Overview
The Tone River is a Class A river in Japan's Kantō region, rising at Mount Ōminakami and flowing from north to east before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At 322 kilometers it is the second longest river in Japan after the Shinano, and it has the largest drainage area in the country. It is counted among the three greatest rivers of Japan.
Highlights
- ●A major river running 322 kilometers in length
- ●A basin spanning Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama, Ibaraki and Chiba
- ●The nickname Bandō Tarō, marking it as Kantō's great river
- ●Its role as a water source for the metropolitan region
History
Nicknamed Bandō Tarō, the river frequently flooded and became a focus of flood-control efforts. In the early Edo period a river-improvement project known as the Tone River Eastern Diversion altered its course. That reengineering shaped the flow seen today.
Access
The river runs from north to east across the Kantō region, passing through Ibaraki along with Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama and Chiba prefectures. It empties into the Pacific Ocean at its mouth.
Best season
With its vast basin, the river offers waterside scenery that changes with the seasons.
Map
35.7460, 140.8521 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Reach the riverside and take in the flow of this great river
- 2Walk along the banks to sense the breadth of the channel
- 3Learn the history behind its nickname Bandō Tarō
- 4Head toward the mouth where it meets the Pacific
Did you know?
💡 The Tone is one of Japan's three greatest rivers, known by the nickname Bandō Tarō.
Nearby spots
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