from wikitravel.org: (
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Utsunomiya is a major train hub served by the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, JR Tohoku Main Line, JR Nikko Line and Tobu Utsunomiya Line.
Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko, Max Yamabiko, Nasuno and Tsubasa trains depart from Tokyo station about three times per hour, with more trains during the evening. The ride costs ¥4800 and lasts just 50-55 minutes.
Direct runs on the regular Tohoku Main Line depart from Ueno station 3-4 times per hour. The trip takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes at a cost of ¥1890.
There are also hourly departures on the Shonan-Shinjuku line from Shinjuku station, reaching Utsunomiya in roughly the same time it takes from Ueno, and at the same price.
JR Nikko Line trains, appropriately bound for Nikko, depart from Utsunomiya.
Tobu line trains run to Tobu-Utsunomiya station from Tochigi every 30 minutes or so. From Asakusa, you can reach Utsunomiya by Tobu rapid train, changing in Tochigi, in about 2 hours, but for only ¥1160.
With the exception of the Tobu line, all of these trains can be used at no charge with the Japan Rail Pass.
From Wikipedia.com: (
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Utsunomiya (Utsunomiya-shi) is the capital and the most populous city of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 505,381 and a density of 1,212 persons per km². The total area is 416.84 km². The Greater Utsunomiya (Utusnomiya Toshi-ken) had a population of 888,005 in the 2000 Census. The nearby city of Oyama, Tochigi is included in Greater Tokyo, but Greater Utsunomiya is not, despite the two areas amalgamating somewhat. Utsunomiya is accessed by the Tohoku Expressway or Utsunomiya Station of the Tohoku Shinkansen line. Utsunomiya is approximately 100 km north of Tokyo. The historic town of Nikko is approximately 35 km west of Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya is accessible from Tokyo by the Shinkansen, or the Bullet Train, in approximately 60 minutes. It is also connected with Narita International Airport by bus or car in about 3 hours.
The city was founded on 1 April 1896. The city added the two towns from Kawachi District on March 31, 2007.
It is also 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 Kanto region, Bell Mall is located near central Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya is most well known within Japan for gyoza dumplings. Utsunomiya is also well known for its abundance and quality of cocktail bars.