Toride, Ibaraki

Toride (取手市, Toride-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2020, the city had an estimated population of 104,329 in 44,755 households and a population density of 1492 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 34.8%.[1] The total area of the city is 69.94 square kilometres (27.00 sq mi).

Toride
取手市
City
Toride city hall
Toride city hall
Flag of Toride
Flag
Official seal of Toride
Seal
Location of Toride in Ibaraki Prefecture
Location of Toride in Ibaraki Prefecture
Toride is located in Japan
Toride
Toride
 
Coordinates: 35°54′41.4″N 140°3′1.3″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki Prefecture
Government
 • MayorOsamu Nakamura (since 2023)
Area
 • Total69.94 km2 (27.00 sq mi)
Population
 (October 2020)
 • Total104,329
 • Density1,500/km2 (3,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeOsmanthus and Bay laurel
- FlowerAzalea and Wisteria
- BirdUral owl and Common kingfisher
Phone number0297-74-2141
Address5139 Terada, Toride-shi, Ibaraki-ken 302-8585
WebsiteOfficial website
Ohori-no-watashi

Geography

Located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, Toride is bordered by Chiba Prefecture to the south. The Tone River passes along the southern border of Toride, which also marks the Ibaraki/Chiba border. The city is located in the Kanto Plain and was often subject to flooding. It is approximately 40 kilometers from central Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

Ibaraki Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture

Climate

Toride has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Toride is 14.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1320 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Toride peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 32,699—    
1960 35,188+7.6%
1970 56,596+60.8%
1980 97,715+72.7%
1990 114,409+17.1%
2000 115,993+1.4%
2010 109,651−5.5%
2020 104,524−4.7%

History

Toride developed in the Edo period as a post town on the Mito Kaidō highway connecting Edo with Mito and as a nexus for water-borne traffic on the Tone River; however, the name is thought to derive from an ancient fort constructed by Taira no Masakado in the Heian period. The area was part of ancient Shimōsa Province, but was transferred to the newly created Ibaraki prefecture after the Meiji restoration. Toride town was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1970.[4] On March 28, 2005, the neighboring town of Fujishiro (from Kitasōma District) was merged into Toride, nearly doubling its size.[4]

Government

Toride has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Toride contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Due to its proximity to Tokyo, Toride is increasingly a bedroom community for the Tokyo metropolis. Rice, sake, pickles and leeks dominate local agriculture.

Education

Toride has 14 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there are one private elementary school, two private middle schools and two private high schools.

The Tokyo University of the Arts maintains a campus at Toride.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Jōban Line

Kantō Railway - Jōsō Line

Highway

Sister city relations

Notable people from Toride

Local attractions
  • Kokai River Cycling Road
  • Toride Tone River Fireworks
  • Kokaigawa Flower Canal
  • Toride Yasaka Shrine
  • Former Toride-juku Honjin
  • Ryuzen-ji Buddhist temple
  • Tomb of Honda Narishige

References
  1. "Ibaraki prefectural official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. "Toride climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Toride weather averages - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  3. "Ibaraki (Japan): Prefecture, Cities, Towns and Villages - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  4. "わがまち取手市のあゆみ(2011年から2019年)" (in Japanese). Japan.

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