Utsunomiya Station

Utsunomiya Station (宇都宮駅, Utsunomiya-eki) is a railway station in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The station also is a freight depot for the Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight).

Utsunomiya Station

宇都宮駅
Station and the connecting pedestrian walkway, 2023
General information
Location1-23 Kawamukocho, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi 321-0965
Japan
Coordinates36°33′34″N 139°53′55″E / 36.559532°N 139.898529°E / 36.559532; 139.898529
Operated by
Line(s)
Distance109.5 km from Tokyo
Connections
Other information
StatusStaffed ( Midori no Madoguchi )
WebsiteOfficial website
History
Opened16 July 1885; 138 years ago (1885-07-16)
Passengers
FY201937,374
Services
Preceding stationLogo of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) JR EastFollowing station
Oyama
towards Tokyo
Tōhoku ShinkansenNasu-Shiobara
towards Morioka
Tōhoku ShinkansenNasu-Shiobara
towards Kōriyama
Ōmiya
towards Tokyo
Yamagata ShinkansenKōriyama
towards Shinjō
Suzumenomiya
towards Tokyo
Utsunomiya Line
Rapid Rabbit
Terminus
Utsunomiya Line
Local
Okamoto
towards Kuroiso
TerminusKarasuyama LineOkamoto
towards Karasuyama
Suzumenomiya
towards Zushi
Shōnan–Shinjuku Line
Rapid
Local
Terminus
Tsuruta
towards Nikkō
Nikkō Line
Location
Utsunomiya Station is located in Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya Station
Utsunomiya Station
Location within Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya Station is located in Japan
Utsunomiya Station
Utsunomiya Station
Utsunomiya Station (Japan)

Utsunomiya Station East is the current terminus of the Utsunomiya Light Rail line located in front of the East Exit, while Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station is located 1.6 km west of this station.

Lines

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Utsunomiya Station is served by the following JR East lines.

Layout

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Shinkansen platform

The elevated Shinkansen platforms are designed to handle 16-car trains. Inbound and outbound trains have their own platform. An additional two through (passing) tracks (tracks 2 and 3) are located between the platforms.

The platforms for local trains are a combination of both island and individual platforms, designed to handle 15-car trains. A side track (often used for freight trains) is located between platforms 5 and 7.

LED information signboards are located on the 2nd-floor concourse both outside and within the ticket gates. Further LED signboards are located on each individual platform.

Platforms

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1 Tohoku Shinkansenfor Nasushiobara, Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka
 Yamagata Shinkansenfor Yamagata and Shinjo
4 Tohoku Shinkansenfor Ōmiya, Ueno, and Tokyo
5 Nikko Linefor Kanuma, Imaichi, and Nikko
7-10 Utsunomiya Linefor Nasushiobara and Kuroiso (Some direct through services to Karasuyama Line)
 Utsunomiya Linefor Oyama
 Utsunomiya Line (Ueno-Tokyo Line)for Ōmiya, Ueno, Tokyo, Yokohama, Atami, Numazu and Ito (via JT Tokaido Line and JT Ito Line)
 Shonan-Shinjuku Linefor Ōmiya, Shinjuku, Yokohama, Ōfuna and Zushi (via JO Yokosuka Line)

Some Nikkō Line trains operate from platform 7. Some Utsunomiya Line trains operate from platform 5.

History

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  • July 16, 1885: Station opens on what is now the Tōhoku Main Line.
  • June 1, 1890: Nikkō Line begins operation
  • June 23, 1982: Tōhoku Shinkansen begins operation
  • November 18, 2001: Introduction of Suica-enabled ticket gates.
  • October 12, 2003: Introduction of Suica-enabled ticket gates for Shinkansen passes.
  • January 29, 2008: Introduction of Suica-only ticket gates.
  • March 2019: Discontinued operating services bound for Takasaki Station via Shin-Maebashi Station on Ryomo Line, which last for 60 years since 1958.[1]
  • August 26, 2023: Utsunomiya Light Rail started operation of the Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line [ja][2][3] and held an opening ceremony near Utsunomiya Station East.[4]

Passenger statistics

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In fiscal 2019, the station was used by an average of 37,374 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).[5]

Utsunomiya Light Rail

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Utsunomiya Station East

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Utsunomiya Station East

宇都宮駅東口停留場
light rail station
Platform (March 2023)
General information
Other namesLight Cube Utsunomiya [ja]-mae
Location1 Miyamirai [ja], Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-0969
Japan
Owned byUtsunomiya City and Haga Town
Managed byUtsunomiya Light Rail
Line(s)Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line [ja]
Distance0.0 km
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Tram routes1
Tram operatorsUtsunomiya Light Rail
ConnectionsBus, taxi, and park and ride
Construction
Structure typeat-grade
Other information
StatusStaffed
Station code01
History
Opened26 August 2023 (2023-08-26)

Utsunomiya Station East (宇都宮駅東口, Utsunomiya-eki Higashi-guchi) is the current terminus of the light rail line, located in front of the East Exit. The station is also called "Light Cube Utsunomiya-mae" (ライトキューブ宇都宮前) named after the nearby convention center Light Cube Utsunomiya [ja].[6]

Utsunomiya Station West

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Utsunomiya Light Rail has an extension plan to overcross the JR conventional lines, undercross the elevated Tohoku Shinkansen line, open another station in front of the West Exit, Utsunomiya Station West, and extend the line to points further west.[7]

Map of the Utsunomiya Haga Line (shown in yellow)

Bus routes

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West Exit

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Track 1,2

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Jidosha33Utsunomiya CastleTōbu-Utsunomiya Station(Circular-route) Utsunomiya StationOnly one service is operated on weekdays morning
50Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Kiyosumicho・TakaragiHosoya ShakoThere are midnight buses
53Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Oshouduka・Takaragi
54Nishi-HanawadaTomatsuriOnly one service is operated on weekdays morning
Nishi-Hanawada・TomatsuriTakaragi Danchi
54Nishi-Hanawada・Daiichi Green Hill・Nishi-Hanawada(Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station
55Tōbu-Utsunomiya StationSakushin Gakuin University・TakaragiHosoya Shako
Tōbu-Utsunomiya StationSakushin Gakuin University・TakaragiTakaragi danchi
60Miyajimacho Jumonji・Toyosato Chuo Elementary schoolTeikyo UniversityThere is a service of a midnight bus on weekdays
Babacho
  • Utsunomiya Tobu
  • Nishihaea Shako

Track 3

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It is possible for passengers who have valid Japan Rail Pass to use following all bus routes operated by JR Bus Kanto for free.

OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
JR BUS KANTO11・Suito Nishi LineUtsunomiya University・Koteyama Jūjiro・Dōjōjuku・Haga Industrial Park Management Center・Haga Onsen Roman no Yu・Ubagai・Haga Town Hall East・Ichihana eki iriguchiMotegi Station
Tōbu eki mae・Sakuradōri JūmonjiSakushin Gakuin High School

Track 4

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Track 4 has not been used since August 27, 2023.

Track 5

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Buses bound for Fujimigaoka via Hanada and Utsunomiya Commercial high school or Takebayashi and FKD operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation16Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi JumonjiFujimigaoka Danchi
Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayahsi Jumonji・Saiseikai Hospital
Miyajimacho Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool
18Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayshi JumonjiSaiseikai Hospital
60Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Saiseikai Hospital・Ustunomiya Kita Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary SchoolTeikyo University
Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary schoolToyosatodai or Teikyo UniversityThere are services which don't stop at all bus stops between this bus stop and Teikyo University the last.
Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・Teikyo UniversityUtsunomiya Museum
61Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・ShimotaharaUtsunomiya Green Town
Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimo-Takarai
62Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimotahara・Nakazatobara JumonjiImazato
Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimotahara・Nakazatobara Jumonji・Imazato・Omiya shitamachiTamanyu Shako
64Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・Taikyo UniversityNew Fujimigaoka Danchi

Track 6

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Buses bound for Otani Kaido Avenue via Babacho and Prefectural operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation10Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin UniversityKomanyu OfficeThere are partly services which bound for Sakushin Gakuin, and don't stop at all bus stops between this bus stop and Komanyu Office. There are midnight buses. The partly buses run on only weekdays bound for Komanyu via Tochigi Kenko no Mori.
45Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Shiroyama chiku Citizen Center・Oya Heiwa Kan'nonOya ShiryokanTateiwa
46Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Yozei junior high school・Takaragi・NiradukaRomantic Village
47Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Shiroyama chiku Citizen Center・New Sunpia Tochigi・Kanuma Station・Tori-ato machi[8]Kanuma Office

Track 7

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation10 and so onTōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin UniversityKomanyu OfficeThere are partly services which bound for Sakushin Gakuin, and don't stop at all bus stops between this bus stop and Komanyu Office. The partly buses run on only weekdays bound for Komanyu via Tochigi Kenko no Mori.

Track 8

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation51Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Tomatsuri・Takaragi・NiradukaRomantic Village
52Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of ArtSano Apartment Complex
Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-TokujiraIshinada
Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・IshinadaShinoi New TownRun on only one service on weekdays afternoon
56Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Ebi-uchi・Shimo-OsawaImaichi Shako[9]
Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi New Town・Shimo-Osawa
Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Ebi-uchi・Shimo-Osawa・Nikkō StationTōbu-Nikkō StationNikkō Tōshō-gū
Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi New Town・Shimo-Osawa・Nikkō StationTōbu-Nikkō Station
58Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi Gakudo・Shiono muro・Sanuki Kan'nonFunyu
70Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・NakakaidochoKamaidai Danchi
71Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Nakakaidocho・Kawachi chiiki jichi CenterShirasawa Kawara
Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Natsubodai Chuo・Kawachi chiiki jichi Center
73Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Miyukigahara Elementary SchoolNatsubodai Chuo

Track 9

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation12Hakuyo High school・koshido・Karahiraide iriguchiYanada Shako
12Matsusita Denki
80Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku・Higashi High SchoolMizuhono Danchi
Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku・Higashi High school・Midori no Sato irguchi
81Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku・Shimo-KuwajimaHigashi Fuzakashi
83Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu JukuOroshi-kaikan mae
84Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu juku・Higashi Highschool・Mizuhono Danchi・Mandorokoro joganji・HongodaiHongodai Nishi Fuzakashi
85Chuo Shijo mae・Yanase Kanebori・Higashi Kawata・Yaita Yubinkyoku mae・Minami High school・Kami-KamoKami-Mikawa Shako
Chuo Shijo mae・Yanase Kanebori・Higashi Kawata・Yaita Yubinkyoku mae・Minami High school・Inter Park Utsunomiya minami・Kami-Kamo

Track 10

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation40Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no SawaNishi no Miya Danchi
43Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・NojiriTogami Shako
43Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・Nojiri・Nagasaka sakaue・Shirokuwata・Kanuma Station・Toriiato machi[10]Kanuma Office
Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・Nojiri・Utsunomiya Kyowa UniversityUtsunomiya Junior College・Nagasaka sakaue・Shirokuwata・Kanuma Station・Toriiato machi[10]Any service doesn't pass through Utsunomiya Kyowa University or Utsunomiya Junior College when those schools are closed.

Track 11

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation31Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Ichijo Junior High school・Kawada iriguchi・Prefectural Cancer Center・Esojima Station・Midori 2 chomeNishi Kawada higashiThere are midnight buses
25(via Kyokuryo Dori) Kawada iriguchi・Esojima 4 chome・Imanomiya 1 chome・Tochigi Prefectural Animal Welfare CenterSuzumenomiya Station

Track 12

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Track 13

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Track 14

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Former Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 15

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Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 16

Track 16

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Highway buses operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

Track 38

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  • [34] Utsunomiya City Circular-route Bus "Kibuna"

East Exit

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Track 3

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OperatorNOViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation02・Hiramatsu Honchō circular-lineYanaze machi Jūmonji・Hiramatsu Honchō nishi・Ken'ei Hiramatsu Honchō Jūtaku mae・Hiramastu Honchō Kōminkan・Hiramatsu Honchō nishi・Yanaze machi Jūmonji(Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station
02・Oroshi Danchi circular-line (Counter-clockwise)Utsunomiya University・Hiramatsu Honchō・Oroshi Danchi・Higashi Mine machi(Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station
02・Oroshi Danchi circular-line (Clockwise)Utsunomiya University・Higashi Mine machi・Oroshi Danchi・Hiramatsu Honchō(Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station
09Utsunomiya UniversityBell Mall
92Utsunomiya University・Koteyama jūjiroHoshinomori Junior and Senior High SchoolRuns on only weekdays

Track 4

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OperatorViaDestinationNote
Kanto Transportation

(Toya Kotsu)

Miyukigahara Motomachi・Ueno DanchiOkamoto Station West Exit
Miyukigahara Motomachi・Ueno Danchi・Okamoto Station West ExitWagu
Higashi Library・Kita Koshido chōHiraide Industrial Park

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Discontiued operating services bound for Takasaki via Ryomo Line
  2. ^ "芳賀・宇都宮LRTの開業日が決定しました". Utsunomiya City. 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  3. ^ "LRT8月26日開業 宇都宮市と芳賀町、近く運輸開始認可手続きへ". The Shimotsuke Shimbun. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. ^ "LRT開業日ダイジェスト 一番列車、パレード、イベント… 現地から丸ごとお届け". The Shimotsuke Shimbun. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  5. ^ 各駅の乗車人員 (2019年度) [Station passenger figures (Fiscal 2019)] (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. ^ "LRT副停留場名称が決定しました(ネーミングライツ)" (Press release). Utsunomiya City. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  7. ^ "JR宇都宮駅の東西を横断するLRTルートが決まりました。" (PDF). Utsunomiya City. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  8. ^ It is located near Shin-Kanuma Station on Japan National Route 121
  9. ^ It is located near Kami-Imaichi Station
  10. ^ a b It is located near Shin-Kanuma Station
  11. ^ Fukushima - Nagoya
  12. ^ 名古屋 - 宇都宮・福島 名鉄バス
  13. ^ Nagoya
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