A Lab Trip to Nikko, Nasu, and Utsunomiya: Two Days of Laughter and Good Food!

On September 29–30, 2026, members of the Gu Laboratory took an overnight trip to Nikko, Nasu, and Utsunomiya. Historic sights, a beautiful holiday house, a BBQ, board games, and plenty of delicious food filled the two days. Even the things that did not go to plan became part of the memories! Day 1: An eventful start! The plan was to meet at the Ookayama rotary at 9:00 a.m., but morning rush-hour traffic delayed our departure considerably. We set off in two Solios, one blue and one silver, with Sakashita, Miyashita, Amano, and HANSHU sharing the driving. Inside the cars, sharing music on Spotify kept the journey lively. We even got so caught up in sharing photos that we missed a highway exit—an unexpected detour for the memory book! Our first destination was Nikko. The itinerary took in food around Nishi-sando, Shinkyo Bridge, Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and Futarasan Shrine, combining historic sights with time in nature. Our photos show everyone smiling together under umbrellas: even a rainy walk becomes a good memory with the right company. A beautiful house, a BBQ, and a lively night in Nasu After shopping for BBQ ingredients and breakfast, we arrived at NASU Fir Tree. What a house! The beautiful two-story villa, with its high-ceilinged living room and big sofa, had everyone excited to settle in. Then came the BBQ. As meat and vegetables sizzled on the grill, bowls of rice disappeared at an impressive pace. “That much rice at a BBQ?!” Differences in how we enjoyed the meal sparked plenty of laughter—was it a cultural difference, or were we simply very hungry? Meanwhile, the grill team also fought a brave battle against flying insects! Trying to use the unfamiliar fireplace brought another mishap: smoke filled the room, and we discovered that operating it was trickier than expected. After bathing, we gathered for board games and became thoroughly absorbed in Avalon. Deductions, bluffs, and lively conversation kept us up late. And was it just our imagination, or did someone seem to be playing Mordred all night...? Later, we discovered that we were running out of drinks. Since everyone had already been drinking, driving out for more was off the table. With no late-night supply run from our mountain retreat, all we could say was, “What a shame!” Yet another unforgettable moment from the trip. Day 2: Creamy soft serve and Utsunomiya gyoza After checking out, we headed to Minamigaoka Farm. We walked through the greenery, posed together beside a cow sculpture, and enjoyed wonderfully rich, creamy soft-serve ice cream. It was one of the tastiest highlights of the trip! Next came Utsunomiya and a meal at Utsunomiya Minmin. The gyoza certainly lived up to our excitement! The boiled dumplings received a more reserved reaction, with a preference for the pan-fried ones this time. Comparing our favorites was all part of the fun. Despite our delayed start, we arrived back at the university on schedule and wrapped up the trip safely. A big thank-you to everyone who drove! Two days of laughter, food, and conversation gave us a wonderful chance to spend time together beyond our usual laboratory routines.