[Difficult to read place name] How do you read the famous strawberry producing area in Tochigi Prefecture? It's not "Maokashi"

Supervised by Premium Japan Editorial Department

Moka City is located in the southeastern part of Tochigi Prefecture and is known as one of the leading strawberry producing areas in the country.

Tochigi's most representative strawberry varieties, such as "Tochiotome," "Skyberry," and "Tochiaika," are cultivated here, and the sweet aroma of strawberries fills the air from winter to spring.

One of the historical attractions is Senshu-ji Temple, which is said to have been founded by the Kamakura-period monk Shinran. The temple grounds are lined with nationally designated important cultural properties such as the Goei-do Hall and the Nyorai-do Hall, and the surrounding area is also designated as a historic site, making it a place that conveys the history and faith of Mooka to the present day.

Mokashi (Moka City)

Moka City is "Mokashi"There are several theories about the origin of the name. One is that it comes from the Ainu word "Maoka," which means "a place where the wind blows strongly" or "a wind path," and represents the topography of the area around present-day Daimachi.

The other is a legend that says the name of the place came from people seeing cranes gathering and dancing on the hill and asking each other, "Are they dancing today too?" It is also said that there was a time when it was written as "Maioka." Neither theory is definitive, and the current name "Moka" has been passed down through the generations as multiple stories overlap.

Learn about difficult-to-read place names in Japan
Difficult to read place names are engraved with the local language, culture, and history of coexistence with nature. Knowing the origin of the name can make the scenery of your travel destination look a little different. That is the mysterious charm of difficult to read place names. Unraveling place names is like tracing the memories of the place. Learning the hidden meaning behind the characters leads to learning the depth of the story the place name tells.

Experiences

Premium Calendar

Learn difficult-to-read place names

Premium Calendar

Premium Calendar

Learn difficult-to-read place names

[Hard to read place name] How do you read the famous strawberry producing area in Tochigi Prefecture? It's not "Maokashi"

Mokashi (Moka City)

Premium Calendar

Learn difficult-to-read place names

[Difficult to read place name] Bakurocho, a familiar name from period dramas, is not pronounced "Umakuimachi."

[Difficult to read place name] Bakurocho, a familiar name from period dramas, is not pronounced "Umakuimachi."

[Difficult to read place name] Shisui, a famous outlet mall in Chiba Prefecture, is not pronounced "sasai" (small).

[Difficult to read place name] Shisui, a famous outlet mall in Chiba Prefecture, is not pronounced "sasai" (small).

[Difficult to read place name] Noei in Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Noei"

[Difficult to read place name] Noei in Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Noei"

[Difficult to read place name] Shakujii in Nerima Ward, Tokyo is not pronounced "Ishigamii"

[Difficult to read place name] Shakujii in Nerima Ward, Tokyo is not pronounced "Ishigamii"

[Difficult to read place name] The difficult to read place name Sakizaki in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Sakizaki"

[Difficult to read place name] The difficult to read place name Sakizaki in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Sakizaki"

[Difficult to read place names] The difficult to read place name "Juyonii" in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Juyonii"

[Difficult to read place names] The difficult to read place name "Juyonii" in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Juyonii"

[Difficult to read place names] The most difficult place name in Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Nantokashi?"

[Difficult to read place names] The most difficult place name in Chiba Prefecture is not pronounced "Nantokashi?"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read it? The place name "Yukueshi" in Ibaraki Prefecture is not read as such.

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read it? The place name "Yukueshi" in Ibaraki Prefecture is not read as such.

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? The place name "Jinsei-shi" in Ibaraki Prefecture is not read as "Jinsei-shi?"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? The place name "Jinsei-shi" in Ibaraki Prefecture is not read as "Jinsei-shi?"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? The place name "Hyakumeki" in Aomori, Fukushima, and Chiba is not read as "Hyakumeki"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? The place name "Hyakumeki" in Aomori, Fukushima, and Chiba is not read as "Hyakumeki"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture is not pronounced "Samugawaeshi"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture is not pronounced "Samugawaeshi"

[Difficult to read place name] Zokagata in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture is not pronounced "Zougata"

[Difficult to read place name] Zokagata in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture is not pronounced "Zougata"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Nibuchi is not pronounced "Same? Fuchi?"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Nibuchi is not pronounced "Same? Fuchi?"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Oga City is not read as "Otokojikashi"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Oga City is not read as "Otokojikashi"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Oshika Peninsula is not read as "Osujikahanto"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Oshika Peninsula is not read as "Osujikahanto"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Tomemachi in Miyagi Prefecture is not pronounced "Tomemachi"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Tomemachi in Miyagi Prefecture is not pronounced "Tomemachi"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Tome City in Miyagi Prefecture is not read as "Noborigomeshi"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Tome City in Miyagi Prefecture is not read as "Noborigomeshi"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Hachimantai, famous for its beautiful scenery, is not read as "Yawatadai-ra"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Hachimantai, famous for its beautiful scenery, is not read as "Yawatadai-ra"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Zenchidori in Aomori Prefecture is not pronounced "Zenchidorisaki"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Zenchidori in Aomori Prefecture is not pronounced "Zenchidorisaki"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Hachinohe, famous for its rice cracker soup, is not pronounced "Hatto"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Hachinohe, famous for its rice cracker soup, is not pronounced "Hatto"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Kutchan, now one of the world's leading ski resorts, is not pronounced "Kuchiyasu"...

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Kutchan, now one of the world's leading ski resorts, is not pronounced "Kuchiyasu"...

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Oshamanbe, famous for its crab rice, is not read as "Hasemanbu"

[Difficult to read place name] How do you read it? Oshamanbe, famous for its crab rice, is not read as "Hasemanbu"

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? The name of Akita City, Akita Prefecture, "Kokkotame" is not pronounced "Sakanatame".

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? The name of Akita City, Akita Prefecture, "Kokkotame" is not pronounced "Sakanatame".

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? "Hirou-nukinai" is not read as "Hirou-nukinai"

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? "Hirou-nukinai" is not read as "Hirou-nukinai"

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? Mother and Child Village is not read as "Hahakosato"

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? Mother and Child Village is not read as "Hahakosato"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Rumoi is not pronounced "Tomemoe"

[Difficult to read place names] How do you read them? Rumoi is not pronounced "Tomemoe"

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? Sudaremai is not read as "Sudaremai"

[Difficult to read place name] How to read it? Sudaremai is not read as "Sudaremai"

Related Articles

Premium Calendar

good luck calendar

When is the day of the lunar ...

Premium Calendar

Learn unusual surnames

Can you read it? The rare surname "Kakizaki" is not pronounced "Sasaki"

Premium Calendar

Learn about Japan's traditional colors

Can you read it? The traditional Japanese color "Danjuro tea" is not pronounced "Dantorocha"

Premium Calendar

Learn about Japan's traditional colors

Can you read it? The traditional Japanese color "Jakuiro" is not pronounced "Jakuiro"