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; 139 years ago (1885-07-16)
Passengers
FY201937,374
Services
Preceding station Logo of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) JR East Following station
Oyama
towards Tokyo
Tōhoku Shinkansen Nasu-Shiobara
towards Morioka
Tōhoku Shinkansen Nasu-Shiobara
towards Kōriyama
Ōmiya
towards Tokyo
Yamagata Shinkansen Kōriyama
towards Shinjō
Suzumenomiya
One-way operation
Utsunomiya Line
Rapid Rabbit
Terminus
Suzumenomiya
towards Tokyo
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 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

edit

Utsunomiya Station is served by the following JR East lines.

Layout

edit
 
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

edit
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

edit
  • 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

edit

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

Utsunomiya Light Rail

edit

Utsunomiya Station East

edit
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

edit

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

edit

West Exit

edit

Track 1,2

edit
Operator NO Via Destination Note
Kanto Jidosha 33 Utsunomiya CastleTōbu-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 StationSakushin Gakuin University・Takaragi Hosoya Shako
Tōbu-Utsunomiya StationSakushin 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

edit

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

edit

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

Track 5

edit

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

edit

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'nonOya 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

edit
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

edit
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 StationTōbu-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 StationTōbu-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

edit
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

edit
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 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

edit
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

edit

Track 13

edit

Track 14

edit

Former Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 15

edit

Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

 
Track 16

Track 16

edit

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

Track 38

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

East Exit

edit

Track 3

edit
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

edit
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

edit

References

edit
  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
edit

  Media related to Utsunomiya Station at Wikimedia Commons