 Following the Meiji restoration, Utsunomiya was briefly (1871–1873) part of Utsunomiya Prefecture, which was then merged into the new Tochigi Prefecture, and became capital of the prefecture in 1884.Utsunomiya became an important garrison for the Imperial Japanese Army.With the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the town of Utsunomiya was officially established.