2026 Full-Day Course: Hiramatsu-Honcho Inari Children's Park Water Feature

This full-day course centers on the 'Hiramatsu-Honcho Inari Children's Park Water Feature' in Hiramatsu-Honcho, Utsunomiya, combining a shrine visit and a gyoza tour of the town center. According to the City of Utsunomiya, for the 2026 season the water flows from Saturday, July 18 to Sunday, August 30, between 10:00 and 16:00. It's free to use, and besides the water feature there is a pavilion (azumaya) and swings, so you can play while resting in the shade. It will be closed on July 29 and August 26 for regular cleaning, so plan around those dates. Bare feet are not allowed in the water, so be sure to bring sandals or other water shoes. In the morning, visit Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine, the guardian shrine of the city. Climbing the long stone steps to the top rewards you with a view over the city, a small adventure in itself for children. For lunch, Kiraffe Honten lets you sample gyoza from shops all over the city at once, so each family member can compare and find their favorite. After lunch, take a stroll through Orion-dori Shopping Street to soak up the atmosphere of the town. In the afternoon, head to Hiramatsu-Honcho Inari Children's Park and enjoy the splashing water at the water feature until evening.