Watarase River

Overview

The Watarase River is a major first-class river flowing through the northern Kanto region, some 106.7 kilometres in length and draining an area of 2,621 square kilometres. Its source lies at Mount Sukai on the boundaries around the city of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, and it flows across Tochigi, Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama Prefectures.

Highlights

• ●A first-class river of the Tone River system, about 106.7 km in length
• ●A watercourse draining an area of 2,621 square kilometres
• ●Its source at Mount Sukai
• ●A reach flowing across Tochigi, Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama Prefectures

History

Although the river now discharges into the Tone River, its original route ran by way of the Edo River into Tokyo Bay. That route was changed as part of the large-scale land reclamation and flood-control works undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Map

36.1536, 139.6981 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head to the riverside within the basin and view the flow
2. 2Reflect on the upper reaches toward the source at Mount Sukai
3. 3Stroll along the scenery beside the river
4. 4Trace the flow down to the lower reaches where it meets the Tone River

Did you know?

💡 The Watarase River once flowed by way of the Edo River into Tokyo Bay, but its route was altered by flood-control works in the Edo period.

Nearby spots