Tochigi Prefecture produces the largest amount of strawberries in Japan!

Tochigi Prefecture boasts the nation's top strawberry production for 50 consecutive years. The area planted with strawberries is also No.1, and the strawberry farms can be seen here and there in Tochigi Prefecture.
The history of strawberry cultivation in Tochigi Prefecture is said to date back to the 1950s, when strawberries were first grown in Ashikaga City and Utsunomiya City. Since then, research and development efforts by the entire prefecture, such as the introduction of "high-cold-area seedling cultivation" and other seedling-raising techniques and properties, bore fruit in 1985 with "Nyoho" and in 1996 with "Tochiotome", a large strawberry with excellent taste. Tochiotome has grown to become an important specialty of Tochigi Prefecture. Today, the Strawberry Research Institute, Japan's only research institute specializing in strawberries, located in Tochigi City, is playing a central role in researching the breeding and cultivation of new strawberry varieties.

Tochigi Prefecture's representative strawberry varieties are: "Tochiotome," a steadfast best-seller with a perfect balance of strong sweetness and moderate acidity; "Skyberry," a large, beautifully conical strawberry with a glossy reddish-orange color that bursts with juice when held in the mouth; and "Tochiotome," also called the "phantom strawberry" because its soft flesh is not suitable for distribution. The "Tochihime" is also known as the "phantom strawberry" because its soft flesh is not suitable for distribution, and its rich, ripe flavor is very appealing. In addition, "Natsuotome" can be harvested in summer and fall, when strawberries are usually out of season, and can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Recommended stores where you can enjoy seasonal strawberry sweets

Among the many sweets stores in the prefecture, we have selected seven stores where you can find specialty sweets using abundant fresh strawberries produced in the prefecture. We introduce a mix of Japanese and Western sweets, from stores with stylish cafes where you can relax, to take-out stores where you can quickly purchase them as souvenirs.

1
"Nikko Strawberry Daifuku (Daifuku with cream)

A gem where juicy strawberries blend with rice cake, bean paste and cream

Oshiyama is a long-established Japanese confectioner established over 100 years ago, located on the road from Nikko Station on the JR and Tobu Railway lines, on the way to Nisshaichiji Temple. The fourth-generation owner began making "Nikko Strawberry Daifuku (Daifuku with cream)" about 10 years ago, using the traditional techniques and manufacturing methods that have made Oshiyama known as "Mame Daifuku. It is a limited-time-only product from November to the end of June, using "Tochiotome" strawberries delivered from a local contract farmer. The strawberries are diced so that they are easy to eat, and the sweet and sour aroma fills your mouth the moment you put them in. The mochi naturally blends well with the richly flavored Koshian (red bean paste) and thick whipped cream, both of which are made with carefully selected azuki beans and Nikko's pure water. The texture of the slightly sweet pink rice cake wrapped by hand is uniquely soft and tender.

Michikusa's expert comment

It is filled with red bean paste, whipped cream, and chopped strawberries. It is moderately sweet and you can eat as many as you like.

Confectioner Oshiyama

• 614-1 Miyuki-cho, Nikko, Tochigi MAP
• 10 min. walk from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station of Tobu Railway
• 8:30-18:00
• Wednesday
• 0288-54-1597
• Free of charge

2
Berry Berry Marche "Gateau Chocolat

Moist cake sandwiched with 100% "skyberry" jam

Slow Life Resort Strawberry no Sato is a sprawling resort with a sweets store, café, and strawberry greenhouses, many of the 150 greenhouses growing Sky Berry, a new variety of strawberry that has attracted much attention.
At the "Berry Berry Marche" sweets store, visitors can buy sweets made from freshly picked strawberries all year round. The "Gateau Chocolat" is moistly baked with strawberry-flavored chocolate and fresh cream, has a slight pinkish color, and is sandwiched with ganache made from 100% "skyberry" jam. It comes in a box and can be stored at room temperature, making it a perfect souvenir. We also recommend the "Skyberry Cheesecake & Jam 2 Layer Dessert," a small jar of special Skyberry sauce and refreshing rare cheese.

Michikusa's expert comment

The gateau chocolat sandwiched with skyberry jam is not too heavy, and is a rewarding sweet that allows you to fully appreciate the strawberries.

Berry Berry Marche

• 408 Okawashima, Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture "Slow Life Resort Strawberry no Sato" MAP
• 20 minutes by car from JR Oyama Station
• 25 min. ride on O-bus Michi no Eki Line from JR Oyama Station, and get off at "Strawberry no Sato" stop.
• Open from 9:00 to 17:00 (June to November), from 18:00 to 18:00 (December to May)
  
• Open all year round (with maintenance breaks once or twice a year)
• 0285-33-1120
• Free of charge

3
Buheisaku Tochigi "Heart strawberry dango

A photogenic skewer that captures the hearts of men and women of all ages

This long-established confectionery store is very popular for its special dumplings made with koshihikari rice flour from Tochigi Prefecture twice a day, morning and afternoon. In addition to dumplings, there is also a lineup of rice crackers and Japanese sweets.
At the Takehira Tea House, which is attached to the store, you can taste freshly made sweet dumplings. From January to mid-March, "Heart-shaped Strawberry Dumpling" with two L-size "Tochiotome" on top is available for purchase. The bean paste differs from the usual "koshi-an" (sweet red bean paste) in that it is made from Tebo-mame (dried beans) and mixed with strawberry sauce. The chewy texture of the dumpling and the juicy strawberries are a perfect quartet of flavors. The ease of eating the dumpling with a skewer and the cute visual of sliced strawberries are also secrets to its popularity among men and women of all ages. We also recommend the "Strawberry Daifuku," which contains a whole 5L-sized extra-large "Skyberry" that was jointly developed with a farmer.

