Today's print edition Home Delivery Three people have been killed and 10 more injured in two multiple-car accidents that occurred on the southbound section of the Tohoku Expressway in Nasushiobara a car driving in the wrong direction collided with some other vehicles killing two men including the 42-year-old driver of the car according to the Tochigi Prefectural Police.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); six vehicles in a traffic jam caused by the accident This killed a 60-year-old female passenger of a vehicle that was rammed from behind The police Sunday arrested the 54-year-old male driver of the large truck on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in death and injury He is said to have admitted to the allegations authorities received reports of a car driving in the wrong direction near the Kuroiso-Itamuro interchange The car caused another collision about 2.5 kilometers behind the site of the fatal crash A section of the expressway between the Nasu and Kuroiso-Itamuro interchanges was closed for about eight hours due to the accidents In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division The town of Kuroiso in Tochigi Prefecture’s mountainous Nasu highlands might seem an unlikely candidate for one of the country’s top coffee culture destinations But the area has in fact been termed “sacred ground for cafe lovers,” thanks to Shozo Kikuchi — a man whom coffee aficionados have lauded as a quasi-god since his 1988 flagship cafe touched off a trend of stylish local development.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); who was born into a Kuroiso farming family in 1960 found his calling after navigating his way through a series of existential crises and synchronicities His childhood fascination with the ocean had led him toward a stint in the Maritime Self-Defense Force but he found afterward that he was still no closer to understanding his life’s purpose Setting out in his early 20s to explore the country by motorcycle he realized that one thing did ignite an unmistakable sense of joie de vivre inside of him: drinking coffee in atmospheric settings Tochigi – A series of accidents on the northbound Tohoku Expressway in Nasushiobara City claimed the lives of three individuals on Saturday night including a crash involving a wrong-way driver which caused traffic congestion and led to an additional pileup occurred between the Nasu and Kuroiso-Itamuro interchanges please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent According to the Tochigi prefectural police’s Expressway Traffic Patrol Unit a passenger vehicle traveling against the flow of traffic collided head-on with an oncoming car at about 10 p.m This initial crash involved a total of four vehicles The victims are believed to be the male driver of the wrong-way vehicle and the male driver of the other passenger car involved in the head-on collision In a secondary incident stemming from the ensuing traffic jam a large truck collided with a line of vehicles This collision resulted in the death of a woman Several other people also sustained injuries Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun quaint cafés and Japan’s first agriturismo resort await in Nasu As Tokyoites are well aware, opportunities abound for short getaways from the frenetic pace of life in the metropolis. And while beach lovers may be inclined to head toward the coasts the Nasu region in nearby landlocked Tochigi prefecture brims with rich nature – along with stylish resorts and culinary offerings that rival those of any urban center Each time of year is special in its own right for appreciating the grandeur of nature in the Nasu region Unique seasonal opportunities include daffodils and dogtooth violets in spring striking blue gentiana and fiery foliage in autumn and calm snowscapes in winter featuring Japanese white pine – the Nasu area’s official tree and a dip in the local onsen is a gloriously healing way to enjoy the area’s verdant natural vistas The 1,200-year-old Shiobara Onsen features an abundance of minerals with waters varying from translucent to milky Adventurous bathers should also head to the village of Okushiobara where a number of secluded pools allow nature to be experienced at its rawest including sulfuric clouds billowing from the vents of the nearby volcanic mountains Slightly further to the northeast at the foot of Mount Chausu Preeminent Edo-era warriors were said to have enjoyed taking their baths here at Shika-no-yu whose known history dates back to the seventh century The adjacent Nasu Yuzen Shrine houses the god of onsen bathing and worshippers historically paid respects here to local mountain deities Pack your hiking shoes for a trek up the mountain which offers panoramic vistas of the expansive Nasu Highland in the Kuroiso district of Nasushiobara city lies what is arguably one of the country’s most unique coffee cultures fulfilled his dream of starting his own café with 1988 Café Shozo (named for the year it opened) followed several years later by the nearby Nasu Shozo Café Both locations feature his richly roasted coffee and famous scones with cream as well as a stylish vibe that helped touch off café culture throughout Japan at a time when it was still largely unknown The area surrounding Kikuchi’s original café is today known as Shozo Street and it is alive with a vibrant collection of shops and restaurants café and market showcasing local vegetables and regional foods from throughout Japan; and Italian restaurant Cuore where talented one-man-show Tsuyoshi Naoi prepares artful Toscana fare in a cozy More eclectic shops and restaurants continue to sprout up on Shozo Street and its environs giving this area an altogether unique feel that invites a weekend of relaxed exploration Nasu Alpaca Farm | Photo by Solveig Boergen which winds its way northward from Kuroiso toward the Nasu Highlands is lined with more inviting shops (including Shozo’s second café) that are excellent for an afternoon wander Museum lovers will also appreciate the region’s offerings, which include N’s Yard showcasing the work of internationally lauded contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara (who is also a local resident), and the Cannabis Museum, which recounts the intriguingly complex (and generally misunderstood) history of hemp in Japan take the kids (including adult-sized ones) to cavort with the large animals roaming the Nasu Highlands including the cows and goats at the Minamigaoka Dairy Farm; and the Nasu Alpaca Farm whose furry creatures have traveled all the way from the Peruvian Andes consider renting out a yurt at the Mongolia Village Tenger and also serves as somewhat of a cultural center spearheading exchanges between students in Nasu and Mongolia Hoshino Resorts Risonare Nasu rice field | Photo by Solveig Boergen If you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate (or a few coins to spend), consider splashing out for an unforgettable experience at the Hoshino Resorts Risonare Nasu Located at the foot of the Nasu Mountain Range a stay here immerses you in the deep tranquility of nature from softly croaking frogs in the onsite rice paddies to lush walking trails on its grounds A total of 120 different herbs and vegetables are grown here in the greenhouse and fields where a team of knowledgeable guides oversees immersive agricultural experiences including soil preparation and vegetable harvesting The resort also engages in community initiatives including workshops for guests on rice planting and harvesting led by local farmers and a collaboration with nearby dairy farms to offset food loss through the production of an original milk jam that is used to create desserts like scrumptious thick shakes Dinner at onsite restaurant Otto Sette Nasu which fuses local cuisine with that from the Italian region of Toscana From its candle-lit lobby to bergamot-infused hot towels Vegetable-oriented cuisine is celebrated at the resort’s other onsite restaurant Shaki Shaki (an onomatopoeia term indicating a fresh crispness) an agri-beer garden is set up featuring hammocks candles and special seasonal drinks from the harvest such as red-eye beer cocktails and mojitos The Nasu area suffered greatly during and after the triple earthquake Your visit can help provided a much-appreciated boost to community revitalization while also promising you lasting memories from a truly intriguing corner of the greater Kanto region Masa Takayama is a Japanese chef and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $10 million He is the owner and chef of the three-Michelin-starred Japanese and sushi restaurant Masa in Manhattan Takayama also owns Bar Masa in New York City and at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas He began by cutting fish for his parents' fish shop and catering business After graduating high school Takayama served an eight year apprenticeship at Sushiko in Tokyo His first United States restaurant Saba-ya was opened in Los Angeles in 1980 and his second was Ginza Sushiko His Bara Masa in Las Vegas included the upscale shabu-shabu dining room Shaboo which charges about $500 per person without drinks © 2025 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved