Utsunomiya Station

For the Tobu Railway station, see Tōbu 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
Location	1-23 Kawamukocho, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi 321-0965 Japan
Coordinates	36.559532°N 139.898529°E / 36.559532; 139.898529
Operated by	JR East JR Freight
Line(s)	Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamagata Shinkansen      Tōhoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line)      Nikkō Line
Distance	109.5 km from Tokyo
Connections	Utsunomiya Light Rail Bus terminal
Other information
Status	Staffed ( Midori no Madoguchi )
Website	Official website
History
Opened	16 July 1885; 139 years ago (1885-07-16)
Passengers
FY2019	37,374
Services
Preceding station JR East Following station Oyama towards Tokyo Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamabiko Nasu-Shiobara towards Morioka Tōhoku Shinkansen Nasuno Nasu-Shiobara towards Kōriyama Ōmiya towards Tokyo Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa Kōriyama towards Shinjō Suzumenomiya towards Tokyo Utsunomiya Line Rapid Rabbit Terminus Utsunomiya Line Local Okamoto towards Kuroiso Terminus Karasuyama Line Okamoto towards Karasuyama Suzumenomiya towards Zushi Shōnan–Shinjuku Line Rapid Local Terminus Tsuruta towards Nikkō Nikkō Line
Location Utsunomiya Station Location within Tochigi Prefecture Show map of Tochigi Prefecture Utsunomiya Station Utsunomiya Station (Japan) Show map of 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

Utsunomiya Station is served by the following JR East lines.

• Tōhoku Shinkansen
• JU Utsunomiya Line (Tōhoku Main Line)
• JS Shōnan–Shinjuku Line (Direct service to Zushi and Shinjuku via the Utsunomiya Line from Utsunomiya to Ōmiya.)
• Nikkō Line
• Karasuyama Line (Limited direct service. Most trips require a transfer at Hōshakuji.)

Layout

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

1	■ Tohoku Shinkansen	for Nasushiobara, Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka
	■ Yamagata Shinkansen	for Yamagata and Shinjo
4	■ Tohoku Shinkansen	for Ōmiya, Ueno, and Tokyo
5	■ Nikko Line	for Kanuma, Imaichi, and Nikko
7-10	■ Utsunomiya Line	for Nasushiobara and Kuroiso (Some direct through services to Karasuyama Line)
	■ Utsunomiya Line	for 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 Line	for 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

• 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

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

Utsunomiya Light Rail

Main article: Utsunomiya Light Rail

Utsunomiya Station East

Utsunomiya Station East 宇都宮駅東口停留場
light rail station
Platform (March 2023)
General information
Other names	Light Cube Utsunomiya [ja]-mae
Location	1 Miyamirai [ja], Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-0969 Japan
Owned by	Utsunomiya City and Haga Town
Managed by	Utsunomiya Light Rail
Line(s)	Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line [ja]
Distance	0.0 km
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Tram routes	1
Tram operators	Utsunomiya Light Rail
Connections	Bus, taxi, and park and ride
Construction
Structure type	at-grade
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	01
History
Opened	26 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 Light Rail HU300 series branded "Lightline" at Utsunomiya Station East
• 
  The East Exit (July 2023)

Utsunomiya Station West

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

West Exit

Track 1,2

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Jidosha	33	Utsunomiya Castle・Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station	(Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station	Only one service is operated on weekdays morning
	50	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Kiyosumicho・Takaragi	Hosoya Shako	There are midnight buses
	53	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Oshouduka・Takaragi
	54	Nishi-Hanawada	Tomatsuri	Only one service is operated on weekdays morning
		Nishi-Hanawada・Tomatsuri	Takaragi Danchi
	54	Nishi-Hanawada・Daiichi Green Hill・Nishi-Hanawada	(Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station
	55	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakushin Gakuin University・Takaragi	Hosoya Shako
		Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakushin Gakuin University・Takaragi	Takaragi danchi
	60	Miyajimacho Jumonji・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school	Teikyo University	There is a service of a midnight bus on weekdays
		Babacho	Utsunomiya Tobu Nishihaea Shako

Track 3

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

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
JR BUS KANTO	11・Suito Nishi Line	Utsunomiya University・Koteyama Jūjiro・Dōjōjuku・Haga Industrial Park Management Center・Haga Onsen Roman no Yu・Ubagai・Haga Town Hall East・Ichihana eki iriguchi	Motegi Station
		Tōbu eki mae・Sakuradōri Jūmonji	Sakushin Gakuin High School

Track 4

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

Track 5

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.

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	16	Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji	Fujimigaoka Danchi
		Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayahsi Jumonji・Saiseikai Hospital
		Miyajimacho Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool
	18	Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayshi Jumonji	Saiseikai Hospital
	60	Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Saiseikai Hospital・Ustunomiya Kita Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary School	Teikyo University
		Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school	Toyosatodai or Teikyo University	There 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 University	Utsunomiya Museum
	61	Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・Shimotahara	Utsunomiya Green Town
		Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimo-Takarai
	62	Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimotahara・Nakazatobara Jumonji	Imazato
		Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimotahara・Nakazatobara Jumonji・Imazato・Omiya shitamachi	Tamanyu Shako
	64	Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・Taikyo University	New Fujimigaoka Danchi

