Kinu-gawa River

Overview

The Kinugawa River is a Class A river that flows north to south across the eastern Kanto Plain before merging with the Tone River. At 176.7 km in length, it is the longest tributary of the Tone. It rises from the Kinu marsh in the city of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and runs on into Ibaraki Prefecture.

Highlights

• ●The longest tributary of the Tone River, stretching 176.7 km
• ●A course running through both Tochigi and Ibaraki Prefectures
• ●Upstream valley scenery around the hot-spring area of its headwaters
• ●An old name derived from the ancient Keno Province

History

The river was originally recorded as the "Kenogawa," as it flowed through Keno Province, an old name for the area of present-day Tochigi and Gunma. From medieval into early modern times the name was written with characters read as "Kinugawa," and the current characters came into use in the early Meiji era. Before the Edo period the river was the main stream of its own system; after the Tone River was rerouted eastward, the Kinu became a tributary of the Tone.

Map

36.8736, 139.3637 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Take in the natural scenery near the headwaters around Nikko, Tochigi
2. 2View the valley landscape of the upstream hot-spring area
3. 3Follow the river from its middle to lower reaches across the plain
4. 4Look out over the lower course where it joins the Tone in Ibaraki

Did you know?

💡 The Kinugawa is the longest of the many tributaries of the Tone River.

Nearby spots