Tsuga

Tsuga lies in southern Shimotsuke, where the town of Tochigi grew beside the Uzuma River. During the Edo period, shallow boats carried cargo from its river landings to downstream ports, where it was transferred to larger vessels bound for Edo. The road used by imperial envoys to Nikkō also passed through the town. Warehouses and merchants' houses reflected the prosperity created by these river and road connections.