Toride: River Cruises and Creative Discoveries

The Tone River is one of Toride’s distinctive attractions. The city ferry, the Ohori Ferry, crosses the river between the city centre and the Ohori district and also offers sightseeing cruises. The municipality also has creative, cultural and sporting attractions that can shape a visit in different ways.

Cross the Tone River on the Ohori Ferry

The Ohori Ferry continues to operate as a sightseeing boat open to everyone, and is the only remaining ferry on the lower Tone River. The crossing makes a river cruise a clearly defined part of your itinerary. A round trip between Ohori, the car park in front of Toride Ryokuchi Sports Park and the Toride Fureai landing takes about 50 minutes. You can plan the cruise as a separate block of time; check the timetable in advance.

The Ohori Ferry combines a specific destination with a manageable round-trip duration: it crosses the Tone River and runs between the three stops mentioned above. Those interested in rivers and the history of ferry services will also find a distinctive local feature here: it is the only remaining ferry on the lower Tone River. The focus is therefore not only on the ride itself, but also on its role as a sightseeing boat.

Creative Encounters and Cultural Heritage

Taiken VI-jutsu-VA VIVA is located on the fourth floor of Atre Toride, at 2-5 Chuocho, and is accessible from Toride Station on the JR Joban Line. The workshop is equipped with tools for crafts and woodworking, as well as large-format printers and 3D printers. Its offerings therefore range from traditional hands-on activities to digital manufacturing. For travellers interested in crafts, design and technology, this offers a different focus from the river cruise.

In Toride, Longzenji Sanseido is a cultural property designated by Ibaraki Prefecture. Its distinctive Sazaedo floor plan has separate staircases for ascending and descending, so visitors do not encounter one another inside. The interior is not usually open to the public. The unusual architecture can also be understood as a design concept: the routes up and down are separate rather than crossing inside.

Fireworks, Brewery Tours and Cycling

The Toride Tone River Grand Fireworks began in 1930 to celebrate the opening of Ōtone Bridge. This traditional display is considered a summer landmark of Toride. Around 10,000 fireworks are launched during the event, including Wide Starmines, Chinese fireworks and large Shakudama shells. The date and programme may vary from year to year; if you are planning a visit, check the latest event dates.

The Kirin Brewery in Toride began operating in 1970 and offers brewery tours with tastings of freshly brewed beer. If you are interested in a tour, check the details and reservation requirements directly with reception. This lets you factor the experience into your plans before travelling without having to commit to a specific date.

Cycling is another local attraction: the Adventure Land area of Kokai River Green Space has a mountain bike course and also hosts international cyclocross competitions. Alongside river cruises and culture, visitors can choose from different interests in cycling routes and competitive sport.

The attractions also differ in what you need to consider when planning: the Ohori round trip takes about 50 minutes, brewery tours should be arranged directly with reception, and the fireworks date and programme may vary each year. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Toride, consider what you most want to focus on: a river cruise, cultural and creative activities, or a particular event date?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Chuo, Tsukuba, Shimotsuma, Moriya, Kasama, Yūki, Ryugasaki, Mito

For the broader travel guide: Ibaraki Prefecture.