Utsunomiya Station (宇都宮駅) 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.

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

Some Nikkō Line trains operate from platform 7. Some Utsunomiya Line trains operate from platform 5.

History

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) 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.

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, Utsunomiya Station West, and extend the line to points further west.

Bus routes

West Exit

Track 1,2

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.

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.

Track 6

Buses bound for Otani Kaido Avenue via Babacho and Prefectural operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

Track 7

Track 8

Track 9

Track 10

Track 11

Track 12

Track 13

Track 14

Former Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 15

Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 16

Highway buses operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

Track 38

East Exit

Track 3

Track 4