A half-day walk
- From the station, follow the Uzuma riverside path north to Korai Bridge.
- Take the boat ride.
- Visit the Tsukada Memorial Museum.
- Cut east to Kura-no-Machi Avenue for the float hall and storehouse shops.
- Lunch or sweets, then walk back down the avenue to the station.
What to eat
Local tastes are homely: jagaimo-iri yakisoba (fried noodles with potato), sweet-miso-glazed dengaku, and old-fashioned sweet shops. Several storehouses are now cafés. In season, strawberry farms on the edge of town offer picking.
Combine with
- Nikko — stop off on the Tobu line in either direction.
- Sano and Ashikaga — 15 and 30 minutes west on the JR Ryomo Line.
- Oyama — sake breweries, 11 minutes east.
Good to know
Many museums close on Mondays. The boats stop in heavy rain or when the river is high. The old town has little shade in summer — the boat hats help.
Tochigi City: FAQs
Is Tochigi City the same as Tochigi Prefecture?
No. Tochigi City is a town of about 150,000 people in the south of the prefecture; the capital is Utsunomiya. The prefecture takes its name from the town, which was the first seat of government.
How does it compare with Kawagoe?
Both are “little Edo” storehouse towns. Kawagoe is bigger, closer to Tokyo and far busier; Tochigi is calmer, with the river and boats as its particular charm.
Do I need to book the boat?
No. Buy a ticket at the pier; waits are short except on holiday weekends.
When is the Tochigi Autumn Festival?
It is held every other year, in November, when tall floats topped with life-size dolls are pulled through the streets. In other years you can see floats in the Dashi Hall.
