Toride, Ibaraki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Toride**
**取手市**
Toride's location in Ibaraki, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki
Physical characteristics
Area	69.96 km² (27.01 sq mi)
Population (as of March 2008)
Total	109,926
Density	1,570 /km² (4,066 /sq mi)
Location	35°55′N, 140°3′E
Symbols
Tree	Osmanthus and Bay Laurel
Flower	Azalea and Wisteria
Bird	Ural Owl and Common Kingfisher
Flag
Toride Government Office
Mayor	Shingo Fujii
Address	〒302-8585 5139, Terada, Toride-shi, Ibaraki-ken
Phone number	0297-74-2141
Official website: Toride City

Toride (取手市, Toride-shi^?) is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan.

As of March 1, 2008 (including the increase due to the Fujushiro merger), the city has an estimated population of 109,926 and the density of 1,570 persons per km². The total area is 69.96 km².

The city was founded on October 1, 1970. On March 28, 2005 the neighboring town of Fujishiro merged with the city, nearly doubling its size.

Toride is located on the JR East Joban Line and is near the Joban Expressway (which passes through neighboring Moriya). It is only 40 minutes to Ueno Station in Tokyo on one of the frequent express trains. For this reason, it is a popular bedroom community for many who work in Tokyo. It is also the terminus for the Joso Line, a diesel powered train, which heads off towards Moriya and Shimodate. Tokyo's Chiyoda Line (subway) has its northernmost stop in Toride (the rails are integrated with the Joban line and go above ground near Tokyo). Highway 6, or the Mito Kaidō, is the main road going through Toride, which connects Tokyo with Mito, Hitachi, and Iwaki. In addition, highway 354 crosses this highway in Toride. The Tone River passes along the southern border of Toride, which also marks the Ibaraki/Chiba border.