Track 6

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

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	10	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University	Komanyu Office	There 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.
	45	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Shiroyama chiku Citizen Center・Oya Heiwa Kan'non・Oya Shiryokan	Tateiwa
	46	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Yozei junior high school・Takaragi・Niraduka	Romantic Village
	47	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Shiroyama chiku Citizen Center・New Sunpia Tochigi・Kanuma Station・Tori-ato machi[8]	Kanuma Office

Track 7

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	10 and so on	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University	Komanyu Office	There 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

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	51	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Tomatsuri・Takaragi・Niraduka	Romantic Village
	52	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art	Sano Apartment Complex
		Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira	Ishinada
		Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada	Shinoi New Town	Run on only one service on weekdays afternoon
	56	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Ebi-uchi・Shimo-Osawa	Imaichi 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 Station・Tōbu-Nikkō Station	Nikkō Tōshō-gū
		Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi New Town・Shimo-Osawa・Nikkō Station・Tōbu-Nikkō Station
	58	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi Gakudo・Shiono muro・Sanuki Kan'non	Funyu
	70	Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Nakakaidocho	Kamaidai Danchi
	71	Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Nakakaidocho・Kawachi chiiki jichi Center	Shirasawa Kawara
		Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Natsubodai Chuo・Kawachi chiiki jichi Center
	73	Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Miyukigahara Elementary School	Natsubodai Chuo

Track 9

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	12	Hakuyo High school・koshido・Karahiraide iriguchi	Yanada Shako
	12		Matsusita Denki
	80	Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku・Higashi High School	Mizuhono Danchi
		Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku・Higashi High school・Midori no Sato irguchi
	81	Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku・Shimo-Kuwajima	Higashi Fuzakashi
	83	Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu Juku	Oroshi-kaikan mae
	84	Joto Elementary・Yanase Kanabori・Hiramatsu juku・Higashi Highschool・Mizuhono Danchi・Mandorokoro joganji・Hongodai	Hongodai Nishi Fuzakashi
	85	Chuo Shijo mae・Yanase Kanebori・Higashi Kawata・Yaita Yubinkyoku mae・Minami High school・Kami-Kamo	Kami-Mikawa Shako
		Chuo Shijo mae・Yanase Kanebori・Higashi Kawata・Yaita Yubinkyoku mae・Minami High school・Inter Park Utsunomiya minami・Kami-Kamo

Track 10

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	40	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa	Nishi no Miya Danchi
	43	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・Nojiri	Togami Shako
	43	Tōbu-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 University・Utsunomiya 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

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	31	Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Ichijo Junior High school・Kawada iriguchi・Prefectural Cancer Center・Esojima Station・Midori 2 chome	Nishi Kawada higashi	There are midnight buses
	25	(via Kyokuryo Dori) Kawada iriguchi・Esojima 4 chome・Imanomiya 1 chome・Tochigi Prefectural Animal Welfare Center	Suzumenomiya Station

Track 12

• ［25］Suzumenomiya Jieitai・Ishibashi Station (Tochigi) via Ishibashi Highschool
• ［36］Tsuruta Station via Rokudo tsuji・Nishi Kawada higashi
• ［41］Tochigi Prefectural Driver License Center・Niregi Shako via Niregi Station
• Free Shuttle Bus - Utsunomiya Velodrome

Track 13

• ［34］Tsuruta Station via Yozei Dori
• ［37］Tsuruta Station・Nishi-Kawada Station via Sakura Dori

Track 14

Former Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

• Kazuhisa via Imaizumi 9 chome
• Okamoto Station (Tochigi) via Ueno Danchi
• Ujiie Station via Okamoto Station (Tochigi) and Hōshakuji Station
• Bell Mall/Seppo-ji/Kameyama/Hashiba/Mooka Office via Mōka Station
• Mashiko Station via Nanai Station and Togei Messe iriguchi ※There are partly services pass through Bell Mall
• Kaisei Joshi Gakuin
• Takebayahsi Jumonji/Hiraide Industrial Apartment Complex via Mine
• Bell Mall

Track 15

Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

• Okamoto Station (Tochigi) via Miyukigahara Motomachi

Track 16

Track 16

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

• Marronnier (For Narita International Airport) (Kanto Transportation・Chiba Kotsu)
• Marronnier (For Haneda Airport) (Kanto Transportation・Airport Transport Service)
• Tochinoki (For Universal Studios Japan via Kyōto Station・Ōsaka Station) (Kanto Transportation・Kintetsu Bus)
• Night bus Nagoya Line (For Nagoya Station) (Fukushima Transportation・Meitetsu Bus)^[11][12][13]
• Kita-Kanto Liner (For Mito Station via Akatsuka Station) (Kanto Transportation・Ibaraki Transportation)
• School Bus - Sakushin Gakuin University

Track 38

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

East Exit

Track 3

Operator	NO	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation	02・Hiramatsu Honchō circular-line	Yanaze 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
	09	Utsunomiya University	Bell Mall
	92	Utsunomiya University・Koteyama jūjiro	Hoshinomori Junior and Senior High School	Runs on only weekdays

Track 4

Operator	Via	Destination	Note
Kanto Transportation (Toya Kotsu)	Miyukigahara Motomachi・Ueno Danchi	Okamoto Station West Exit
	Miyukigahara Motomachi・Ueno Danchi・Okamoto Station West Exit	Wagu
	Higashi Library・Kita Koshido chō	Hiraide Industrial Park

See also

• List of railway stations in Japan

References

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. 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

External links

Media related to Utsunomiya Station at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Japanese)