Tochigi Prefecture is a landlocked gateway north of Tokyo where the UNESCO World Heritage shrines of Nikko rise beneath cedar forests, cool highland onsen resorts fill the Nasu plateau, and potters still throw Mashiko-yaki by hand — a prefecture of mountains, waterfalls, and craft traditions found nowhere else in the Kanto region.
At a glance
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Izakaya Shosuke
Known for: Regarded as Utsunomiya's oldest izakaya; traditional grilled skewers, sashimi, and local sake in a decades-old wooden interior
2-1-13 Baba-dori, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0026
Utsunomiya Jazz Bar Circle
Known for: Live jazz and craft cocktails; Utsunomiya is known regionally as a 'city of jazz and cocktails' with a concentration of small listening bars
3-1-8 Odori, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0811
Craft Beer Bar Mashiko Brewlab
Known for: Small-batch craft beer served in local Mashiko-yaki pottery mugs, with tasting flights pairing beer styles to different glaze finishes
Near Jonaizaka, Mashiko, Haga District, Tochigi 321-4217
Kinugawa Onsen Riverside Bar
Known for: Small post-onsen bar overlooking the Kinugawa gorge; whisky highballs and warm sake popular with ryokan guests in yukata
Ohara, Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko, Tochigi 321-2522
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
Most venues warm up after midnight — earlier arrivals get easier entry and shorter queues.
Carry ID, even if you look older — bouncers check at most venues.
Plan your ride home before you go out — last transport runs earlier than the clubs close.