# 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 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

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 |
| 1 | ■ 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) |
| 7-10 | ■ Utsunomiya Line | for Oyama |
| 7-10 | ■ Utsunomiya Line (Ueno-Tokyo Line) | for Ōmiya, Ueno, Tokyo, Yokohama, Atami, Numazu and Ito (via JT Tokaido Line and JT Ito Line) |
| 7-10 | ■ 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.
* August 26, 2023: Utsunomiya Light Rail started operation of the Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line [ja] and held an opening ceremony near Utsunomiya Station East.

## Passenger statistics

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

## Utsunomiya Light Rail
### Utsunomiya Station East

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].
* 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, JR Utsunomiya Station East entrance (JR宇都宮駅西口, JR Utsunomiya-eki Nishiguchi), and extend the line to Tochigi Education Center where points 3km further west. It is scheduled to open in the 2030s.

## 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 |
| Kanto Jidosha | 50 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Kiyosumicho・Takaragi | Hosoya Shako | There are midnight buses |
| Kanto Jidosha | 53 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Oshouduka・Takaragi | Hosoya Shako | |
| Kanto Jidosha | 54 | Nishi-Hanawada | Tomatsuri | Only one service is operated on weekdays morning |
| Kanto Jidosha | 54 | Nishi-Hanawada・Tomatsuri | Takaragi Danchi | |
| Kanto Jidosha | 54 | Nishi-Hanawada・Daiichi Green Hill・Nishi-Hanawada | (Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station | |
| Kanto Jidosha | 55 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakushin Gakuin University・Takaragi | Hosoya Shako | |
| Kanto Jidosha | 55 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakushin Gakuin University・Takaragi | Takaragi danchi | |
| Kanto Jidosha | 60 | Miyajimacho Jumonji・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school | Teikyo University | There is a service of a midnight bus on weekdays |
| Kanto Jidosha | | 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 | |
| JR BUS KANTO | 11・Suito Nishi Line | 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 | |
| Kanto Transportation | 16 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayahsi Jumonji・Saiseikai Hospital | Fujimigaoka Danchi | |
| Kanto Transportation | 16 | Miyajimacho Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool | Fujimigaoka Danchi | |
| Kanto Transportation | 18 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayshi Jumonji | Saiseikai Hospital | |
| Kanto Transportation | 60 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Saiseikai Hospital・Ustunomiya Kita Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary School | Teikyo University | |
| Kanto Transportation | 60 | 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. |
| Kanto Transportation | 60 | Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・Teikyo University | Utsunomiya Museum | |
| Kanto Transportation | 61 | Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Toyosatodai・Shimotahara | Utsunomiya Green Town | |
| Kanto Transportation | 61 | Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimo-Takarai | Utsunomiya Green Town | |
| Kanto Transportation | 62 | Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimotahara・Nakazatobara Jumonji | Imazato | |
| Kanto Transportation | 62 | Miyajima Jumonji・Utsunomiya Commercial Highschool・Toyosato Chuo Elementary school・Shimotahara・Nakazatobara Jumonji・Imazato・Omiya shitamachi | Tamanyu Shako | |
| Kanto Transportation | 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. |
| Kanto Transportation | 45 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Shiroyama chiku Citizen Center・Oya Heiwa Kan'non・Oya Shiryokan | Tateiwa | |
| Kanto Transportation | 46 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Yozei junior high school・Takaragi・Niraduka | Romantic Village | |
| Kanto Transportation | 47 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Sakushin Gakuin University・Shiroyama chiku Citizen Center・New Sunpia Tochigi・Kanuma Station・Tori-ato machi | 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 | |
| Kanto Transportation | 52 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art | Sano Apartment Complex | |
| Kanto Transportation | 52 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira | Ishinada | |
| Kanto Transportation | 52 | 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 |
| Kanto Transportation | 56 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Ebi-uchi・Shimo-Osawa | Imaichi Shako | |
| Kanto Transportation | 56 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi New Town・Shimo-Osawa | Imaichi Shako | |
| Kanto Transportation | 56 | 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 | |
| Kanto Transportation | 56 | 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 | Nikkō Tōshō-gū | |
| Kanto Transportation | 58 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakuradori Jumonji・Tochigi Medical Center・Bunsei University of Art・Naka-Tokujira・Ishinada・Shinoi Gakudo・Shiono muro・Sanuki Kan'non | Funyu | |
| Kanto Transportation | 70 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Nakakaidocho | Kamaidai Danchi | |
| Kanto Transportation | 71 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Nakakaidocho・Kawachi chiiki jichi Center | Shirasawa Kawara | |
| Kanto Transportation | 71 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Natsubodai Chuo・Kawachi chiiki jichi Center | Shirasawa Kawara | |
| Kanto Transportation | 73 | Imaizumi 5 chome・Takebayashi Jumonji・Horikiri・Miyukigahara Elementary School | Natsubodai Chuo | |

#### Track 9

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

#### Track 10

| Operator | NO | Via | Destination | Note |
| Kanto Transportation | 40 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa | Nishi no Miya Danchi | |
| Kanto Transportation | 43 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・Nojiri | Togami Shako | |
| Kanto Transportation | 43 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・Nojiri・Nagasaka sakaue・Shirokuwata・Kanuma Station・Toriiato machi | Kanuma Office | |
| Kanto Transportation | 43 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station・Sakura Dori Jumonji・Mitsu no Sawa・Nojiri・Utsunomiya Kyowa University・Utsunomiya Junior College・Nagasaka sakaue・Shirokuwata・Kanuma Station・Toriiato machi | Kanuma Office | 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 |
| Kanto Transportation | 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

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)
* 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 | |
| Kanto Transportation | 02・Oroshi Danchi circular-line (Counter-clockwise) | Utsunomiya University・Hiramatsu Honchō・Oroshi Danchi・Higashi Mine machi | (Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station | |
| Kanto Transportation | 02・Oroshi Danchi circular-line (Clockwise) | Utsunomiya University・Higashi Mine machi・Oroshi Danchi・Hiramatsu Honchō | (Circular-route) Utsunomiya Station | |
| Kanto Transportation | 09 | Utsunomiya University | Bell Mall | |
| Kanto Transportation | 92 | Utsunomiya University・Koteyama jūjiro | Hoshinomori Junior and Senior High School | Runs on only weekdays |

#### Track 4

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