Tochigi, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tochigi (栃木市, Tochigi-shi) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. The city has a population density of 458 persons per km². The total area of the city is 331.50 square km (127.99 sq mi). Because the city escaped war damage during World War II, many historical temples, traditional shops and kura (Japanese traditional storehouses) remain in the city center. The city was awarded the "Utsukushii-machinami Taisho" prize from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2009.

Geography Tochigi is located in the very southern portion of Tochigi Prefecture, bordering on Ibaraki Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture to the southwest. The city is located in the northern part of the Kanto plain, with a mountain range extending in the northern part of the city. The Tomawa River runs through the city centre, the Oshigawa River runs through the eastern part, and the Watarase River runs through the southern part. At the confluence of these three rivers is the Yanaka Reservoir, which is used for sailboating and windsurfing. It was designated a Ramsar Site in June 2012.

Surrounding municipalities Tochigi Prefecture • Oyama • Shimotsuke • Kanuma • Sano • Mibu • Nogi; Ibaraki Prefecture • Koga; Gunma Prefecture • Itakura; Saitama Prefecture • Kazo.

History In the Edo period, Tochigi prospered from its location on the Uzumagawa River, which connected with the Tone River to Edo. Envoys using the Reiheishi Way sent from the Imperial Court going to Shrines and Temples of Nikkō stayed at the lodging area in the city. Most of the area was formerly tenryō territory controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate; however, the minor feudal domain of Fukiake Domain was located within the borders of modern city of Tochigi.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the creation of Tochigi Prefecture, Tochigi Town was the prefectural capital from 1871 until its relocation to Utsunomiya in 1884. On April 1, 1937, Tochigi was elevated to city status.

On September 30, 1954, Tochigi absorbed the villages of Ōmiya, Minagawa, Fukiage and Terao (all from Shimotsuga District). This was followed by the village of Kōō (from Shimotsuga District) on March 31, 1957. Tochigi hosted its first film festival, the Kuranomachikado, or, "Eizo Film Festival" from October 5, 2007, to October 8, 2007.

On March 29, 2010, Tochigi absorbed the towns of Fujioka, Ōhira and Tsuga (Shimotsuga District). This was followed by the town of Nishikata (from Kamitsuga District) on October 1, 2011, and the town of Iwafune (from Shimotsuga District) on April 5, 2014.

Government Tochigi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 30 members. Tochigi contributes four members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Tochigi 2nd district, Tochigi 4th district and Tochigi 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Tochigi city is a regional commercial centre, and has a mixed local economy. Food processing, automotive parts and light manufacturing dominated the industrial sector. Isuzu has maintained a factory since 1961. In 2010, the city ranked first in the number of farming families in the prefecture.

Education • Kokugakuin Tochigi Junior College • Tochigi has 29 public primary schools and 15 public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has eight public high schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operated one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail JR East – Ryōmō Line • Tochigi - Ōhirashita - Iwafune

Tobu Railway – Tobu Nikko Line • Fujioka - Shizuwa - Shin-Ōhirashita - Tochigi - Shin-Tochigi - Kassemba - Ienaka - Tōbu Kanasaki

Tobu Railway – Tobu Utsunomiya Line • Shin-Tochigi - Yashū-Hirakawa - Yashū-Ōtsuka

Transport: Road • Tōhoku Expressway – Sano-Fujioka Interchange, Iwafune Junction, Tochigi Interchange, Tochigi-Tsuga Junction, Tsuga-Nishikata Parking Area • Kita-Kantō Expressway – Iwafune Junction, Tochigi-Tsuga Junction, Tsuga Interchange • National Route 50 • National Route 293

Local attractions • the sound of Tree frogs in Ajisai-zaka, Mount Ohirasan in Tochigi have been designated as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan by the Ministry of the Environment