20 Museums in Tochigi worth your time

Tochigi Science Museum: a renovated science and play facility for children, reopening October 2025.

What it is

• A science museum in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture.
• Established under the Tochigi Prefectural Children's General Science Museum Ordinance.
• It is a child welfare facility under the Child Welfare Act.
• Opened in 1988, reopening October 2025 after renovation.

What to see

• Indoor and outdoor facilities.
• Life-size model of the H-II rocket, installed in 1992.
• A new play area will open in April 2025.

When to go

• Reopens October 3, 2025, after renovation.
• New play area opens April 25, 2025.

Getting there

• Closest station is Nishi-Kawada Station.

Address

栃木県宇都宮市西川田町567 Map

Official site

t-csm.jp

Read more about Tochigi Science Museum

Explore a vast underground quarry museum, revealing Japan's industrial history and unique geological heritage.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to the Ōya stone quarry site.
• Opened in 1979.
• Exhibits Ōya geology and mining methods.

What to see

• A large underground space from the quarry.
• Former secret military warehouse from 1943.
• Former military factory for fighter planes in 1945.
• Site used for storing government rice.
• Underground space hosts concerts and film screenings.
• A filming location for movies and TV dramas.

When to go

• Open 9 AM to 5 PM from April to November.
• Closed on Tuesdays from December to March.

Official site

www.oya909.co.jp

Read more about Ōya History Museum

See Hiroshige's ukiyo-e prints in a Kengo Kuma-designed museum building.

What it is

• Town-operated museum in Nakagawa-machi, Tochigi Prefecture.
• Opened November 3, 2000.
• Established after a collection donation offer in 1996.
• Houses the Aoki Collection, donated by Aoki Tosaku.

What to see

• 94 ukiyo-e prints and paintings by Utagawa Hiroshige.
• About 4500 works and materials by other artists.
• Building designed by architect Kengo Kuma.
• Award-winning architecture: Murano Togo, BCS, Architectural Institute of Japan.

When to go

• Renovation work will be completed in February 2026.

Official site

www.hiroshige.bato.tochigi.jp

Read more about Nakagawa-machi Batō Hiroshige Museum of Art

A modern art museum in Ashikaga City, focusing on local artists and special exhibitions.

What it is

• Opened in April 1994.
• Focuses on special exhibitions.
• Collects works by local artists.
• Attached to a housing complex, which is rare.

What to see

• Exhibits works by local artists.
• Hosts special exhibitions.
• Received 388 donated works in 2009.

When to go

• Yamanbagiri Kunihiro was exhibited March 4 to April 2, 2017.

Getting there

• 7-minute walk from Ashikaga Station.
• Located along Tochigi Prefectural Road 116.
• Free parking is available.

Official site

www.watv.ne.jp

Read more about Ashikaga Museum of Art

Explore a vast collection of exquisite Imari and Nabeshima porcelain, set in a beautiful museum.

What it is

• A museum specializing in Imari ware and Nabeshima ware porcelain.
• Founded by Hideo Kurita.
• Opened in November 1975.
• One of three famous places in Ashikaga.

What to see

• Over 10,000 pieces of Imari and Nabeshima porcelain.
• The Nabeshima Iroe Iwabotan Uekibachi Mon Ozara collection.
• Museum grounds span 30,000 tsubo.
• Over 30 facilities on the museum grounds.
• The main building received the 18th BCS Award.

Getting there

• A 10-minute walk from Tomita Station.

Official site

www.kurita.or.jp

Read more about Kurita Museum

A municipal art museum in a renovated historic rice granary, showcasing local art and history.

What it is

• A municipal art museum.
• Opened in April 2009.
• Renovated a rice granary of the Ogawa family residence.
• Ogawa family residence is a registered tangible cultural property.

What to see

• Art exhibition room of about 198 square meters.
• Ogawa family exhibition corner.
• Main house and garden of the Ogawa residence.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays.
• Closed during year-end and New Year holidays.

Getting there

• 5-minute walk from Mamada Station.

Address

〒329-0214　栃木県小山市乙女3-10-34 Map

Official site

www.city.oyama.tochigi.jp

Read more about Kurumaya Museum of Art

Explore antique music boxes and automatic instruments, offering a unique auditory and craft experience.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to antique music boxes and automatic musical instruments.
• Founded to display collector Kiyoshi Sato's extensive collection.

