Tochigi
Nikko Toshogu (UNESCO 1999, Tokugawa mausoleum), Twin Ring Motegi racing, #1 strawberry producer, gyoza capital. 2026: stable Tokyo satellite.
Tochigi exists at the shrine and the racetrack. Nikko Toshogu—the ornate mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the shogunate—draws visitors to elaborate carvings (including the famous "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys) that represent the peak of Edo-period decorative arts. UNESCO listed Nikko's shrines and temples in 1999.
At the other end of the prefecture, Twin Ring Motegi hosts motorcycle and automobile racing, including MotoGP events. Honda, headquartered in Tokyo but founded in nearby Hamamatsu, operates facilities here. The contrast between sacred Nikko and secular racing captures something about Japanese cultural coexistence.
Economically, Tochigi serves as industrial and agricultural supplement to Tokyo. Utsunomiya, the capital, is famous for gyoza (dumplings)—a specialization that became tourism hook. Strawberry production leads Japan. By 2026, Tochigi's position within Greater Tokyo's economic sphere provides stability that more remote prefectures lack—close enough for day trips, far enough for lower costs, connected enough for commuting. The shrine keeps drawing visitors; the racetrack keeps hosting events; the gyoza shops keep filling.