Ashikaga Machinaka Yūgakkan

Known as Japan's oldest university, Ashikaga School was established during the 1400s by deputy shogun Uesugi Norizane (although some credit Lord Ashikaga Yoshikane during the Kamakura period, and still others claim it dates from either the Nara or the Heian period). In any case, by the 1500s, St. Francis Xavier and other foreign missionaries recognized Ashikaga School as the most famous university in eastern Japan. The school was abolished after the Meiji Restoration and then converted into an elementary school when the site passed into city control in 1902. After a decade of preparatory work, the original grounds of Ashikaga School were beautifully restored in 1990 as a National Historic Site, a designation it received in 1921. The thatched-roof buildings and manicured grounds are well worth seeing.

Founded by Ashikaga Yoshikane during the early Kamakura period (1192-1333), Bannaji Temple maintains the style of a samurai residence of that era. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1922. In addition to the main temple, the spacious grounds include a bell tower, library, and other buildings, as well as a fine assortment of trees, including cherry trees and a huge, old gingko tree.

You can create your own design natural indigo dyeing cloth within one hour. Choose what you like from Handkerchief (¥1000), Japanese Towel (¥2000), Cotton Stole (¥3000), Tote Bag Small (¥3500), Tote Bag Large (¥4500), T-shirt 100-130cm (¥3500), T-shirt 140cm-XXXL (¥5000). English and Japanese speaking instructor will guide how to make design and dye. Also you can buy natural indigo dyed clothes such as blouses, tunics, shirts, T-shirts, skirts and more.

A shrine was built here in 1879 to enshrine the deities Yachichihime no mikoto (八千々姫命) and Amenomihoko no mikoto (天御鉾命), and to protect the textile industry of Ashikaga. In 1880, it was reduced to ashes in a fire and the current shrine building was built in 1937. It stands in the midst of Orihime Park and is also the departure and arrival point for the hiking course in the Ashikaga Prefectural Natural Park.

On the south edge of the park is the small Sōun Museum, housing landscape and nature paintings by the Ashikaga clan's official artist, Tazaki Sōun (1815-1898), who exhibited his depiction of Mount Fuji at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

A beautifully landscaped 24-acre park whose carefully designed buildings house one of the finest and largest collections of Imari and Nabeshima porcelain in the world. Other exhibits include historical and archaeological information. There is also a small atelier and a climbing kiln near the base of the hill, and a working (but off-limits) potters' village behind the sprawling complex. The gift shop inside the gates offers ceramics of greater distinction and quality than the huge, A-frame gift shop across the large parking lot.