Utsunomiya Onsen Tochigi

Utsunomiya, the prefectural capital of Tochigi and a major city of the northern Kanto region, is internationally famous for its gyoza dumplings — Utsunomiya's pork-and-cabbage gyoza culture having developed from the city's postwar military connections to the Chinese mainland is now celebrated at over two hundred restaurants and a dedicated Gyoza Museum. Utsunomiya Onsen Tochigi draws on chloride-rich thermal waters from the geological resources of the Utsunomiya basin, offering restorative baths in a city whose gyoza obsession, the spectacular Oya Stone Quarry Underground Space, and the Futaarasan Shrine of the ancient Nikko religious mountain complex create a surprisingly multifaceted destination for thermal spa visitors in the Tochigi capital. The Oya Underground Space — a vast subterranean quarry transformed into an atmospheric art and events venue carved from soft green Oya volcanic tuff — the Nikko UNESCO World Heritage shrines and temples accessible by the Nikko Limited Express, and the gyoza street in the city centre make Utsunomiya one of the most enjoyable and diverse spa destinations in the greater Tohoku gateway region.