What to see

• 19th and 20th-century antique music boxes.
• Cylinder and disc music boxes, and automata.
• Staff play exhibits hourly with explanations.
• A corner for making original music boxes.
• A music box shop.

When to go

• Open 9:30 to 17:00, extended to 18:00 in August.
• Closed Wednesdays from January 15 to March 15.

Address

〒325-0302　栃木県那須郡那須町大字高久丙270 Map

Official site

nasuorgel.jp

Read more about Nasu Orgel Museum

This trick art museum offers interactive optical illusions, great for fun photos and family visits.

What it is

• An art museum in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture.
• Opened in July 1997.
• A trick art museum with optical illusions.
• Certified as a 'Lover's Sanctuary Satellite' in 2011.

What to see

• Largest site area and number of works.
• Monument 'Lovers Bible' placed outside.
• Building divided into 7 distinct areas.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus from Kinugawa-Onsen Station.
• About 20 minutes from Nikko Utsunomiya Road Imaichi IC by car.
• Free parking lot available.

Official site

trickart-pia.com

Read more about Trick Art Pia Nikkō

Explore a unique collection of fairy art and artifacts, including items from the Cottingley Fairies.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to fairies.
• Opened on July 31, 2007.
• Operated by Utsunomiya City.
• Houses 7,000 fairy-related items donated by Kimie Imura.

What to see

• Stained glass by Yoshitaka Amano at the entrance.
• Paintings and ceramics related to fairies.
• Glass plates and cameras from the Cottingley Fairies incident.
• Fairy-themed goods in the museum shop.

Getting there

• Located on the 5th floor of Utsunomiya Citizen's Plaza.

Official site

www.fairy-link.net

Read more about Utsunomiya Fairy Museum

This museum showcases Kawakami Sumio's art, offering a unique glimpse into his distinctive style.

What it is

• A municipal art museum in Kanuma City.
• Dedicated to the works of artist Kawakami Sumio.
• Opened to the public in 1992.

What to see

• Building design reflects Sumio's artistic style.
• First floor has a free exhibition hall.
• Second floor features a paid exhibition room.
• Over 2,000 items from Sumio's collection.
• Exhibits change about three times annually.

When to go

• Sumio's 'Early Summer Wind' is shown every May.

Address

〒322-0031　栃木県鹿沼市睦町287-14 Map

Official site

kawakamisumio-bijutsukan.jp

Read more about Kanuma Municipal Art Museum of Kawakami Sumio

Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts: a diverse collection of art, including Western masters.

What it is

• Opened in 1972 as Japan's sixth prefectural museum.
• Houses nearly 9,000 items in its collection.

What to see

• Collection includes paintings, prints, and photographs.
• See works by John Constable and Claude Monet.
• View art by Kiki Smith and Shoji Hamada.
• Main and annex buildings designed by Kiyoshi Kawasaki.

Getting there

• Take a bus from JR Utsunomiya Station.
• Take a bus from Tobu Utsunomiya Station.

Official site

www.art.pref.tochigi.lg.jp

Read more about Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts

See 200 years of Japanese art, including a national treasure, in a quiet city museum.

What it is

• An art museum in Sano City.
• Opened in 2002, built around the Yoshizawa family collection.
• Houses 515 art pieces from the late Edo period to modern day.

What to see

• 318 early modern and modern paintings.
• 72 contemporary paintings.
• 125 modern and contemporary ceramics.
• Jakuchu Ito's 'Saiuchu-fu', a nationally important cultural property.

Getting there

• 8-minute walk from Tobu Sano Line Kuzuu Station.

Address

〒327-0501　栃木県佐野市葛生東1-14-30 Map

Official site

www.city.sano.lg.jp

Read more about Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano

Explore a historic estate, museum, and cultural properties in Tochigi City.

What it is

• A museum in Tochigi City, Japan.
• Former residence of area developer Kaemon Okada.
• Opened as a tourist facility in June 1978.

What to see

• Art, armor, historical materials, kimonos, and tools.
• Exhibits designated Tochigi Prefecture Tangible Cultural Properties.
• Three storehouses displaying Okada family treasures.
• Former barber shop, Ichimura Rihatsukan.
• Okina-jima Villa, a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

Official site

www.cc9.ne.jp

Read more about Okada Memorial Hall

Free museum in Oyama City with local history and archaeological exhibits, an 8-minute walk from Mamada Station.

