Utsunomiya

Utsunomiya (宇都宮市, Utsunomiya-shi, Japanese: [ɯᵝt͡sɯ̃ᵝno̞mija̠]) is the prefectural capital city of Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city had an estimated population of 519,223, and a population density of 1,246 persons per square kilometre (3,230/sq mi). Its total area is 416.85 km2 (160.95 sq mi). Utsunomiya is famous for its gyoza (pan fried dumplings). There are more than two hundred gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya.[2]

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
Seal
Location of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya
 
Coordinates: 36°33′18.4″N 139°52′57.2″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTochigi Prefecture
Government
 • MayorEiichi Sato
Area
 • Core city416.85 km2 (160.95 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
 • Core city519,223
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
 • Metro
[1] (2015)
1,103,745 (15th)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeGinkgo biloba
- FlowerSatsuki azalea
Phone number028-632-2222
Address1-1-5, Asahi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi-ken 320-8540
Websitewww.city.utsunomiya.tochigi.jp
Utsunomiya City Hall

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 Kantō region.

History

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 Futarayama 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 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 the 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 within 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.

Utsunomiya's Famous Dumplings

History of Gyoza

Following the Second World War, Japanese soldiers who returned from Manchuria brought home to Utsunomiya gyoza recipes which originated from China. Soon after, the soldiers began to open dumpling (gyoza) restaurants around Utsunomiya. After the Utsunomiya city officials started to apprehend the gyoza popularity in 1990, the Utsunomiya Gyoza Association was created. The creation of this association only grew the gyoza's popularity in the city. The gyoza's popularity attracts many tourists, as well as brings in a significant amount of revenue into the city.[3]

Popularity of Gyoza

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.[4]

The Gyoza Festival

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 nearby the festival grounds.[5]

Geography

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 altitude of the city is 100 metres (330 ft).

Surrounding municipalities

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)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)		 3.3
(37.9)		 6.8
(44.2)		 12.5
(54.5)		 17.2
(63.0)		 20.6
(69.1)		 24.2
(75.6)		 25.6
(78.1)		 21.9
(71.4)		 16.1
(61.0)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4.9
(40.8)		 13.8
(56.8)
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
(72.0)		 18.4
(65.1)		 11.8
(53.2)		 5.0
(41.0)		 −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
(1.33)		 42.9
(1.69)		 88.4
(3.48)		 120.5
(4.74)		 146.6
(5.77)		 174.7
(6.88)		 205.8
(8.10)		 209.8
(8.26)		 220.4
(8.68)		 146.5
(5.77)		 68.1
(2.68)		 35.5
(1.40)		 1,493.1
(58.78)
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
(0)		 3
(1.2)		 28
(11)
Average 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
Average snowy days 3.6 3.8 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 10.4
Average relative humidity (%) 62 60 61 64 70 77 80 78 79 74 71 66 70
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: Japan Meteorological Agency[6][7]

Economy

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

Transportation

Rail

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.

Construction of a light rapid transit system connecting Utsunomiya railway station with the neighbouring town of Haga was approved in 2016, with completion scheduled for December 2019.[8][9]

Highways

Local attractions
  • site of Utsunomiya Castle
  • site of Tobuyama Castle
  • Ōya-ji – a Buddhist temple including a museum with artifacts dating back to the Jōmon Period.

Sports

Sister cities

Notable people

References
  1. "UEA Code Tables". Center for Spatial Information Science, University of Tokyo. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. Szymanski, Andrew (2009-09-21). "Welcome to Utsunomiya - gyoza town | CNN Travel". Cnngo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  3. Szymanski, Andrew. "Welcome to Utsunomiya -- gyoza town". CNN Travel. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  4. Gilhooly, Rob. "Utsunomiya brings 'gyoza' lovers into fold". The Japan Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  5. Osumi, Magdalena. "Good time to visit the dumpling capital of Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  6. 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
  7. 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
  8. "Utsunomiya light rail line approved". Railway Gazette International. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  9. 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.
  10. Manukau City Council - Sister City Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 October 2008
  11. Sister Cities International
  12. Qiqihar Official site
  13. Orleans Department of Tourism
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