SUMMER SPRING

HISTORY, CULTURE & FLOWER CITY

ASHIKAGA Sensationally Stunning Cherry Blossom ’s Top-ranked Fireworks Festival JR ★ Tobu Landscape Oyama Metoro With the history of over 100 years, the Ashikaga fireworks festival is one Keisei ASHIKAGA Countless cherry blossoms greet you at many locations in our city. of the largest fireworks display in the northern Kanto region. The whopping Keihin The row of cherry blossom trees along the Fukuro River is an excellent 20,000 rounds and the“Niagara Falls” finale will keep your jaw dropped. spot for viewing and enjoying traditional sakura festivals. Asakusa Kita-senju Nippori Ueno TRAVEL GUIDE ◉Narita Airport TOKYO Skytree Tokyo ◉

The Garden of Light and Flowers Access.1（by Train） The Contrast of Red and Yellow Haneda Airport Ashikagashi Flowers are not always about spring and summer. During the winter, the Enjoy leaf peeping at Orihime Park where over 1000 Momiji (Japanese Ashikaga Flower Park transforms itself to a dazzling wonderland of lights Haneda Airport ---（Keihin Kyuko Line ）--- Asakusa --- maple) change their colors during this season. The contrast between the comprised of 3million LEDs, making it one of the finest light events in Japan. （Tobu Line_Limited Express Ryomo）--- Ashikagashi red and yellow leaves is stunning and breathtaking.

Access.2（by Train） Narita Airport Ashikagashi Narita Airport ---（Keisei Line Limited Express）--- Nippoli ---（JR Jyoban Line） --- Kita-Senjyu ---（Tobu Line_Ltd Express Ryomo）--- Ashikagashi

Access.3（by Train） Tokyo station. Ashikagashi Tokyo station. ---（JR Keihin Tohoku Line）--- Ueno ---（Tokyo Metro_Hibiya Line） --- Kita-Senjyu ---（Tobu Line_Limited Express Ryomo）--- Ashikagashi

Access.4（by Car） Tokyo（Asakusa） Ashikaga Tokyo（Asakusa） --- Shuto Expressway（ / Kawaguchi Route） --- Urawa toll booth --- Tohoku Expressway --- Iwafune Junction ---

Kita Kanto Expressway --- Ashikaga Interchange --- Ashikaga

For inquiries, please contact: Ashikaga Tourism Association Tel: 0284-43-3000 3-6-4 Taiheikikan, Isecho, Ashikagashi, Tochigi WINTER URL: http://www.ashikaga-kankou.jp/ Email: [email protected] AUTUMN FLOWERS HISTORY CULTURE FOOD

National Treasure Soba (Buckwheat Noodles)

Mountains connected to the distant Nikko mountain range are the source of high quality water, an essential key for making soba noodles. People in Ashikaga have valued and greatly supported skilled soba masters for a long time and made this city a great place for soba lovers. Banna-ji (Banna Temple) Kimono

Founded by Ashikaga Yoshikane, a Japanese Samurai and the son of the founder of the famous Ashikaga clan, approximately 800 years ago. The moats fortifying Ashikaga Meisen the surroundings tells you that it was once a residence of a Samurai clan. The Around 1920, Ashikaga once structure, which exhibits the Zenshuyo architecture, which was an iconic building dominated the textile industry by method at that time and remains as a precious cultural asset today. being the largest manufacturer of garments. During its prime, a Wagashi type of kimono called Ashikaga (Traditional Japanese Confections) Meisen gained popularity by applying modern designs and Ashikaga is a home to many famous The Oldest School in Japan innovative colors to traditional Wagashi brands. Wagashi is almost kimonos. Today, the city offers an art rather than food because of its kimono events that you can beautiful designs and color. The dress in Meisen and walk around local special sweetened red bean the historical streets of Ashikaga. paste confections are worth a try. There are many kinds of Wagashi and each of them will make you surprise. World Class Porcelains Kurita Museum Sauce The Kurita Museum houses Imari and Nabeshima-style porcelain produced Companies in Ashikaga produces top during the Edo period in the domain of quality sauces and many people Wisteria Nabeshima in Hizen. The museum’s grew up tasting them. Therefore, Japan Heritage collection of over 10,000 items is one Ashikaga is a birthplace of many of the largest of its kind in the world sauce flavored cheap eats such as Ashikaga Flower Park Ashikaga Gakko and it will make you cherish the yakisoba with potatoes, Ashikaga beauty of creations Japanese culture shumai and fried pork bowl. Please This flower paradise is the only Japanese location nominated in the dream Francis Xavier, a missionary, described the Ashikaga Gakko in 1549, as Japan’s has produced. try them during your stay here. destinations for 2014 by CNN travel. The park offers gorgeous flowers throughout largest and the most prominent academic institution in Bando, the area now known the year, but you must not miss the spectacular wisterias that bloom during April as the Kanto region. At its peak, over 3000 pupils gathered to study. Today, this to May. Revealing its beauty in pink, purple, white and yellow, visiting the historic site offers educational activities such as recitation of Analects to Ashikaga Flower Park is a guarantee of a breathtaking experience. everyone. Lovers Sanctuary Evergreen Armored Samurai March Orihime Shrine This beautiful red shrine, located on the hillside of Orihime Wine Azaleas Mountain has a history of over On the Eve of the New COCO Farm & Winery is a famous 1200 years. First built to vineyard that produces wine with Spring “Setsubun” enshrine the guardians of Orihime Park and grapes grown with love. They served industries and match making, Yoroi Toshikoshi (Armored March) is an their award-winning wine at a major Throughout the City now it is a popular place among event held every February 3 on Setsubun banquet during a G8 summit in lovers to wish for their eternal Tsutsuji (evergreen azaleas) is the official (the day of new spring). The event traces the Japan. At the farm located in the love. You can also observe the flower of Ashikaga and the blossoms are tale of Yasuuji Ashikaga, who called 500 northern area of Ashikaga, you can panoramic view of the city from at their best in May. Although you can Bando-region warriors on horsebacks to line sign up for a tour of the winery and this shrine day and night. find them throughout the city, seeing the up at Banna Temple. Witnessing the people enjoy wine tasting after. rows of Tsutsuji with the superb view of dressed in samurai armors marching the main the city from the Orihime Park streets of Ashikaga is an almost time observatory is one of the must visit traveling experience. locations in our city.