Suspect’s pet must have been a finicky feline to need to eat exotic prey like parakeets and hamsters.
Tochigi
Single traveler spent two nights in Japan before disappearing while in mountainous sightseeing town.
This promotional video series will leave you with chills, planning your next trip to Japan
This is one of the most unusual onsen in all of Japan.
Read More
Bears say only we can prevent forest fires, but they’ll help out when preventing robberies.
The Egyptian pyramids stand strong in the scorching heat of the desert, as they have for over 4,500 years. It is said that the techniques that went into building them were well beyond those of human civilization at the time. They are mysteries wrapped inside of enigmas that continue to fascinate us from afar.
And apparently there is also a pyramid in Tochigi Prefecture, which really cuts down on the travel expenses for those of us in Japan wanting to bask in their wonder. One such spendthrift adventurer was RocketNews24’s own Masanuki Sunakoma, who went to investigate.
When traveling in Japan, there are a number of quick and easy ways to see the whole country. You can take the Shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train that excels at speed and comfort. There are also a number of budget airlines including Peach, Air Asia, and Skymark Airlines that can make your trip quicker, but force you to sacrifice some amenities for a lower cost.
But if you have the time, there is no better way to travel around Japan than by hitting the open roads. Just like the US, there are many quirky best-kept secrets accessible only by car that are worth visiting. Some of the best places that really connect you with the locals are the roadside rest stops called Michi no Eki (literally “roadside stations“) that are perfect for taking a toilet or sleeping break, but are also hubs for local food, crafts and history.
Want to find the best roadside stations to visit? The travel website Trip Advisor has assembled a list of the best Michi no Eki for 2015, so gas up the car, it’s time for a road trip.
Weddings are a sacred ritual that take place across all cultures and lifestyles. They are typically extravagant, expensive affairs, with many in attendance. They often adhere to strict observance of certain religious and/or traditional rituals, whether it be the reading of certain Christian Bible passages, the breaking of a wine glass at Jewish weddings, or the ubiquitous “kissing of the bride.”
These ceremonies are held for myriad purposes, but primarily, weddings are held to see two individuals come together as a family unit in the eyes of the law and the participants’ chosen religion.
And, in Tochigi Prefecture, also in the eyes of this alpaca.
Every place in Japan wants to be famous for something or other; to have one specific dish or product that nowhere else has as much of or does quite as well. And while the port city of Yokohama might be known for its vast and varied Chinese cuisine, when it comes to gyoza – those bitesized Chinese dumplings that have been so tweaked by the Japanese that they’re often considered home-grown – Tochigi Prefeture’s Utsunomiya City is undoubtedly the place to be, with its residents proud to call their prefecture the Japanese capital of gyoza.
After taking a trip to the prefecture, we think they might just be right. Along with the dozens of delicious gyoza stalls and restaurants we encountered, we quickly stumbled upon a number of unusual gyoza-infused offerings, three of which we just had to try for ourselves. Join us after the jump for our taste test of Tochigi Prefecutre’s Gyoza Burger, Gyoza Chips and Gyoza Bread!
The heartland of Japan is certainly becoming the envy of the nation with their recent offerings of unusual foods. First the crunchy sweet mushrooms of Chubu region turned heads on Twitter. Now out of Tochigi Prefecture, emerges fruit-flavored hotdogs!
What chemical witchcraft went into making these sticks of pork(?) colored and flavored like lemon and strawberry milk is a mystery, but they do look intriguing, and dare I say delicious?
Tochigi Prefecture doesn’t pop-up in the news often, but when it does it usually involves food. You might remember the “First Love” flavored gyoza or the tomato-milk-lemon drink. I totally understand if you didn’t jump out of your seat to go to Tochigi just to taste those… unique… goods for yourself, but there is a new product in Tochigi that is flying off of the shelves and just might be worth that trip: “Kekeru gyoza.”
Japan is known for its succulent wagyu beef, but most people familiar with the meat probably wouldn’t expect it to be served as … a hamburger! But that’s exactly what Japanese fast food chain Lotteria is doing. And it’s not just a one-time promotion either; they’re serving a different kind of wagyu hamburger each month as a campaign over a period of about a year. And since the new hamburger they just released at the end of September involved a highly interesting ingredient for a hamburger, we simply had to go out and try it! Yes, it’s the “Tochigi Wagyu Steak Hamburger with Tochiotome Strawberry Sauce” (Tochigi Wagyu Hamburg Steak Burger (Tochiotome Sauce)), and we couldn’t wait to see how strawberries and wagyu mix!
Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture is famous nation-wide for its Chinese fried dumplings known as gyoza in Japan. The capital city boasts over 200 gyoza shops many of which are densely located near Utsunomiya Station in what is known as “Gyoza Town.”
Our reporter, Usagi, braved the imminent threat of deliciousness and boarded a Tochigi-bound train. Next stop: Gyoza Town!
