Utsunomiya (宇都宮市,Utsunomiya-shi;[ɯt͡sɯnomija]ⓘ) is the capital and largest city ofTochigi Prefecture in the northernKantō region ofJapan. As of 1 July 2023[update], 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 itsgyoza (pan fried dumplings). There are more than two hundredgyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya.[3]
Greater Utsunomiya (宇都宮都市圏,Utsunomiya Toshi-ken) had a population of 888,005 in the 2000 census. The nearby city ofOyama 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.
Utsunomiya is located in south-central Tochigi Prefecture in the northernKantō plains. It is approximately 100 km (60 mi) north ofTokyo. The historic town ofNikkō is approximately 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Utsunomiya. The average elevation of the city is 100 metres (330 ft).
Utsunomiya has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) 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)
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that the area of Utsunomiya has been continuously settled since theJapanese Paleolithic period onwards, and numerousburial mounds from theKofun period are found within its borders. The Utsunomiya Futarasan Shrine (宇都宮二荒山神社), which is theIchinomiya ofShimotsuke 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 theFujiwara clan from theHeian throughSengoku periods, and was destroyed byToyotomi Hideyoshi.
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 andYokohama. 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 AmericanBombing 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 fromKawachi District and Kiyohara village fromHaga District. In 1996, Utsunomiya was designated acore city with increased autonomy. On March 31, 2007, Utsunomiya absorbed the towns ofKamikawachi andKawachi (both from Kawachi District), pushing the population of Utsunomiya City over 500,000.
Utsunomiya has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral 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 theTochigi 1st district andTochigi 2nd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
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Utsunomiya is the commercial and industrial center of Tochigi Prefecture. Utsunomiya is home to aCanonoptical manufacturing plant, aJapan Tobacco plant,Honda design centers, and various other industrial concerns in the Kiyohara Industrial Park. In addition, one of the largest malls in the northKantō region,Bell Mall is located near central Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya has 68 publicelementary schools and 25 publicjunior high schools operated by the city government as well as one junior high school operated by the prefectural government and one elementary school and one junior high school by the national government. In addition, there is one private elementary school and four private junior high schools. The city has ten publichigh schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. There are also five private high schools. In addition, Tochigi Prefecture also operates eight special education schools for the handicapped.
Construction of alight rail transit system,Utsunomiya Light Rail, connecting Utsunomiya railway station with the neighbouring town ofHaga 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 afterTakaoka, Toyama.[8]
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]
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]
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]
^"UEA Code Tables". Center for Spatial Information Science, University of Tokyo. Archived fromthe original on January 9, 2019. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.
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