What it is

• A municipal museum in Oyama City.
• Established in 1983.
• Admission is free.

What to see

• Permanent exhibition room.
• Special exhibition room.
• Experience learning room.
• Audio-visual room.
• Otome Fudohara Kawarakamaato, a national historic site.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays.
• Closed during year-end and New Year holidays.

Getting there

• 8-minute walk from Mamada Station.

Address

栃木県小山市乙女1-31-7 Map

Official site

www.city.oyama.tochigi.jp

Read more about Oyama City Museum

Roadside station and museum showcasing local history, with a unique train car replica.

What it is

• Roadside station in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture.
• Integrated with the Nasunogahara Museum.
• Opened in 2004, operated by Nasushiobara City.
• Predecessor was Nishinasuno Town Local History Museum.

What to see

• Kuroiso Local History Museum as an annex.
• Replica of a passenger car on permanent display.
• Road information center.

Getting there

• Located on the Shiobara Kaido municipal road.

Address

〒329-2752　栃木県那須塩原市三島5-1 Map

Official site

nasunogahara-museum.jp

Read more about Nasunogahara Museum

Explore Bandai Museum for a unique collection of toys, models, and Edison's inventions.

What it is

• A museum primarily featuring Bandai toys.
• Opened at its current location on April 28, 2007.
• Reopened on April 29, 2010, after renovations.

What to see

• Japan Toy Museum with 20,000 items.
• World Toy Museum with 7,000 antique toys.
• Edison Museum displays 3,000 Edison inventions.
• Hobby Museum displays Gunpla and other models.
• A 5.6-meter life-sized Gundam bust.
• A 1919 British steam car on static display.

Address

〒321-0202　栃木県下都賀郡壬生町おもちゃのまち3-6-20 Map

Official site

www.bandai-museum.jp

Read more about Bandai Museum

Explore ancient fossils, including mammoths and Nipponsai, at this free natural history museum.

What it is

• A natural history museum.
• Founded in 1979 as a local history museum.
• Registered and renovated in 2005.
• Shares a building with the Sano City Kuzuu Library.

What to see

• Specimens of Kuzuu Limestone.
• Fossils from the Mesozoic and Permian periods.
• A full skeleton fossil of Nipponsai.
• Fossils of the world's smallest mammoth.

When to go

• Fossil collecting classes are held annually.

Official site

www.city.sano.lg.jp

Read more about Kuzū Fossil Museum

A science center with a large planetarium, offering engaging exhibits for all ages.

What it is

• A science learning facility in Moka City.
• Opened in 1993.
• Provides a science learning environment.
• Primarily for elementary and junior high school students.

What to see

• Large experimental and observation equipment.
• A planetarium with an 18-meter diameter.
• Three laboratories.
• A science information room.

Getting there

• 1.6 km from Moka Station.
• Parking available for 100 cars.

Official site

www.city.moka.lg.jp

Read more about Mōka City Science Education Center

A unique corporate museum dedicated to ginger, offering quirky exhibits and ginger-themed food.

What it is

• A corporate museum by Iwashita Foods.
• Certified as a food culture museum.
• Opened on June 20, 2015.
• Admission is free.

What to see

• A 5-meter-long New Ginger Head.
• The Ginger Shrine with deer statues.
• A cafe with over 30 ginger dishes and drinks.
• A museum shop with ginger-themed goods.
• The museum's deer character, Iwashika.

Getting there

• 12-minute walk from Tochigi Station.

Address

栃木県栃木市本町1-25 Map

Official site

shinshoga-museum.com

Read more about New Ginger Museum

Explore Shōwakan, a former prefectural office, for its unique architecture and historical significance.

What it is

• Opened in 2008 as an exhibition and event facility.
• Served as the 4th Tochigi Prefectural Office for 65 years.
• Building completed in October 1938.

What to see

• Reinforced concrete structure, 4 stories above ground, 1 basement.
• Exterior based on Renaissance style.
• Interior design has unified palmette patterns.
• Ichigo Monument erected in front in 2020.
• Restaurant 'Fukushi Restaurant' operates inside.

Official site

www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp

Read more about Shōwakan