The Japanese arm of tourism website TripAdvisor gathered user comments and evaluations from the past year and used them to rank the Top 20 travel destinations in Japan over that time. Hiroshima Prefecture maintained its popularity with two destinations in the Top 5 while five Kyoto sightseeing spots made the list.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and A-Bomb Dome moved to the top of the list after coming in second last year. Read More
Did you know that Japan has 16 locations on the list of UNESCO World Heritages? Could you name them all with any sum of money on the line?
Survey Research Center, Co. Ltd. conducted a survey that showed that most people could not. When asked whether they were interested in Japan’s world heritages, 67.8% of those surveyed responded affirmatively. However, only 4% of respondents knew all 16 Japanese sites.
See how many you can name before looking at the list below:
MOST POPULAR
Now
Annual Japanese horse racing event to start off with a bang by collaborating with… Gundam?!
Japanese illustrator designs dental clinic billboard to look like an ad for an awesome anime
Your Name’s Makoto Shinkai announces new anime film, reveals title, plot details, release date
Want some bling in your snack? Koikeya’s new luxury chips features actual gold leaf
After 15 years, the first male Pretty Cure has arrived… perhaps
“Recycling in Japan” or “Reasons to get it right and avoid eternal shame”
We try cold soba with a creamy and delicious soy milk broth. It’s better than it sounds!
What does “Konnichiwa” really mean? Understanding Japanese greetings
Swiss-raised Japanese woman points out fundamental difference in Japanese, western communication
Cafe opens in Tokyo staffed by robots controlled by paralyzed people
Weekly
- Your Name’s Makoto Shinkai announces new anime film, reveals title, plot details, release date
The all-new Kyotrain, maybe Japan’s most Japanese train ever, will take you to Kyoto this spring
Japanese news crew “faking” visuals for on-site report gets caught by local, laughed at online
Japanese museum holds on to child’s lost stuffed animal for 30 years, gives it bath, new clothes
Foreigner attempts to fend off six Japanese police officers at Tokyo Starbucks 【Video】
Japan’s ultimate wagyu beef bento is back, now with a Guinness World Record under its belt
Otaku dating service’s secret to success: Courting guys who’re accepting of boys love
Japanese idol’s manager fires back at impatient fans who keep pestering her to stream live video
Sexy new Japanese lingerie sets are inspired by 50-year-old horror anime【Photos】
A Japanese idol got married so his management asked Twitter to decide if he should be fired
Monthly
Miss World Japan: The great-times-20-granddaughter of samurai lord One-Eyed Dragon
Miss Universe Japan debuts Sailor Moon ninja transformation dress as national costume for 2018
Japanese girl says she won’t get married because she loves Frieza too much, mom has epic response
Low-quality laughing stock of current anime season sends hidden cry for help in closing credits
Japanese company’s hands-free umbrella looks like a giant condom for your head【Photos】- Your Name’s Makoto Shinkai announces new anime film, reveals title, plot details, release date
- The all-new Kyotrain, maybe Japan’s most Japanese train ever, will take you to Kyoto this spring
Edo-Period Japanese book depicts U.S. history in hilariously awesome illustrations
Pikachu can now be part of your legal signature in Japan thanks to awesome Pokémon personal seals- Cafe opens in Tokyo staffed by robots controlled by paralyzed people
Yearly
- Low-quality laughing stock of current anime season sends hidden cry for help in closing credits
To combat declining birth rate, Japan to begin offering “Breeding Visas” to foreigners- Miss World Japan: The great-times-20-granddaughter of samurai lord One-Eyed Dragon
- Edo-Period Japanese book depicts U.S. history in hilariously awesome illustrations
Shibuya Halloween event turns ugly with toppled truck, perverts, and upskirt photography- Miss Universe Japan debuts Sailor Moon ninja transformation dress as national costume for 2018
Korean pop star wears T-shirt commemorating Hiroshima atomic bombing, draws criticism in Japan- Japanese girl says she won’t get married because she loves Frieza too much, mom has epic response
Japan’s Uncle Fist loses money every week selling takoyaki to kids for just 10 yen, doesn’t care
Bowsette/Princess Koopa is getting her own dedicated fan event next month in Japan
RECOMMENDED STORIES
“Recycling in Japan” or “Reasons to get it right and avoid eternal shame”
We try cold soba with a creamy and delicious soy milk broth. It’s better than it sounds!
What does “Konnichiwa” really mean? Understanding Japanese greetings
Swiss-raised Japanese woman points out fundamental difference in Japanese, western communication
Cafe opens in Tokyo staffed by robots controlled by paralyzed people
A visit to the back-alley Tokyo ramen restaurant listed in the Michelin dining guide
A Japanese idol got married so his management asked Twitter to decide if he should be fired
Anime-style magic circle cordless charging pad is the coolest way ever to charge a phone【Video】
Manga materials website offers thousands of reference poses for budding artists to download
Japanese news crew “faking” visuals for on-site report gets caught by local, laughed at online
We take a trip to China to explore one of its four ancient cities: Langzhong!
Japan’s number-one cosplayer plans first major photo album with Dragon Ball, One Piece outfits
TeamLab Borderless: A visitor’s guide to Tokyo’s new jaw-dropping interactive light museum
New Japanese reference book helps artists draw lazy characters
-
