The Ohori Ferry offers an unusual starting point for planning a trip to Toride: the municipal ferry crosses the Tone River, connecting central Toride with the Ohori district. It still operates as a sightseeing boat and is open to everyone. It is also the only remaining ferry on the lower Tone River. This makes the river part of a specific excursion. Visitors to Toride can plan their stay around a river cruise, a creative workshop, cultural heritage or a large summer fireworks display.
Cruising the Tone River on the Ohori Ferry
The Ohori Ferry’s round trip takes about 50 minutes. It travels between Ohori, the parking lot in front of Toride Ryokuchi Sports Park and the Toride Fureai pier. The approximate duration gives the ride a clear time frame, while the three points named help indicate its route. This makes it an activity in its own right, rather than simply a connection between central Toride and Ohori. For travelers who want to experience Toride from the river, the ride is an obvious highlight. The ferry service and the round trip serve different purposes: one connects two districts, while the other is designed as a waterborne excursion.
Workshop and creative activities
Taiken VI-jutsu-VA VIVA offers a different side of Toride. It is located on the fourth floor of Atre Toride, 2-5 Chuocho, and can be reached from Toride Station on the JR Joban Line. The workshop has tools for crafts and woodworking, as well as large-format printers and 3D printers. Its facilities cover both traditional hands-on work and large-format and three-dimensional printing. Those interested in design and making will find a clearly defined activity here, distinct from Toride’s river and cultural experiences. Its location and facilities also provide two specific points to help with planning.
Cultural heritage in Toride
In Toride, Longzenji Sanseido is designated as a cultural property of Ibaraki Prefecture. Its distinctive feature is its Sazaedo-style floor plan: separate stairways are used for going up and coming down, so visitors do not encounter one another inside. The interior is not generally open to the public. This restriction is important when planning a visit: the architectural feature describes the building, but does not imply regular access to its interior.
The Kirin Brewery began operations in Toride in 1970 and offers brewery tours. If you plan a tour, confirm the details directly with reception. For sports enthusiasts, the city offers a different kind of activity: the Adventure Land area of the Kokai River Green Space has a mountain bike course and also hosts international cyclocross competitions. Brewery tours and cycling appeal to different interests, so they should not be treated as one combined activity.
Summer fireworks
The Toride Tone River Grand Fireworks is considered a summer icon of Toride. It began in 1930 to celebrate the opening of the ĹŚtone Bridge. About 10,000 fireworks are set off during the event, including wide starmines, Chinese fireworks and large shakudama shells. The historical occasion explains how the event began, while the approximate number and types give an idea of the range of the display. Dates and programming may vary from year to year. If you plan to visit Toride for the fireworks, check the event details before traveling.
When choosing a hotel in Toride, it helps to first decide what interests you most: the Ohori Ferry combines a river cruise with getting to know the city, VIVA focuses on workshops and printing, while cultural heritage, brewery tours, cycling and fireworks each appeal to different interests.
Discover more destinations: Omitama, Kamisu, Ryugasaki, Joko, Chikusei, Miho, YĹ«ki, Kasama.
For the broader travel guide: Ibaraki Prefecture.
