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Utsunomiya

Coordinates: 36°33′18″N 139°52′57″E / 36.55500°N 139.88250°E / 36.55500; 139.88250
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Utsunomiya
宇都宮市
Core city
Utsunomiya Castle, Statue of gyoza Futaarayama Shrine, Oya Stone Museum Utsunomiya Tower, City view from the tower
Utsunomiya Castle, Statue of gyoza
Futaarayama Shrine, Oya Stone Museum
Utsunomiya Tower, City view from the tower
Flag of Utsunomiya
Flag
Official seal of Utsunomiya
Seal
Location of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture
Location of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya is located in Japan
Utsunomiya
Utsunomiya
 
Coordinates: 36°33′18″N 139°52′57″E / 36.55500°N 139.88250°E / 36.55500; 139.88250
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTochigi
First official recorded353 AD
City SettledApril 1, 1896
Government
 • MayorEiichi Sato
Area
 • Core city
416.85 km2 (160.95 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2023)
 • Core city
513,584
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
 • Metro
[1] (2015)
1,103,745 (15th)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number028-632-2222
Address1-1-5, Asahi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi-ken 320-8540
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerSatsuki azalea
TreeGinkgo biloba
Utsunomiya City Hall

Utsunomiya (宇都宮市, Utsunomiya-shi, [ɯᵝt͡sɯ̃ᵝno̞mija̠] ⓘ) is the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 July 2023, the city had an estimated population of 513,584, and a population density of 1,232 persons per square kilometre (3,190/sq mi). The total area of the city is 416.85 km2 (160.95 sq mi).[2] Utsunomiya is famous for its gyoza (pan fried dumplings). There are more than two hundred gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya.[3]

Greater Utsunomiya (ja:宇都宮都市圏, Utsunomiya Toshi-ken) had a population of 888,005 in the 2000 census. The nearby city of Oyama is included in Greater Tokyo, but Greater Utsunomiya is not, despite the two areas amalgamating somewhat. It is the 10th most populated city in the Kantō region.

Geography

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Utsunomiya is located in south-central Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō plains. It is approximately 100 km (60 mi) north of Tokyo. The historic town of Nikkō is approximately 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Utsunomiya. The average elevation of the city is 100 metres (330 ft).

Surrounding municipalities

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Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

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Utsunomiya has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot and humid summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Utsunomiya is 14.3 °C (57.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,524.7 mm (60.03 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C (78.8 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C (37.0 °F).[4]

Climate data for Utsunomiya (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1890−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.0
(69.8) 		24.6
(76.3) 		27.2
(81.0) 		30.4
(86.7) 		34.4
(93.9) 		37.5
(99.5) 		38.7
(101.7) 		37.5
(99.5) 		36.5
(97.7) 		33.5
(92.3) 		25.1
(77.2) 		24.7
(76.5) 		38.7
(101.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5) 		9.7
(49.5) 		13.4
(56.1) 		18.8
(65.8) 		23.3
(73.9) 		25.9
(78.6) 		29.5
(85.1) 		30.9
(87.6) 		27.0
(80.6) 		21.4
(70.5) 		15.9
(60.6) 		10.8
(51.4) 		19.6
(67.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.8
(37.0) 		3.8
(38.8) 		7.4
(45.3) 		12.8
(55.0) 		17.8
(64.0) 		21.2
(70.2) 		24.8
(76.6) 		26.0
(78.8) 		22.4
(72.3) 		16.7
(62.1) 		10.6
(51.1) 		5.1
(41.2) 		14.3
(57.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.2
(28.0) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		2.1
(35.8) 		7.4
(45.3) 		13.0
(55.4) 		17.4
(63.3) 		21.4
(70.5) 		22.5
(72.5) 		18.8
(65.8) 		12.6
(54.7) 		5.7
(42.3) 		0.2
(32.4) 		9.8
(49.6)
Record low °C (°F) −14.8
(5.4) 		−13.3
(8.1) 		−12.4
(9.7) 		−6.4
(20.5) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		4.7
(40.5) 		10.3
(50.5) 		11.4
(52.5) 		5.5
(41.9) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−10.9
(12.4) 		−14.8
(5.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 37.5
(1.48) 		38.5
(1.52) 		87.7
(3.45) 		121.5
(4.78) 		149.2
(5.87) 		175.2
(6.90) 		215.4
(8.48) 		198.5
(7.81) 		217.2
(8.55) 		174.4
(6.87) 		71.1
(2.80) 		38.5
(1.52) 		1,524.7
(60.03)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 7
(2.8) 		8
(3.1) 		2
(0.8) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.4) 		18
(7.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 4.3 5.5 9.6 11.2 12.4 14.9 16.0 13.8 13.6 11.4 7.1 4.7 124.4
Average relative humidity (%) 61 59 60 64 69 76 79 78 77 74 71 66 70
Mean monthly sunshine hours 211.7 193.3 194.2 184.9 175.4 118.5 118.9 140.9 119.8 140.3 165.9 197.4 1,961.1
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Utsunomiya has recently plateaued after decades of strong growth.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 235,516—    
1960 261,964+11.2%
1970 324,216+23.8%
1980 408,908+26.1%
1990 465,162+13.8%
2000 487,560+4.8%
2010 511,296+4.9%
2020 518,757+1.5%

