Published date: March 18, 2025
Not Just Gyoza: A Trip to Utsunomiya
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
I visited on a Friday, and it was very convenient to move around near Utsunomiya Station. It was great to find jazz-themed places nearby for dinner.
Experiences during the trip
I casually visited Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture on a HafH trip.
The decision to go was influenced by my desire to visit the real-life dungeon, Oya History Museum, and to maintain the excitement generated by the movie BLUE GIANT by experiencing jazz.
The Oya History Museum truly felt like an RPG dungeon or an underground temple, making it a highly recommended photogenic spot. It features an impressive number of artworks and seems to be a filming location for many commercials.
I spent quite some time at the attached café, ROCKSIDE MARKET, which I really appreciated. The gelato was incredibly delicious, and the stone merchandise was fantastic.
After doing some work at the hotel (Daiwa Roynet Hotel), I indulged in gyoza at the Utsunomiya Minmin main store. Despite it being evening, it was bustling, and the gyoza was delicious.
To fully enjoy Utsunomiya, known as a cocktail city, I headed to the famous establishment, Pipe no Kemuri. To my surprise, it turned out to be in my hometown, and we had a great time talking about BLUE GIANT. It felt like fate.
Lastly, to enjoy dinner and watch a jazz live performance, I went to Indulge Dream. I had a super delicious carbonara while savoring the jazz live, making for a fulfilling time.
Day 2 of my Tochigi trip.
I seemed to be more tired than I had anticipated yesterday, as I slept soundly and started my day late. I decisively gave up on exploring distant areas and went to "Wakatake no Mori Wakatuki Farm."
While the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, Kyoto, is wonderful, this place was overwhelmingly less crowded and spacious—it was very nice. I heard it's also famous as a filming location for the movies Rurouni Kenshin and Kingdom.
For lunch, I went to “cafe SAVOIA s-21” mentioned in the guide. Their signature baked curry hamburger was a new sensation and delicious. The basque cheesecake was exquisite too. However, what was most remarkable was the stylish interior, the flowing jazz, and the handmade menu, creating a cozy atmosphere that made me think I’d definitely want to visit again.