10 Things to do in Utsunomiya That You Shouldn't Miss

May 19, 2021 Roger Rusk

Utsunomiya (宇都宮市, Utsunomiya-shi, Japanese: [ɯᵝt͡sɯ̃ᵝno̞mija̠]) is the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of May 2015, the city had an estimated population of 518,200, and a population density of 1,240 persons per square kilometre (3,200/sq mi). Its total area is 416.85 km (160.95 sq mi). Utsunomiya is famous for its gyoza (pan fried dumplings). There are more than two hundred gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya.
Restaurants in Utsunomiya

1. Oya History Museum

909 Oyamachi, Utsunomiya 321-0345 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-652-1232 http://www.oya909.co.jp/
Excellent
55%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 587 reviews

Oya History Museum

Reviewed By Shigeabbott - Abbottstown, United States

We had no idea how jaw dropping this place was! You are able to talk through a part of a stone mine. It makes you feel you are on another planet or something. Don’t forget to take a sweater or light jacket because it’s chilly all year around. I didn’t see any handicap accommodations and you will have to climb down and up many steps-just like when you visit a good size caves or caverns. Very limited information in English, which didn’t make much sense. But you can get what they’re trying to tell you. There is a small information area but again all in Japanese. My non-Japanese speaking teens were able to get main information by reading English signs posted here and there. They were very amused by huge tour buses driving through small areas between carved boulders in the mountain.

2. Tochigi Science Museum

567, Nishikawatamachi, Utsunomiya 321-0151 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-659-5555 http://www.tsm.utsunomiya.tochigi.jp/
Excellent
40%
Good
55%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 42 reviews

Tochigi Science Museum

3. Utsunomiya Museum of Art

1077 Nagaokacho, Utsunomiya 320-0004 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-643-0100 http://u-moa.jp/index.html
Excellent
48%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 46 reviews

Utsunomiya Museum of Art

4. Hachimanyama Park

5-1-1 Hanawada, Utsunomiya 320-0027 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-624-0642 http://hatimanyama.jp
Excellent
21%
Good
60%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 48 reviews

Hachimanyama Park

5. Oya temple

1198 Oyamachi, Utsunomiya 321-0345 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-652-0128 http://www.ooyaji.jp
Excellent
26%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 188 reviews

Oya temple

Reviewed By hfot2 - Vermont, United States

We have followed Kobo Daishi around Japan, so no wonder that we came here. The temple was founded by him and the thousand-armed Kannon is said to have been his work. In addition to this figure, there are other Buddha carvings on the cliff face, some of the best in Japan and designated as National Important Cultural Properties. The temple is an interesting one - the relief statues are carved into the volcanic oya stone and the temple structure is built over them to protect them. The carvings reminded us of Buddha reliefs seen in China, in addition to carvings we have seen throughout Japan. We entered the temple and were alone with the statues. The ticket seller knew we did not speak Japanese so she did not offer to take us around, but let us wander on the walkway looking at the figures for as long as we wanted. No photography is allowed and we covered our cameras so she would understand that we knew that to be the case. When we arrived, the entrance gate was covered in scaffolding for renovation, but as luck would have it, the workmen were taking the scaffolding down while we visited the lovely garden on the temple grounds. By the time we left, we could get a photo from the parking lot across the street, of the gate, unencumbered by scaffolding. Travel tip: Take bus #45 bound for Tateiwa to Oya Kannon-mae about 30 minutes, ¥450 each way. The bus goes through very rural scenery, keep an eye out for the kura along the way. The bus back is bus #1. Take a photo of the time schedule at the bus stop before you head out - there are not that many buses each day. Temple entrance fee: ¥400 is well worth it. Toilets are available at the entrance to the garden to the left of the ticket booth.

6. Utsunoiya Futaarayama Jinja Shrine

1-1-1 Babatori, Utsunomiya 320-0026 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-622-5271 http://futaarayamajinja.jp/
Excellent
18%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
30%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 271 reviews

Utsunoiya Futaarayama Jinja Shrine

7. Utsunomiy Zoo

552-2 Kamikanaimachi, Utsunomiya 321-2115 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-665-4255 [email protected] http://www.utsunomiya-zoo.com/index.html
Excellent
31%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
6%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 90 reviews

Utsunomiy Zoo

8. Tochinoki Family Land

4-1-1 Nishikawatamachi, Utsunomiya 321-0151 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-659-1332 http://www.park-tochigi.com/tochinoki/
Excellent
33%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 46 reviews

Tochinoki Family Land

9. Matsugamine Catholic Church

1-1-5 Matsugamine, Utsunomiya 320-0807 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-635-0405 http://www2.ucatv.ne.jp/~matumine.sea/
Excellent
42%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 102 reviews

Matsugamine Catholic Church

10. Michi-no-Eki Utsunomiya Romantic Village

254 Nissatomachi, Utsunomiya 321-2118 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-665-8800 http://www.romanticmura.com
Excellent
18%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
33%
Poor
6%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 192 reviews

Michi-no-Eki Utsunomiya Romantic Village

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