PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripCommunityMerchandise
信貴生駒スカイライン、暗峠付近
The Tsugaru Iwaki Skyline is a toll road in northern Japan, which partially ascends Mount Iwaki stratovolcano, and is notable for its steep gradient and 69 hairpin turns. The road ascends 806 meters over an average gradient of 8.66%, with some sections going up to 10%. The Tsugaru Iwaki Skyline has been considered one of the most dangerous mountain roads in the world. (Wikipedia) The image was acquired May 26, 2015, and is located at 40.6 degrees north, 140.3 degrees east.
A snow-covered Quebec City skyline in fog.
Photo by User:Kansai explorer
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Utsunomiya
AsiaJapanTochigi

Utsunomiya

Tochigi, Japan · Asia

About Utsunomiya

Utsunomiya sits on the route: 20 minutes from Hōshakuji, 37km from Irohazaka Winding Road.

Utsunomiya is in Tochigi, Japan, with about 520,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Hōshakuji, about 12 km away.

Utsunomiya (宇都宮市, Utsunomiya-shi; [ɯt͡sɯnomija] ) is the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 July 2023, the city had an estimated population of 513,584, and a population density of 1,232 persons per square kilometre (3,190/sq mi). The total area of the city is

Read more 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. 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.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Utsunomiya

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Utsunomiya.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Utsunomiya.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see near Utsunomiya?

Within an hour or so of Utsunomiya: Honda Collection Hall (31 km), Mobility Resort Motegi (31 km), Nikko Toshogu Shrine (33 km), Irohazaka Winding Road (37 km).

Are there any good drives near Utsunomiya?

The nearest famous roads are Irohazaka Winding Road, Mount Haruna Touge and Usui Pass.

Where is Utsunomiya?

Utsunomiya is in Tochigi, Japan, about 12 km from Hōshakuji.

Road trip

Drive to Utsunomiya

Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.

Start planning

What's nearby?

Swipe through places to go

Places within a drive of Utsunomiya. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
518,757
Continent
Asia
Country
Japan
Region
Tochigi
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Coordinates
36.5667, 139.8833

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Japan

Police
110
Ambulance
119
Fire
119
Driving side
left

Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.

Full driving guide for Japan

Tags

AsiaJapanTochigiCity

Worth the detour from Utsunomiya

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

museum

Honda Collection Hall

Honda's official museum at Twin Ring Motegi showcasing racing motorcycles, Formula 1 cars, and production vehicles.

31 km · about 35 min drive

racetrack

Mobility Resort Motegi

Honda's twin-track complex in the Tochigi hills, formerly Twin Ring Motegi, with a 4.8 km road course, a unique superspeedway oval, and Super GT and MotoGP heritage.

31 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Nikko Toshogu Shrine

A lavishly decorated UNESCO shrine complex set among towering cryptomeria trees in the mountains north of Tokyo.

33 km · about 40 min drive

famous road

Irohazaka Winding Road

Twin one-way mountain roads with 48 hairpin bends linking Nikko to Lake Chuzenji, each curve named after a character of the old Japanese alphabet. Spectacular in autumn and legendary among touge drivers.

37 km · about 45 min drive

racetrack

Tsukuba Circuit

Compact 2.045 km Ibaraki track that became the world benchmark for time attack, hosting legendary Hot Version and Best Motoring battles. A sub-minute lap here is the holy grail of tuner culture.

46 km · about 55 min drive

waterfall

Fukuroda Falls

A 120 m cascade descending in four broad tiers over a rock face, reached by a tunnel and lift to several viewing decks. In hard winters the whole face can freeze.

52 km · about 60 min drive

Driving roads near Utsunomiya

6 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.

  • 37 kmIrohazaka Winding RoadTwin one-way mountain roads with 48 hairpin bends linking Nikko to Lake Chuzenji, each curve named after a character of the old Japanese alphabet. Spectacular in autumn and legendary among touge drivers.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Utsunomiya.

Hōshakuji

🇯🇵 Japan

12 km awayPop. 29,229

Kaminokawa

🇯🇵 Japan

15 km awayPop. 31,243

Ubagai

🇯🇵 Japan

16 km awayPop. 14,961

Shimotsuke

🇯🇵 Japan

17 km awayPop. 60,274

Ōmiya

🇯🇵 Japan

19 km awayPop. 10,354

Mooka

🇯🇵 Japan

19 km awayPop. 78,720

Ichikai

🇯🇵 Japan

20 km awayPop. 11,262

Mashiko

🇯🇵 Japan

22 km awayPop. 26,045

Plan a trip around Utsunomiya

Asia road trip planner

Your trip starts here

Plan a road trip from Utsunomiya.

Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.

Start planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Drive Times & Distances
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • About PYRT
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence