[For Seniors] Tochigi Prefecture Local Quiz! Brain Training to Deepen Your Knowledge with Tourist Attractions, Specialties, and Local Gourmet Foods

Nikkō Tōshō-gū

Nikkō Tōshōgū is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, and it was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1999 as part of the “Shrines and Temples of Nikkō.” Renowned for its magnificent carvings such as the opulent Yōmeimon Gate, the Three Wise Monkeys, and the Sleeping Cat, it is one of Tochigi Prefecture’s premier tourist attractions, drawing many visitors from Japan and abroad.

dumpling(s)

Utsunomiya City is nationally famous as the “City of Gyoza.” The dumplings are characterized by being vegetable-forward, light, and easy to eat in large quantities. They’re enjoyed in various styles, including pan-fried, boiled, and deep-fried.

Kegon Falls

Kegon Falls is known as one of Japan’s Three Great Waterfalls, along with Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture and Fukuroda Falls in Ibaraki Prefecture. The sight of the waters of Lake Chuzenji plunging all at once down a 97-meter cliff is truly breathtaking.

yuba

Nikkō’s “yuba” is made by lifting the film that forms on the surface when simmering soy milk. In Kyoto it is written as “湯葉,” but in Nikkō it is written as “湯波” because the film is folded in half at the center before being lifted, giving it more volume. It has long been cherished as part of the vegetarian cuisine served at Nikkō’s temples and shrines.

Ashikaga School

Ashikaga Gakko is known as the oldest school in Japan. It was revitalized during the Muromachi period by Uesugi Norizane, the Kanto Kanrei, and many young people gathered there from across the country to devote themselves to learning. Introduced widely overseas by the missionary Francis Xavier, it is a historic building that Tochigi Prefecture is proud of.

Watarase-yusuichi (Watarase Retarding Basin)

The correct answer is “Watarase Retarding Basin (Watarase Yusuichi).” It was created to purify water quality and control floods in response to the Ashio Copper Mine pollution incident. Today, the area is rich in nature, and the beautifully heart-shaped Lake Yanaka is a popular spot for walking and photography.

Evening Glory (Yūgao)

Kanpyo is made by shaving the fruit of the yuugao (Oroxylum/“evening gourd”), a plant in the gourd family, into long, string-like strips with a special tool and then drying them. Tochigi Prefecture, with its well-drained soil and summer thunderstorms suitable for cultivating yuugao, produces over 90% of the nation’s supply, making it a local specialty.