Utsunomiya

Utsunomiya
宇都宮市
Core city

Utsunomiya Castle, Statue of gyoza
Futaarasan Shrine, Oya Stone Museum
Utsunomiya Tower, City view from the tower

Flag

Location of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 36°33′N 139°53′E / 36.550°N 139.883°ECoordinates: 36°33′N 139°53′E / 36.550°N 139.883°E
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Tochigi Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Eiichi Sato
Area
 • Total 416.84 km2 (160.94 sq mi)
Population (October 1, 2014)
 • Total 517,696
 • Density 1,224.49/km2 (3,171.4/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree Ginkgo biloba
- Flower Satsuki azalea
Website www.city.utsunomiya.tochigi.jp

Utsunomiya (宇都宮市 Utsunomiya-shi) is the capital and most populous city of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

As of October 2010, the city has an estimated population of 510,416 and a population density of 1,224.49 people per km². The total area is 416.84 km². Greater Utsunomiya (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 Kanto region.

Utsunomiya is approximately 100 km north of Tokyo. It is accessible by car via the Tohoku Expressway and by train via Utsunomiya Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line. Narita International Airport is about three hours away by car or bus. The historic town of Nikkō is approximately 25 km northwest of Utsunomiya.

History

The Battle of Utsunomiya Castle took place May 10–14, 1868, during the Boshin War. (A park now exists on the castle grounds.)

The city itself was founded on April 1, 1896. In 1954–55, Utsunomiya city incorporated with 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.

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.

Climate

Utsunomiya has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot and humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is heavy in the summer wet season, especially from July to September, and it is noticeably drier in the winter months from December to February.

Climate data for Utsunomiya, Tochigi (1981–2010)
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)		 25.9
(78.6)		 30.4
(86.7)		 33.2
(91.8)		 37.5
(99.5)		 38.7
(101.7)		 37.5
(99.5)		 36.5
(97.7)		 32.5
(90.5)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.7
(76.5)		 38.7
(101.7)
Average high °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)		 9.1
(48.4)		 12.6
(54.7)		 18.5
(65.3)		 22.5
(72.5)		 25.2
(77.4)		 28.7
(83.7)		 30.5
(86.9)		 26.4
(79.5)		 20.9
(69.6)		 15.5
(59.9)		 10.7
(51.3)		 19.1
(66.4)
Average low °C (°F) −2.7
(27.1)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 1.5
(34.7)		 7.0
(44.6)		 12.5
(54.5)		 16.9
(62.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 22.2
(72)		 18.4
(65.1)		 11.8
(53.2)		 5.0
(41)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 9.3
(48.7)
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) 33.9
(1.335)		 42.9
(1.689)		 88.4
(3.48)		 120.5
(4.744)		 146.6
(5.772)		 174.7
(6.878)		 205.8
(8.102)		 209.8
(8.26)		 220.4
(8.677)		 146.5
(5.768)		 68.1
(2.681)		 35.5
(1.398)		 1,493.1
(58.784)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 10
(3.9)		 10
(3.9)		 5
(2)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 3
(1.2)		 28
(11)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 4.4 5.9 9.9 11.1 12.5 14.8 16.2 12.7 14.2 11.1 7.1 4.0 123.9
Avg. snowy days 3.6 3.8 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 10.6
Average relative humidity (%) 62 60 61 64 70 77 80 78 79 74 71 66 70.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 204.8 186.2 187.9 179.5 166.9 112.1 114.1 138.9 112.2 145.0 164.5 199.1 1,911.2
Source #1: Japan Meteorological Agency[1]
Source #2: Japan Meteorological Agency (records)[2]

Industry and economy

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

Sports

Utsunomiya is represented in the J. League of football with its local club Tochigi S.C..

Utsunomiya is the host city of the Japan Cup, a UCI sanctioned cycling race, held on October 20 and 21, 2012.

Culture

The Buddhist temple of Ōya-ji is located in Utsunomiya, and it includes a museum with artifacts dating back to the Jōmon Period.

Utsunomiya is famous for its gyoza (pan fried dumplings). There are more than two hundred gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya.[3]

The first ever ekiben (station boxed meal) was sold on 16 July 1885 at Utsunomiya Station.

Transportation

Rail

Utsunomiya plans to build a light rail transit line in 2016.[4]

Buses

Highways

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑ "平年値（年・月ごとの値）". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
  2. ↑ "観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
  3. ↑ Szymanski, Andrew (2009-09-21). "Welcome to Utsunomiya - gyoza town | CNN Travel". Cnngo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. ↑ 「ＬＲＴに自転車を持ち込めるように」　宇都宮市長 Tokyo Shimbun. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  5. ↑ Manukau City Council - Sister City. Retrieved on 11 October 2008

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Utsunomiya, Tochigi.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Utsunomiya.