Townapedia
Otawara City Office
Otawara City Office · ほぶ, Public domain
Nakagawa Aquatic Park
Nakagawa Aquatic Park · Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nogi Shrine (Japan,Tochigi)
Nogi Shrine (Japan,Tochigi) · Kanohara ( talk ), Public domain
Michinoeki nishinasuno
Michinoeki nishinasuno · Filler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Daiouji-soumon
Daiouji-soumon · kidanymore, CC BY-SA 3.0
International University of Health and Welfare Japan 01
International University of Health and Welfare Japan 01 · Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0

Ōtawara, Japan

大田原市

Ōtawara is a town of 72,087 people in Tochigi, Japan, founded in December 1, 1954.

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Population72,087 GeoNames
Local name大田原市
RegionTochigi
Elevation205 m 673 ft
FoundedDecember 1, 1954
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area354.4 km²
Nearest airportFukushima Airport (FKS) 53 km

Why visit Ōtawara

Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 43 parks and trails, 224 places to eat, 20 places to stay and 11 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include International University of Health and Welfare, 那須野が原ハーモニーホール, Cannabis Museum and 上侍塚古墳.

About Ōtawara

Ōtawara (大田原市, Ōtawara-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ò̞ó̞.tä́.β̞ä̀.ɾä̀, -β̞ä́.ɾä́.ɕì, ó̞ó̞-]) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population of 72,189 in 30,136 households, and a population density of 210 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 354.36 square kilometres (136.82 sq mi). The city's name may also be spelled "Ohtawara" as indicated by the official city website.

From the Wikipedia article Ōtawara (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do11

International University of Health and Welfare

School · 3.2 km

Japanese private university

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

那須野が原ハーモニーホール

Cinema and theater · 2.4 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

JAなすの北部食材センター

Farm and orchard · 11.2 km

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そすいの郷直売センター

Farm and orchard · 7.2 km

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たまごくらぶ

Farm and orchard · 10.3 km

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フォーラム那須塩原

Cinema and theater · 9.9 km

Open in Google Maps

大田原市総合文化会館

Cinema and theater · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps

広木農園

Farm and orchard · 9.9 km

Open in Google Maps

那須の駅農産物直売所

Farm and orchard · 10.2 km

Open in Google Maps

那須塩原市 黒磯文化会館

Cinema and theater · 9.5 km

Open in Google Maps

那須塩原市三島ホール

Cinema and theater · 6.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks25

Cannabis Museum

Museum · 17.2 km

Japanese museum

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

上侍塚古墳

Monument and historic site · 10.6 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

大田原市那須与一伝承館

Museum · 4.8 km

Open in Google Maps

那須野が原博物館

Museum · 6.8 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

1号墳

Monument and historic site · 9.9 km

Open in Google Maps

5号墳

Monument and historic site · 10.0 km

Open in Google Maps

6号墳

Monument and historic site · 10.0 km

Open in Google Maps

8号墳

Monument and historic site · 10.0 km

Open in Google Maps

くらしの館

Monument and historic site · 7.8 km

Open in Google Maps

ふれあいの丘天文館

Museum · 7.4 km

Open in Google Maps

ふれあいの丘自然観察館

Museum · 7.4 km

Open in Google Maps

三島開墾紀恩碑

Monument and historic site · 6.3 km

Open in Google Maps

13 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds43

Tochigi Nakagawa Aquatic Park

Park · 12.1 km

Public aquarium in Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

なんじゃもんじゃ公園

Park · 4.8 km

栃木ニコン創立40周年記念に作られた公園。 ※駐車場はないので注意※

Open in Google Maps

下石上公園

Park · 7.2 km

1366, 大田原市

Open in Google Maps

Arrow Ace Golf Club

Golf course · 10.4 km

Open in Google Maps

DI STADIUM

Sports field and stadium · 2.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Kid's US.LAND

Playground · 9.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Nagamine Park

Park · 10.5 km

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Poppo Park

Park · 1.4 km

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Ryujo Park

Park

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あきもと園

Park · 10.9 km

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とようらコミュニティ公園

Park · 11.3 km

Open in Google Maps

にしなすの運動公園

Park · 5.3 km

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31 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes224

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 5.6 km

19, 那須塩原市

Mo-Su 07:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps

Kiramugi

Bakery · 7.5 km

栃木県那須塩原市東小屋368 国道4号

Open in Google Maps · 0287742900

Nasu Café

Cafe · Coffee Shop, Ice Cream, Curry · 7.4 km

11:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +81-287-65-2645

Sora Cafe

Cafe · 11.0 km

36, 那須塩原市

Open in Google Maps · +81 0287-64-1703

Heisei

Restaurant · Noodle · 7.3 km

Th-Tu,PH 11:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps

Yumean

Restaurant · Japanese · 11.4 km

10:30-23:30

Open in Google Maps

こみや食堂

Restaurant · Japanese · 0.7 km

11:00-14:00,17:00-19:30; We off

Open in Google Maps

喜多見家 大田原店

Restaurant · 7.9 km

1532-3, 大田原市

11:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps

竹風

Restaurant · Japanese · 4.7 km

Mo,Tu,We,Fr,Sa,Su 11:30-14:30; 17:30-20:00

Open in Google Maps

COMMON&

Cafe · 0.6 km

Th - Tu 11:30-17:30

Open in Google Maps

Cotori

Cafe · 7.8 km

Fr - We 10:00 - 19:00

Open in Google Maps

Atoyama

Restaurant · Local · 7.4 km

Open in Google Maps

212 more on the map.

History

During the Sengoku period, the area was controlled by the Ōtawara clan, who built Ōtawara Castle in 1545. The surrounding jōkamachi was a shukuba on the Ōshū Kaidō highway to northern Japan. During the Edo Period, Ōtawara Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate lasted for over 250 years until the Meiji period. Kurobane Domain was another feudal domain which existed within the borders of modern Ōtawara during this time. With the creation of the modern municipality system on April 1, 1889, the town of Ōtawara was created. On December 1, 1954, the town of Ōtawara and the villages of Chikasono and Kaneda combined to form the city of Ōtawara. The city annexed part of Nozaki Town on December 31, 1954 followed by part of Nishinasuno Town on April 1, 1955 and the town of Sakuyama on November 5, 1955.

On October 1, 2005, the town of Kurobane, and the village of Yuzukami (both from Nasu District) were merged into Ōtawara.

From the History section of Ōtawara on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay20

Churches and places of worship41

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Shopping72

Gas and EV charging24

Schools, colleges and libraries73

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Healthcare33

Map of Ōtawara

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Fukushima Airport (FKS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 53 km away.

  • Yaita 12 km southwest, about 12 min by car
  • Nasushiobara 13 km north, about 13 min by car
  • Ujiie 21 km south, about 21 min by car
  • Daigo 30 km east, about 30 min by car
  • Shirakawa 35 km northeast, about 35 min by car
  • Tanagura 36 km northeast, about 36 min by car
  • Nikkō 39 km west, about 39 min by car
  • Kanuma 44 km southwest, about 44 min by car
  • Yabuki 45 km northeast, about 45 min by car
  • Kaminokawa 49 km south, about 49 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.