Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa

While crowds flock to Toshogu, this former imperial summer retreat sits quietly nearby with 106 rooms blending Meiji, Taisho, and Edo architectural styles. The billiard room, western reception halls, and Japanese tatami quarters show how the imperial family navigated modernization. Its Japanese garden is considered one of Tochigi's finest, especially when autumn maples frame the pond and moss-covered stepping stones.