SUMMERSPRINGHISTORY, CULTURE & FLOWER CITY

Japan’s Top-ranked Fireworks Festival
With the history of over 100 years, the Ashikaga fireworks festival is oneof the largest fireworks display in the northern Kanto region. The whopping
20,000 rounds and the“Niagara Falls”finale will keep your jaw dropped.

ASHIKAGA★

Asakusa
Nippori

TOKYO

Tokyo

The Garden of Light and Flowers
Flowers are not always about spring and summer. During the winter, theAshikaga Flower Park transforms itself to a dazzling wonderland of lights
comprised of 3million LEDs, making it one of the finest light events in Japan.

JRTobuTokyo Metoro
Keisei
KeihinOyama

Kita-senju
Ueno◉ Narita AirportSkytree◉ Haneda Airport

TRAVEL GUIDECountless cherry blossoms greet you at many locations in our city.
The row of cherry blossom trees along the Fukuro River is an excellent
spot for viewing and enjoying traditional sakura festivals.

The Contrast of Red and Yellow

Access.1（by Train）

Haneda Airport

ASHIKAGA

Sensationally Stunning Cherry Blossom
Landscape

Ashikagashi

Haneda Airport ---（Keihin Kyuko Line ）--- Asakusa --（Tobu Line_Limited Express Ryomo）--- Ashikagashi

Enjoy leaf peeping at Orihime Park where over 1000 Momiji (Japanesemaple) change their colors during this season. The contrast between the
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（Central Circular Route / Kawaguchi Route）--- Urawa toll booth --- Tohoku Expressway --- Iwafune Junction --Kita Kanto Expressway --- Ashikaga Interchange ---WINTER

Ashikaga

For inquiries, please contact:
Ashikaga Tourism Association
Tel: 0284-43-3000
3-6-4 Taiheikikan, Isecho, Ashikagashi, Tochigi
URL: http://www.ashikaga-kankou.jp/
Email: kankou@ashikaga-kankou.jp

AUTUMNFLOWERSHISTORYCULTUREFOODSoba

National Treasure(Buckwheat Noodles)

KimonoBanna-ji (Banna Temple)
Founded by Ashikaga Yoshikane, a Japanese Samurai and the son of the founderof the famous Ashikaga clan, approximately 800 years ago. The moats fortifying
the surroundings tells you that it was once a residence of a Samurai clan. Thestructure, which exhibits the Zenshuyo architecture, which was an iconic building
method at that time and remains as a precious cultural asset today.

Mountains connected to the distant
N i k ko m o u n t a i n r a n g e a r e t h esource of high quality water, ane s s e n ti a l key fo r m a k i n g s o b anoodles. People in Ashikaga havevalued and greatly supported skilled
soba masters for a long time andmade this city a great place for soba
lovers.

Ashikaga Meisen
Around 1920, Ashikaga once
dominated the textile industry by
being the largest manufacturer ofgarments. During its prime, atype of kimono called Ashikaga
Meisen gained popularity by
applying modern designs andinnovative colors to traditional
kimonos. Today, the city offers
kimono events that you candress in Meisen and walk aroundthe historical streets of Ashikaga.

The Oldest School in Japan

Wagashi(Traditional Japanese Confections)Ashikaga is a home to many famous
Wagashi brands. Wagashi is almost
an art rather than food because of its
beautiful designs and color. Thelocal special sweetened red beanpaste confections are worth a try.
There are many kinds of Wagashi
and each of them will make you
surprise.

World Class Porcelains
Sauce

Kurita Museum

Wisteria
Ashikaga Flower Park

Japan Heritage
Ashikaga Gakko

This flower paradise is the only Japanese location nominated in the dreamdestinations for 2014 by CNN travel. The park offers gorgeous flowers throughout
the year, but you must not miss the spectacular wisterias that bloom during April
to May. Revealing its beauty in pink, purple, white and yellow, visiting theAshikaga Flower Park is a guarantee of a breathtaking experience.

Francis Xavier, a missionary, described the Ashikaga Gakko in 1549, as Japan’slargest and the most prominent academic institution in Bando, the area now known
as the Kanto region. At its peak, over 3000 pupils gathered to study. Today, thishistoric site offers educational activities such as recitation of Analects toeveryone.

EvergreenAzaleas
Orihime Park andThroughout the City
Tsutsuji (evergreen azaleas) is the official
flower of Ashikaga and the blossoms areat their best in May. Although you canfind them throughout the city, seeing therows of Tsutsuji with the superb view of
the city from the Orihime Parkobservatory is one of the must visit
locations in our city.

Armored Samurai March
On the Eve of the New
Spring “Setsubun”
Yoroi Toshikoshi (Armored March) is an
event held every February 3 on Setsubun(the day of new spring). The event traces thetale of Yasuuji Ashikaga, who called 500
Bando-region warriors on horsebacks to line
up at Banna Temple. Witnessing the people
dressed in samurai armors marching the mainstreets of Ashikaga is an almost time
traveling experience.

The Kurita Museum houses Imari andNabeshima-style porcelain produced
during the Edo period in the domain ofNabeshima in Hizen. The museum’s
collection of over 10,000 items is oneof the largest of its kind in the world
and it will make you cherish thebeauty of creations Japanese culture
has produced.

Companies in Ashikaga produces top
quality sauces and many people
grew up tasting them. Therefore,
Ashikaga is a birthplace of manysauce flavored cheap eats such as
yakisoba with potatoes, Ashikaga
shumai and fried pork bowl. Please
try them during your stay here.

Lovers Sanctuary
Orihime Shrine
This beautiful red shrine, locatedon the hillside of Orihime
Mountain has a history of over1200 years. First built toenshrine the guardians ofindustries and match making,now it is a popular place among
lovers to wish for their eternallove. You can also observe thepanoramic view of the city fromthis shrine day and night.

Wine
COCO Farm & Winery is a famous
vineyard that produces wine withgrapes grown with love. They served
their award-winning wine at a majorbanquet during a G8 summit inJapan. At the farm located in thenorthern area of Ashikaga, you cansign up for a tour of the winery andenjoy wine tasting after.