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Prefecture capital and Core city in Kantō, Japan
Photo: Urawa Zero, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Utsunomiya (宇都宮) is the capital of Tochigi prefecture, Japan.
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宇都宮美術館
うつのみや妖精ミュージアム
An fairy-theme art museum.
飛山城史跡公園
二荒山神社, "Two Storm Mountain"
This is probably the most popular shrine in Utsunomiya. The front is lined by a massive stairway several stories in height before ending at a large temple. Excellent for pictures and very convenient.
八幡山公園
A popular spot for cherry blossom viewing (hanami). The park is quiet, relaxed, and usually pretty empty except for certain summer celebrations. It contains a tower-viewing area, a large foot-bridge, and a play areas for families. It is a worth a picnic if you have extra time. Within the park grounds is Utsunomiya's velodrome. For ¥100 entry you can watch keirin bicycle races on race days, or bet on the outcomes in one of the few institutions in Japan allowing legal gambling. (The gaming aspect of this is not recommended except for those who are fluent in written Japanese; there is no assistance for other languages.)
宇都宮城 Utsunomiya-jō
The castle is Utsunomiya's claim to Japanese Royalty, where the emperor or other royal members would rest and/or change horses before their last leg to Nikko. The castle is reconstructed from previous excavations and is an excellent place to picnic, but little else. Historical significance and exhibits are limited.
松が峰教会 matsugamine kyōkai
The church, built in 1932, is full-dress Romanesque cathedral. Almost all the building is composed of Ōya Stone including exterior and interior walls.
ろまんちっく村
The park has a huge onsen, a brewpub and food court, and a FlowerDome containing tropical plants, hydroponically grown herbs, and a wide variety of orchids.
宇都宮動物園 utsunomiya dōbutsu-en
You can feed many of the animals here.
大谷資料館
A former Oya stone mine which is now open to tourists, located a half-hour bus ride away from Utsunomiya. Mining took place almost entirely underground, leaving behind straight-walled caverns of awe-inspiring, Biblical proportions.
天開山 大谷寺
Home to 10 stone Buddhas carved in Central Asian style, thought to have been created by Afghan monks as part of a Japanese "silk road".
平和観音
28 meter tall stone statue commemorating the victims of the Second World War. Across the street from Tenkaisan temple.
モビリティリゾートもてぎ
Changed names from "Twin Ring Motegi" in 2022 and became more family-oriented. Here you will get to see the museum of Honda, Asimo apart from the race track.
Orion Square plays host to various public events and festivals every weekend. Great place to stumble upon events if you have no prior knowledge.
パセオ
Mageshi-cho 1-chome (near the Hotel New Asahi between Ō-dōri and Orion-dōri; opens onto the alley that meanders alongside the tiny Kamagawa). Open W-M (closed Tu) 11:30-15:30, 17:00-22:30. Offers a variety of interesting hors d'oeuvres, including carpaccio of ham, bonito (katsuo), or horsemeat (馬肉 baniku). The early bird (17:00-19:00) set menu, with choice of either pasta or paella, costs ¥1890. House wines cost ¥350 per glass, wines of the month ¥600 per glass, bottles ¥2500 and up. Start with a shot of bittermelon elixir at ¥250.
Baba-dori 2-3-10 (on the corner opposite Parco Department Store and Futaarasan Shrine). A coffee shop decorated with collectible Hawaiian and Polynesian kitsch mostly from the 1940s and 1950s. The friendly owner will do his best to accommodate your musical taste from his huge collection of CDs.
チサンホテル宇都宮
Chisan is an extremely large, extremely affordable hotel group in Japan, with hotels spanning across the country. Rooms are small, but affordable and clean.
ホテルサンシャイン宇都宮
This hotel is on the east side of Utsunomiya Station, connected by a large pedestrian bridge. It is easy to reach by foot and the rates are reasonable, be it for smaller rooms. Most rates include a breakfast buffet.
トナリエ宇都宮
The building contains several clothing and shoe stores, a ¥100 store, a bookstore, an electronic store, a pharmacy and a coffee shop. There’s also an excellent set of ramen and gyoza restaurants in the basement.
Several shops, a grocery store on the bottom floor, gyoza eateries, ramen shops, and souvenir shops.
表参道スクエア omotesandō sukuea
A mall opened in 2007.
Finer shopping for the area.
オリオン通り
A pedestrian mall, this is the main site for the yearly festivals Utsunomiya holds during the start of August. Connects with many of the above mentioned locations, such as Tobu Department Store. Mostly clothing stores with bars opening at nighttime.
ベルモール
The biggest mall in the area. Contains several floors of stores, a large grocery, movie theatre, and a large gym.
Not particularly large, but contains more eateries and shopping possibilities.
福田屋ショッピングプラザ宇都宮店
FKDショッピングモール宇都宮インターパーク店
By train
Utsunomiya is a major train hub served by the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, JR Tohoku Main Line, Tobu Nikko Line and JR Utsunomiya Line.
By bus
Kintetsu operates the Tochinoki overnight highway bus service from Osaka and Kyoto to Utsunomiya Station.
On foot
Much of Utsunomiya can easily be reached by foot from Utsunomiya Station. Some major shopping, hotels, grocery stores, and other shops can be walked to in five minutes or less.
By taxi
Taxis are readily available from the west side of Utsunomiya station, first floor. Take the west exit, and immediately bear right. Taxis can be found immediately to the right of the bus section.
By bus
Bus services are also available primarily from the west exit (Utsunomiya JR Station).
By bicycle
Relatively easy, if you know how to cycle, there's always a renting bicycle centre just nearby to the JR Utsunomiya Station. Once you exit from the station, walk towards Lala Square Shopping Mall.
By rail
The Utsunomiya Light Rail tram line opened in 2023, running from Utsunomiya JR Station East Exit across the Kinu River to the Honda Research and Development Centre.
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