Make the Most of Highland Resorts and Theme Parks! 13 Recommended Tourist Spots for Family Trips in Tochigi Prefecture

In Tochigi Prefecture, many family-friendly spots are concentrated in the Nasu Highlands, making this area an easy first base.
By staying in Nasu and making side trips to Nikko or southern Tochigi, you can broaden your options while exploring the region.

One of Tochigi’s unique features is the clear difference in climate and travel style between high-elevation areas like the Nasu Highlands and the plains around Utsunomiya and southern Tochigi.
By combining destinations according to the area you visit, it becomes easier to enjoy activities that suit the season.

Tochigi is known not only for large attractions such as amusement parks and safari parks, but also for hands-on experience spots scattered throughout the prefecture.
By separating days for spending plenty of time at one facility from days for visiting several spots, families can build an itinerary that feels comfortable and manageable.

This animal theme park spread across the Nasu Highlands is known for species that are rare even on a national scale.
The grounds are divided into “Kingdom Town” and “Kingdom Farm,” connected by the free Wan-Nyan Bus.
From meeting small animals and watching performances to interacting with alpacas and sheep in a natural setting, families can enjoy experiences together from the same perspective.

This safari park in the Nasu Highlands keeps Approx. 700 wild animals of Approx. 70 species from around the world, mainly in free-range environments.
From inside your vehicle, you can get an up-close look at the living areas of carnivores such as white lions, lions, and tigers, as well as herbivores such as giraffes, hippos, and rhinos.
Feeding experiences, night safaris, and elephant-back tours let you feel close to the animals in a variety of ways.

This leisure land surrounded by the nature of the Nasu Highlands offers animal encounters and hands-on experiences.
With an attached farm, you can try unique plans such as milking Jersey cows, horseback riding, and walking alpacas. The park also has more than 25 attractions, along with craft experiences, food made with Jersey milk, and many other ways to enjoy your visit.

This farm in the Nasu Highlands is a spot where you can enjoy animal encounters and farm-style food.
On the grounds, animals such as cows, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, and rabbits live in an environment close to nature. In addition to animal encounters, activities such as fishing ponds and mini golf are also available.
You can also enjoy farm-fresh flavors, including the rich specialty “Premium Soft Serve Ice Cream,” made with milk from Guernsey cows, a rare breed with only Approx. 200 in Japan.

This is one of the largest amusement parks in northern Kanto, and the grounds are divided into seven areas: “Coaster Plaza,” “Rock ’n’ Roll Plaza,” “Galaxy & Star Plaza,” “Tropicana Park,” “Carousel Park & Victorian Garden,” “Fantasy Land of Forest and Water,” and “King’s Court.”
Along with a wide variety of attractions such as VR ride theaters, thrill rides, and water attractions, unique restaurants are scattered throughout the park. It is a place where you can spend time playing amid a different atmosphere in each area.

This trick art theme park in Nasu lets visitors enjoy the feeling of stepping into the artwork.
“Trick art” is an art form born in Japan that uses optical illusions, allowing you to become part of the artwork through curious experiences and photos. It is the only place in Japan where the atelier is open to the public, and visitors can also watch the production process.
You can enjoy taking photos while visiting three museums, as well as AR works and other experiences that parents and children can enjoy together.

This is the only aquarium in Tochigi Prefecture and one of Japan’s largest river aquariums. It displays creatures from the Naka River, the Amazon River, and Australia’s coral reefs, letting visitors experience both freshwater and marine environments.
In the large tube-tunnel tank that recreates the Amazon River, you can see fish swimming overhead up close. You can also enjoy activities such as fishing and fish-catching while interacting with waterside creatures.

This outlet mall is home to Approx. 130 stores across a wide range of genres.
Beyond shopping, it also suggests resort-style ways to spend time in Nasu, sharing information on the surrounding nature, glamping, and more.
With plenty of children’s play areas such as wooden playground equipment, a train, and a summer splash pond, plus shops that carry Nasu-specific products, it is a fun stop for families.

Based on the theme “Protect the World’s Ruins and Architectural Culture,” this theme park recreates and displays famous buildings and ruins from around the world at 1/25 scale.
Famous architecture and World Heritage Sites from around the globe are gathered in one place. The meticulously crafted structures are impressive, and the dolls placed around each building and the detailed miniature expressions are also highlights, giving families the feeling of traveling the world.

This historical theme park lets you realistically experience the Edo period and encounter the lifestyles and culture of the time.
On the vast grounds, streets, post towns, merchant districts, samurai residences, and other townscapes are recreated with lifelike detail. At the Transformation Studio, you can change out of your regular clothes and transform into an Edo-era person such as a ninja, samurai, or lord.
Other activities include job experiences for children, samurai training, and theatrical performances, allowing visitors to fully enjoy Edo culture.

Opened in the summer of 1997, this international-standard circuit hosts world-famous races such as MotoGP™ and Super GT.
Beyond race viewing, it offers experiences for everyone from children to adults, mainly centered on vehicle-related attractions.
In addition to driving experiences and motorcycle attractions, there are athletic courses and zip lines in the forest, offering a wide range of ways to play.

This amusement park is located inside Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park. Admission is free, making it an easy spot to stop by and enjoy.
The most popular attraction is a roller coaster modeled after the Tohoku Shinkansen E5 Series “Hayabusa,” which you can ride only here in Japan.
There are also relaxing rides such as a Ferris wheel and monorail, and after playing in the park, you can unwind on the grassy lawn in the larger park area.

This flower park offers seasonal blooms across eight themed displays and is popular with visitors from both Japan and overseas.
In spring, the large wisteria trellis and white wisteria tunnel reach their peak, while at night the illuminated scenery creates a dreamlike view. From fall through winter, the park holds the illumination event “Garden of Light Flowers.”
No matter when you visit, families can enjoy taking commemorative photos surrounded by flowers.

This resort hotel is located near the center of the Nasu Highlands, offering a relaxing stay surrounded by nature.
On its Approx. 165,000-square-meter natural forest grounds, you will find open-air baths, large hot spring baths, tennis courts, tree trekking, hands-on workshops, and more, making it appealing for the variety of activities available within the hotel.
In addition to meals made with local ingredients and hot springs, the hotel offers baby- and kid-friendly guest rooms equipped with picture books and toys, creating an easy environment for families to enjoy.

This large resort complex in the Nasu Highlands has nine different types of accommodations spread across spacious grounds, including the “Oriental Garden,” which has a strong resort feel with a central pool surrounded by guest room buildings, and “Fukurou no Mori,” cottage-style lodging where you can feel close to nature.
In addition to open-air baths and a wide variety of hot springs, the resort also has the seasonal outdoor hot spring pool “Aqua Venus,” making it enjoyable for families.
Dining options are also plentiful, including Japanese, Western, and Chinese restaurants as well as buffet-style meals.

This resort hotel in the Nasu Highlands offers a relaxing stay while surrounded by nature.
With a kids’ space for ages 2 to 6, a seasonal summer garden pool, and a hot spring spa, it is easy for families to spend time here.
Another highlight is its all-inclusive style, which makes your stay freer and more comfortable. Meals and drinks and light snacks in the lounge are included in the room rate, so you can relax without worrying about extra charges.