The city was awarded the "Utsukushii-machinami Taisho" prize from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2009.

[4] Per Japanese census data, the population of Tochigi has remained relatively steady over the past 50 years.

Envoys using the Reiheishi Way sent from the Imperial Court going to Shrines and Temples of Nikkō stayed at the lodging area in the city.

On September 30, 1954, Tochigi absorbed the villages of Ōmiya, Minagawa, Fukiage, and Terao (all from Shimotsuga District).

On March 29, 2010, Tochigi absorbed the towns of Fujioka, Ōhira and Tsuga (Shimotsuga District).

Tochigi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 30 members.

Food processing, automotive parts and light manufacturing dominated the industrial sector.