Michikusa's expert comment

The strawberry red bean paste made from real strawberries and fresh cream is wrapped in a fluffy Daifukumochi rice cake.

Buheisaku Tochigi Main Store

• 2-15-1 Jonai-cho, Tochigi-shi, Tochigi MAP
• Approx. 6 min. by car from JR Tochigi Stn. or Tobu Railway Tochigi Stn.
• 9:30-18:00 (Takehira Tea House 10:00-16:00)
• New Year's Day
• 0282-25-2575
• Free of charge

4
feeze Strawberry sweets

A taste for adults that makes the most of the moderate acidity of "Tochiotome" strawberries.

This confectionery is located about a 5-minute walk from JR Kuroiso Station. Because of its simple glass-walled exterior, the eye is drawn to the colorful and enchanting cakes lined up in the store's showcase from outside as well.
From mid-February to mid-May, "feeze" holds its own strawberry fair, featuring sweets made with strawberries from local farmers. Recommended is the "Berrine Tochiotome," layered with panna cotta, strawberry jelly compote, and raspberry jelly. The "Tart rouge," with its contrast of white chocolate ganache mousse and bright red Tochiotome strawberries, is not too sweet and is suitable for adults.
The owner is a talented baker who gained experience making sweets in Tokyo and Hokkaido before returning to his hometown to open his own business. We recommend you to visit this store to enjoy seasonal sweets made with ingredients such as wheat, eggs, and milk produced in Tochigi.

FEEZE

• 2-22 Chuo-cho, Nasu Shiobara, Tochigi MAP
• 5 min. walk from JR Kuroiso Station
• Open 10:00-17:00
• Monday, Tuesday, Friday
• 0287-74-2280
• Free of charge

5
Vienna Confectionery "Phrase

A cake filled to overflowing with three large strawberries

A patisserie run by a couple that has been in business for over 20 years. The owner wakes up at 2:30 a.m. every morning to start baking cakes, and his creations include "Flaise" filled with strawberries (available from December to May). It is a visually striking item topped with three large, fresh strawberries grown in Kibata, Yaita City, which is close to the patisserie. The cheese soufflé, cream, and strawberry sauce inside are all rich and smooth, and go perfectly with the moderate acidity of the fresh strawberries. The reasonable price makes it a great value for money.
Other traditional sweets such as "fromage" and "truffles" are also available.

Vienna Confectionery "Phrase

• 1-17 Honmachi, Yaita-shi, Tochigi MAP
• 5 min. walk from JR Yaita Station
• 9:00-17:00
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• 0287-43-9765
• Free of charge

6
Dough Doughnuts Strawberry doughnuts

Strawberries grown in the prefecture in season are arranged into doughnuts.

About 300 meters from Tobu Utsunomiya Station is "Momiji Street," lined with fashionable cafes and general merchandise stores. Nestled in one corner is a very popular doughnut specialty store, Do Donut. The colorful doughnuts, with their fluffy texture and seasonal flavors, sell out in a flash as soon as they are made.
From February to April, a seasonal menu featuring "Tochiotome" and "Onomine" strawberries, the most delicious at that time of the year, is available. The "Strawberry Fashion" is an old fashioned baked with organic whole wheat flour, decorated with heat-dried strawberries and white chocolate. The "Strawberry Cream Cheese" is filled with rich strawberry puree mixed with cream cheese. All menu items can be enjoyed with tea at the attached cafe.

Dough Donuts

• 2-2-22 Nishi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi MAP
• About 7 minutes on foot from Tobu Railway Tobu-Utsunomiya Station
• 10:00-18:00
• Monday, 1st Tuesday (if Monday is a national holiday, open on Monday, closed the next day)
• 028-637-2522
• Free of charge

7
Roadside Station Motegi "Otome Baum ice cream

The famous ice cream with freshly crushed strawberries

Motegi Roadside Station Motegi is famous for "Motegi no Yuzu Shio Ramen" which won the grand prix three times in a row in the "Michi-1 Grand Prix", a nationwide competition of roadside station gourmet foods.
At the "Handmade Ice Cream Corner" here, "Otome Baum Ice Cream" is sold from December to the end of May. It is a combination of milk ice cream containing fully ripened "Tochiotome" and moist and chewy baumkuchen. We are particular about the freshness of strawberries, so we crush 2 to 3 whole strawberries into milk ice cream after receiving an order. The soft fruit and juice of the strawberries are blended into the refreshing milk ice cream, giving it a refreshing sweetness. The diced baumkuchen inside is a popular item made from 100% Koshihikari rice flour produced in Motegi, and is also sold separately.

Roadside Station Motegi

• 1090-1 Motegi, Motegi-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi MAP
• 12 min. walk from Motegi Station of Mooka Tetsudo Railway
• Handmade ice cream corner: 9:30-18:00, Sat/Sun/holidays-18:30
  For other Properties, please check the website.
• Closed irregularly
  Check the website for other facilities.
• 0285-63-5671
• Free of charge