Uzuma River

Overview

The Uzuma River flows quietly through southern Tochigi Prefecture as a first-class river, a tributary of the Watarase River within the Tone River system. Cutting through the heart of Tochigi City, its banks are lined with black-plastered storehouses and rows of willow trees, forming the townscape known as the “City of Storehouses.” The riverside preserves the atmosphere of an era when water transport thrived, and a simple stroll along it lets you feel the mood of the town right away.

Highlights

• ●A picturesque riverside townscape of black-plastered storehouses and willow rows
• ●Stone embankments and unloading remnants that tell of the town’s water-transport past
• ●Views of the storehouse town from a boat gliding on the water
• ●Reflections of the townscape and lanterns on the water at dusk

History

The Uzuma River once served as a vital waterway for boat transport to and from Edo. Vessels carried goods up and down the river, and many storehouses were built along its banks to serve as unloading points. That memory of a thriving commercial trade still lives on in the surviving rows of storehouses and the stone-faced embankments, where the deep bond between the river and town life is written into the very scenery.

Map

36.2455, 139.6803 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Start from Tochigi Station and head to the riverside walking path
2. 2Stroll beneath the willows to view the rows of black-plastered storehouses
3. 3If boats are running, ride one and admire the town from the water
4. 4Pause at a cafe or shop set inside a converted storehouse

Did you know?

💡 The river is said to run about 28.5 kilometers, and because it winds compactly through central Tochigi City, a single riverside walk makes it easy to loop past the main sights of the storehouse town.

Nearby spots