//
Photo: kamoseiro, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The castle is Utsunomiya's claim to Japanese Royalty, where the emperor or other royal members would rest and/or change horses before their last leg to Nikko. The castle is reconstructed from previous excavations and is an excellent place to picnic, but little else. Historical significance and exhibits are limited.
Utsunomiya Castle is a Japanese castle located in Utsunomiya, central Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Utsunomiya Castle was home to a branch of the Toda clan, daimyō of Utsunomiya Domain.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
松が峰教会 matsugamine kyōkai
The church, built in 1932, is full-dress Romanesque cathedral. Almost all the building is composed of Ōya Stone including exterior and interior walls.
うつのみや妖精ミュージアム
An fairy-theme art museum.
二荒山神社, "Two Storm Mountain"
This is probably the most popular shrine in Utsunomiya. The front is lined by a massive stairway several stories in height before ending at a large temple. Excellent for pictures and very convenient.
八幡山公園
A popular spot for cherry blossom viewing (hanami). The park is quiet, relaxed, and usually pretty empty except for certain summer celebrations. It contains a tower-viewing area, a large foot-bridge, and a play areas for families. It is a worth a picnic if you have extra time. Within the park grounds is Utsunomiya's velodrome. For ¥100 entry you can watch keirin bicycle races on race days, or bet on the outcomes in one of the few institutions in Japan allowing legal gambling. (The gaming aspect of this is not recommended except for those who are fluent in written Japanese; there is no assistance for other languages.)
宇都宮美術館
天開山 大谷寺
Home to 10 stone Buddhas carved in Central Asian style, thought to have been created by Afghan monks as part of a Japanese "silk road".