AICHI / TOCHIGI / SAKE

Almost the entire gamut of Nagoya’s delights can be sampled at Sekai no Yamachan, which is best known for its uber-peppery fried chicken wings. Modestly named maboroshi no tebasaki or “legendary chicken wings,” they first hit the scene when the founder, who is known as Yamachan, opened a 13-seat eatery in 1981 — a far cry from the 36 outlets in Aichi today.

Among the numerous attractions in Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko Toshogu shrine (www.toshogu.jp/english) is surely at the top of the list. Built in 1617 to enshrine the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu, as a demigod, the glamor of this UNESCO World Heritage site was fully revived in 2017 with the completion of a massive restoration. Nearby, visitors can also time travel to the Edo Era by hiking the 37-kilometer Nikko Suginamiki Kaido, a path lined with soaring cedar trees that were planted in 1625.

Up in the Oku-Nikko mountain area, the shimmering blue of Lake Chuzenji, surrounded by the breathtakingly beautiful red and gold autumn leaves, is joined by the hidden water flow of the dynamic Kegon Falls.

Another delight in the region is the Kanuma Autumn Festival (https://visitkanuma.jp), which is included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Jostling down the town streets for two days in October are 27 elaborately hand-carved wooden floats, many of which are centuries old.

Among the scatter of hot spring resorts, especially notable are Kinugawa, Nasu and Shiobara, all renowned for their fine effects in attractive settings. For gourmets, tender and tasty Tochigi Wagyu Beef awaits, while huge juicy strawberries are a springtime treat. In the city of Utsunomiya, various night spots offer spectacular flair bartending shows by Japan’s top mixologists. For those looking for something to take home, Mashiko pottery pieces are ideal souvenirs. For further information on Tochigi, visit the following website: https://travel.tochigiji.or.jp .

Celebrating the international rugby matches, a social media campaign featuring Japanese sake is now being held. Called “Kampai Rugby x Sake,” people can enter this exciting campaign by posting some great scenes of raising a cup of sake for a kampai (toast) on a social networking service. The kampai could be before, during or after the rugby matches, whether in or outside Japan, and with or without yourself in the shots. The five people who earn the largest number of likes will each win a pair of free round-trip tickets to Japan. For further information on this campaign, visit the website at www.kampai2020.com .

Another sake-related event held during the rugby games is a pop-up sake bar, which will be open until Oct. 5 on the first floor of Restaurant Arashiyama, in front of the Katsura River, in Kyoto. At the bar, around 10 leading sake breweries will allow visitors to taste the finest daiginjō (highest grade sake) and sparkling sake. Visitors can have the rare opportunity of enjoying fine sake from many breweries while viewing the Katsura River in an airy, sunny setting. Also available at the venue will be limited versions of original sparkling sake bearing specially designed labels representing the 20 competing teams. For further information on this bar event in Arashiyama, visit the website at www.kampai2020.com/popup/ .

In another sake promotion, the same original sparkling sake will be on sale until Nov. 3 at Zen Karasuma Kyoto, a 150-year-old structure, which makes visitors feel as if they had time traveled. Visit the website www.kampai2020.com/popup/ for further information.