Otawara, Agricultural city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
This settlement covers 354 square kilometers of land with 72,000 residents, surrounded by rice fields and medical technology companies. The landscape alternates between agricultural plains and gentle hills, where small neighborhoods and industrial zones are scattered.
The Otawara clan constructed their castle in 1545 and established control over the region during the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. The family ruled the area for several generations and shaped the urban development until the Meiji Restoration.
The Yatai Festival in April brings the community together with street performances, games and traditional musical acts. The celebrations move through the streets and create a lively mood across town.
Visitors can reach the city by taking the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nishi-Nasuno Station in under two hours. Most attractions lie scattered across the urban area and require a rental car or local bus connections for convenient movement.
The Nakagawa Aquatic Park functions as both a research center and public facility dedicated to freshwater fish ecology studies. Visitors can walk through aquarium displays and observe living specimens of local species found in nearby rivers and streams.
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