What to know
Utsunomiya (宇都宮) is the capital of Tochigi Prefecture and its largest city, located less than an hour north of Tokyo by shinkansen and just southeast of the famous shrines and temples of Nikko. A modern commercial hub, the area has roots in mining, and local Oya stone has been quarried for centuries as building material.
Utsunomiya is best known for its gyoza—small meat and vegetable dumplings served pan-fried, deep-fried, or boiled. The city is home to dozens of specialty restaurants offering fillings like pork, kimchi, seafood, and more. Utsunomiya regularly ranks among cities with the highest annual household consumption of gyoza, a title it trades back and forth with rivals Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture and Miyazaki City.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Original name
- Utsunomiya
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.