Utsunomiya Line is the nickname for trains operating on the 163.3 km long section of the Tohoku Line (between Tokyo Station and Morioka Station) between Tokyo Station and Kuroiso Station. The Utsunomiya Line has been in use since March 10, 1990, at the suggestion of the local governments along the line. In the past, many express and sleeper trains headed for Tohoku and Hokkaido used to run on the line, but now regular and rapid trains make up the majority of the schedule.
Currently, the train lines are separated at Utsunomiya Station, with the Ueno Tokyo Line and Shonan Shinjuku Line providing commuter and school transportation in the Tokyo metropolitan area south of Utsunomiya, and one-man operation north of Utsunomiya (between Oyama and Koganei and Utsunomiya in some early mornings), providing transportation between areas within Tochigi Prefecture.
After leaving Kuroiso Station, the train heads for Ueno Station, which is known as the northern gateway to Tokyo, and Tokyo Station, the center of Tokyo, via Nasu-Shiobara Station, the gateway to Nasu, Utsunomiya Station, known as the city of dumplings, and Omiya Station, the largest terminal in Saitama Prefecture.
Please enjoy the Utsunomiya Line DLC as you travel through the Kanto Plain, experiencing the changing landscape from Tochigi Prefecture to Tokyo, with its sprawling countryside, suburban residential areas, and buildings in the heart of the city.
Highlights
- The Shinkansen detainment line /Kuroiso〜Nasushiobara
As Nasushiobara Station approaches, the Shinkansen Nasushiobara detainment line can be seen on the right. - Tunnel /Nozaki〜Yaita
You will pass through the first and last tunnel on the Utsunomiya Line section. - Karasuyama Line merges /Ujiie～Hōsyakuji
The Karasuyama Line joins from the left. - Kinugawa River/Hōsyakuji〜Okamoto
Cross the Kinugawa River. - Utsunomiya Station
This is the station where the Utsunomiya Line operation schedule is currently divided. It is also a transfer station for the Nikkō Line. The area where trams and commercial facilities are now located used to be a railway line. - Nikkō Line Farewell/Utsunomiya〜Suzumenomiya
After departing Utsunomiya Station, the train runs parallel to the Nikkō Line for a while, then the Nikkō Line splits off to the right. - Utsunomiya Freight Terminal Station /Suzumenomiya〜Ishibashi
The train passes through the Utsunomiya Freight Terminal Station, which has a long north-south yard. - Oyama train car center/ Jichi Medical University〜Koganei
The Oyama train car Center is on the left. - Oyama Shinkansen train car Center /Koganei～Oyama
As Oyama Station approaches, the Oyama Shinkansen train car Center is on the right. - Oyama Station
It is a transfer station for the Mito Line and the Ryōmō Line. You can see the complex of tracks on the premises. - Row of cherry trees /Nogi～Koga
Departing from Nogi Station, the upper and lower tracks are separated from each other as a remnant of the former middle line. There is also a row of cherry blossom trees along the elevated railway near Koga Station, which bloom beautifully during the cherry blossom season. - Tone River /Koga〜Kurihashi
Cross the Tone River. - Kurihashi Station
This station is a transfer station with the Tōbu Nikkō Line. There is a connecting line with Tōbu Railway, which is used by JR and Tōbu direct limited express trains. It is also sometimes used by Tōbu Railway's A-class transportation. - Higashi-washinomiya Station
Due to the former location of the freight yard, the up line is elevated and the down line is above ground, making it a special structure. - Kuki Station
This station is a transfer station with the Tōbu Isesaki Line. In the past, a freight yard extended between the JR and Tōbu Railway platforms, where JR and Tōbu Railway freight was received and delivered. - Higashi-Ōmiya Yard /Hgashi-Ōmiya〜Toro
Higashi-Ōmiya Yard Station and JR East Tōkyō-Ōmiya General Training Center are on the right. - Tōhoku Line’s detour track /Toro〜Ōmiya
Tōhoku Line's detour track runs alongside on the right. - Tōbu Urban Park Line approaches /Toro〜Ōmiya
The Tōbu Urban Park Line approaches from the left. - Ōmiya Station
It is a terminal station that connects the Tōkyō metropolitan area with the Tōhoku, Jōshinetsu, and Hokuriku regions. The Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center and JR Freight Ōmiya Railroad Freight Depot are located here, making it a railroad town. - Ōmiya Yard Station /Ōmiya～Saitama-Shintoshin
The Ōmiya Yard Station is located on the right. There is also a “Cherry Blossom of Ōmiya Yard” on the premises, and although it is only open for a short time during the blooming season, you can feel the season from the train window. - Saitama Train car Center/Urawa〜Kawaguchi
Near Minami-Urawa Station is the Saitama Train car Center, a rail yard for the Keihin-Tōhoku Line. - Kawaguchi Station
Although only Keihin-Tōhoku Line trains stop at this station, there is a connecting line between passenger and freight lines so that the line to be operated can be changed in the event of a schedule disruption. - Arakawa River and Shingashi River/Kawaguchi〜Akabane
Crossing the Arakawa River and Shingashi Rivers, you will enter Tōkyō. - Lots of railroad tracks running side by side /Oku〜Ueno
The Nippori Station area is a section where numerous lines, including the Jōban Line and the Shinkansen Line, run side by side. - Ueno Station
It is the well-known gateway station to the north. You can see the intricate turnouts as you arrive. - Tōkyō Station
It is one of the representative stations in Japan. Various trains arrive and depart, from elevated to underground. As you arrive, you will see the famous red brick station building on your right.
Route Information
- Section: Utsunomiya Line inbound Kuroiso⇒Tōkyō
- Total length: 163.3km
- Number of Stations: 34
- Security equipment: ATS-P
Train schedules that can be operated
- Train Number：1539E
- Type/Destination：local for Shinagawa
- Section where you can drive：Koganei（07:00）→Tōkyō（08:44）
- Type of train：Series E233-3000 15cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements：Utsunomiya unification center
- Train Number：1567E
- Type/Destination：local for Hiratsuka
- Section where you can drive：Utsunomiya（11:19）→Tōkyō（13:17）
- Type of train：Series E233-3000 15cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements：Utsunomiya unification center
- Train Number：1591E
- Type/Destination：local for Odawara
- Section where you can drive：Koganei（15:00）→Tōkyō（16:36）
- Type of train：Series E233-3000 15cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements：Utsunomiya unification center
- Train Number：3520M
- Type/Destination：rapid”rabbit” for Ueno
- Section where you can drive：kuroiso（07:14）→Ueno（09:48）
- Type of train：Series E233-3000 10cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements：Utsunomiya unification center