History

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Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that the area of Utsunomiya has been continuously settled since the Japanese Paleolithic period onwards, and numerous burial mounds from the Kofun period are found within its borders. The Utsunomiya Futarasan Shrine (宇都宮二荒山神社), which is the Ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province claims to have been founded in 353 AD. The town of Utsunomiya developed around this shrine, and the area was under the control of the Utsunomiya clan, an offshoot of the Fujiwara clan from the Heian through Sengoku periods, and was destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

During the Edo period, the Utsunomiya area was ruled by a succession of daimyō clans under Utsunomiya Domain, and prospered from its location at the junction of the Nikkō Kaidō and the Ōshū Kaidō. During the Bakumatsu period Boshin War, the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle was a major conflict in the northern Kantō area. Following the Meiji restoration, Utsunomiya was briefly (1871–1873) part of Utsunomiya Prefecture, which was then merged into the new Tochigi Prefecture, and became the capital of the prefecture in 1884. Utsunomiya became an important garrison for the Imperial Japanese Army.

With the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the town of Utsunomiya was officially established. At the end of 1889, Utsunomiya had a population of 30,698 making it the third most populous municipality in the Kantō area, after Tokyo and Yokohama. Utsunomiya was raised to city status on April 1, 1896. On July 12, 1945, much of Utsunomiya and the surrounding areas were destroyed in the American Bombing of Utsunomiya during World War II.

The city limits were expanded from 1951 to 1955 by annexing neighboring Suzumenomiya town and Hiraishi, Yokokawa, Mizuhono, Kunimoto, Shiroyama, Tomiya, Toyosato, and Sugatagawa villages and the part of Shinoi village from Kawachi District and Kiyohara village from Haga District. In 1996, Utsunomiya was designated a core city with increased autonomy. On March 31, 2007, Utsunomiya absorbed the towns of Kamikawachi and Kawachi (both from Kawachi District), pushing the population of Utsunomiya City over 500,000.

Government

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Utsunomiya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 45 members. Utsunomiya, together with the town of Kamikawa collectively contributes 13 members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Tochigi 1st district and Tochigi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Utsunomiya is the commercial and industrial center of Tochigi Prefecture. Utsunomiya is home to a Canon optical manufacturing plant, a Japan Tobacco plant, Honda design centers, and various other industrial concerns in the Kiyohara Industrial Park. In addition, one of the largest malls in the north Kantō region, Bell Mall is located near central Utsunomiya.

Education

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Transportation

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Railway

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Utsunomiya Station West Exit (August 2023)

Utsunomiya is served by the high-speed Tohoku Shinkansen line from Tokyo, as well as a number of suburban lines operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and the private railway operator Tobu Railway.

JR East – Tohoku Shinkansen

JR East – Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line/Shōnan-Shinjuku Line/Ueno-Tokyo Line)

JR East – Nikkō Line

JR East – Karasuyama Line

Tobu Railway - Tobu Utsunomiya Line

Construction of a light rail transit system, Utsunomiya Light Rail, connecting Utsunomiya railway station with the neighbouring town of Haga was approved in 2016, with completion scheduled for December 2019.[6][7][needs update] The network started operation on August 26, 2023 and Utsunomiya became the first city in Japan to have a new tram system in 75 years after Takaoka, Toyama.[8]

Map of the Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line [ja] operated by Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd.

Highways

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Local attractions

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Sports

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Culture

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Utsunomiya's famous dumplings

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History of Gyoza

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Following the Second World War, Japanese soldiers who returned from Manchuria brought home to Utsunomiya gyoza recipes that originated from China. Soon after, the soldiers began to open dumpling (gyoza) restaurants around Utsunomiya. After the Utsunomiya city officials started to realize the popularity of gyoza in 1990, the Utsunomiya Gyoza Association was created. The creation of this association only made gyoza's popularity grow in the city. Utsunomiya gyoza is famous country-wide, so it attracts many tourists, as well as brings in a significant amount of revenue into the city.[9]

Popularity of Gyoza

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The city has 30 restaurants that specialize in serving gyoza. Utsunomiya is allegedly the highest consumer city of gyoza in Japan. There is also a 1.5-metre (5 ft) statue in the shape of the gyoza outside of Utsunomiya's JR station.[10]

The Gyoza Festival

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Utsunomiya's annual Gyoza Dumplings Festival occurs at the Castle Ruins Park. Visitors are able to taste different types of gyozas served by various gyoza-making restaurants. Festival attendees can also watch various bands and comedians near the festival grounds.[11]

Sister cities

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Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "UEA Code Tables". Center for Spatial Information Science, University of Tokyo. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Utsunomiya City official home page" (in Japanese). Japan.
  3. ^ Szymanski, Andrew (2009-09-21). "Welcome to Utsunomiya - gyoza town | CNN Travel". Cnngo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Utsunomiya population statistics
  6. ^ "Utsunomiya light rail line approved". Railway Gazette International. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  7. ^ 宇都宮市などが国交省に申請 ／栃木. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Japan's 1st new tram system in 75 years starts operating north of Tokyo". Kyodo News. August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  9. ^ Szymanski, Andrew. "Welcome to Utsunomiya -- gyoza town". CNN Travel. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  10. ^ Gilhooly, Rob. "Utsunomiya brings 'gyoza' lovers into fold". The Japan Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  11. ^ Osumi, Magdalena. "Good time to visit the dumpling capital of Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  12. ^ Manukau City Council - Sister City Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 October 2008
  13. ^ [1] Sister Cities International
  14. ^ [2] Qiqihar Official site
  15. ^ [3] Orleans Department of Tourism
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Utsunomiya, Tochigi.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Utsunomiya.
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