirects here. For the city, see Tochigi (city).
Tochigi Prefecture
栃木県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese栃木県
 • RōmajiTochigi-ken
Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Lake Chūzenji
Cedar Avenue of Nikkō
Kegon falls
Ashikaga Herritage School
Ashikaga Flower Park
Mashiko Pottery Center
Ōya Stone Museum
Watarase Reservoir
Flag of Tochigi Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Tochigi Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Kenmin no Uta
Location of Tochigi Prefecture
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
IslandHonshu
CapitalUtsunomiya
SubdivisionsDistricts: 5, Municipalities: 25
Government
 • GovernorTomikazu Fukuda
Area
 • Total
6,408.09 km2 (2,474.18 sq mi)
 • Rank20th
Population
 (June 1, 2023)
 • Total
1,897,649
 • Rank19th
 • Density300/km2 (770/sq mi)
 • Dialects
Tochigi ・Ashikaga
GDP
[1]
 • TotalJP¥ 9,262 billion
US$ 85.0 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 codeJP-09
Websitewww.pref.tochigi.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
BirdBlue-and-white flycatcher
(Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
FlowerYashio tsutsuji
(Rhododendron albrechtii)
TreeJapanese horse chestnut
(Aesculus turbinata)

Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県, Tochigi-ken) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[2] Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,897,649 (1 June 2023) and has a geographic area of 6,408 km² (2,474 sq mi). Tochigi Prefecture borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the west, Saitama Prefecture to the south, and Ibaraki Prefecture to the southeast.

Utsunomiya is the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture, with other major cities including Oyama, Tochigi, and Ashikaga.[3] Tochigi Prefecture is one of only eight landlocked prefectures and its mountainous northern region is a popular tourist region in Japan. The Nasu area is known for its onsens, local sake, and ski resorts, the villa of the Imperial Family, and the Nasushiobara station of the Shinkansen railway line. The city of Nikkō, with its ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4]

Current map of Tochigi Prefecture
     City      Town

Prefectural overview

[edit]

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

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 November 2010 is approximately 2,005,096.

Located in the center of the prefecture is the largest open plain in the Kantō region. Shirane (2,578 metres (8,458 ft)), Nantai (2,484 metres (8,150 ft)) and Nasudake (1,917 metres (6,289 ft)) 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 6,408.09 square km.

As of 1 April 2012, 21% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Nikkō National Park, Oze National Park, and eight Prefectural Natural Parks.[5]

History

[edit]
See also: Historic Sites of Tochigi Prefecture

Before the Meiji Restoration, Tochigi was known as Shimotsuke Province.[6]

In the early 15th century, the Ashikaga Gakkō, Japan's oldest school of higher education, was re-established in the prefecture, holding over 3,000 students by the 16th century. Saint Francis Xavier introduced Ashikaga to the world as the best university in Japan.[citation needed]

In the early 17th century, Japan was unified under the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. After his death, the Nikko Tōshō-gū shrine was built in Nikkō in 1617 on what the shōguns thought of as holy ground to protect and worship Ieyasu. Its establishment brought Nikkō to national attention.[citation needed] Ieyasu's successors as Tokugawa shogun developed the Nikkō Kaidō (日光街道, part of the major road connecting Nikkō with Edo) and acquired lavish processions to worship Ieyasu.

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.[7] By 1884, however, the capital was transferred to Utsunomiya.

In March 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, levels of radioactivity in Utsunomiya were 33 times higher than normal.[8]

Geography

[edit]

The chief city of 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.

Tochigi City

Cities

[edit]
See also: List of cities in Tochigi Prefecture by population
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
19201,046,479—    
19251,090,428+0.83%
19301,141,737+0.92%
19351,195,057+0.92%
19401,206,657+0.19%
19451,546,355+5.09%
19501,550,462+0.05%
19551,547,580−0.04%
19601,513,624−0.44%
19651,521,656+0.11%
19701,580,021+0.76%
19751,698,003+1.45%
19801,792,201+1.09%
19851,866,066+0.81%
19901,935,168+0.73%
19951,984,390+0.50%
20002,004,817+0.21%
20052,016,631+0.12%
20102,007,683−0.09%
20151,974,255−0.34%
20201,933,146−0.42%
Source: Censuses[9]

Fourteen cities are located in Tochigi Prefecture:

Towns

[edit]

These are the towns in each district:

Mergers

[edit]
Main article: List of mergers in Tochigi Prefecture

List of governors of Tochigi Prefecture (from 1947)

[edit]
No. Governor
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office
37–38 Jyukichi Kodaira (小平重吉)
(1886–1960) 		12 April 1947 4 February 1955
39 Kichi Ogawa (小川喜一)
(1904–1979) 		5 February 1955 4 February 1959
40–43 Nobuo Yokokawa (横川信夫)
(1901–1975) 		5 February 1959 7 December 1974
44–46 Yuzuru Funada (船田譲)
(1923–1985) 		8 December 1974 8 December 1984
47–50 Fumio Watanabe (渡辺文雄)
(1929–) 		9 December 1984 8 December 2000
51 Akio Fukuda (福田昭夫)
(1948–) 		9 December 2000 8 December 2004
52–55 Tomikazu Fukuda (福田富一)
(1953–) 		9 December 2004 Present

Industry and agriculture

[edit]
Tochigi prefecture population pyramid in 2020

Located close to Tōkyō, 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.

Education

[edit]

Tochigi is home to many universities and colleges including those for science and technology, literature, medicine, education, and art. Below is an alphabetical list of some of the universities located in Tochigi.

People

[edit]
Main article: List of people from Tochigi Prefecture

Sports

[edit]
Kanseki Stadium Tochigi in Utsunomiya, a home association football club of Tochigi SC.

The sports teams and events listed below are based in Tochigi.

Utsunomiya Brex, a professional basketball team of B.League in Utsunomiya

Association football

[edit]

Ice hockey

[edit]

Basketball

[edit]

Motorsport

[edit]

Cycling

[edit]

Tour de Tochigi, a cat 2.2 three-day road race of the UCI Asia Tour

Tourism

[edit]

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.[10]

Statues in Nikkō
Three wise monkeys at Nikkō Tōshō-gū

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:

Transportation and access

[edit]

Roads

[edit]

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 Route 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.

Rail

[edit]
JR Utsunomiya Station
Tōbu Nikkō Station

The Tōhoku 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.

Air travel

[edit]

Fukushima Airport is approximately an hour's drive from Utsunomiya on the Tōhoku Expressway. International and national air transportation is through Narita International Airport to the east of Tokyo, approximately three hours by vehicle from Utsunomiya.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tochigi prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 967, p. 967, at Google Books; "Kantō" in p. 479, p. 479, at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Utsunomiya" at p. 1019, p. 1019, at Google Books.
  4. ^ "World Heritage Committee: Report of the 23rd Session, Marrakesh 1999". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  5. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  7. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture / History". Tochigi Prefecture. Tochigi Prefectural Office. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Nuclear Radiation Levels and Effect on Human Health as Sieverts increase in Japan – What you need to Know - Green World Investor". greenworldinvestor.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Statistics Bureau Home Page". www.stat.go.jp.
  10. ^ Gardening World Records Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2 November 2008.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tochigi prefecture.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tochigi.

36°31′N 139°49′E / 36.517°N 139.817°E / 36.517; 139.817

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