Date of enjoyment: 10/4/25 Came here first thing they opened, there is a sizeable car parking and free, the entrance has toilets carved out of the mountain rock. There were already tour buses of people so this place does get popular. There’s food options and souvenir shops with crafts from local artists. The venue is all underground so prams are not suitable, it also gets cold so bring a jacket. The museum itself is impressive however there’s not much to do other getting your photos taken for a fee and reading the sign boards. Allow a max of 1.5hrs here to explore the museum.

Oya History Museum in Tochigi was absolutely fascinating. The massive underground quarry felt like stepping into another world — cool, quiet, and beautifully lit to highlight the stone walls and vast space. It’s amazing to see how the site was once used for mining Oya stone and how it’s now turned into an artistic, almost spiritual space. The scale is breathtaking, and the atmosphere makes it perfect for photography. Definitely one of the most unique and memorable spots in Japan.

This was my second time going to this museum. There is no reservation needed. But underground is kinda chill(around 10°c). So, make sure you bring an extra jacket with you even in summer. After the museum, there is also a big Kanon statue to visit.

It was an amazing experience. we enjoyed our trip inside the mountain. it was cold inside so make sure to bring a jacket. We took bus #1 from utsunomiya station bus terminal and arrived at the base of the parking lot. its a short walk up the main visitor centre/mountain entrance where we bought our tickets. Our whole visit inside took less than an hour. it was something unique and cool thats why we enjoyed it. highly recommended if you are staying in the area (utsunomiya).

It reminds me of the 1985 film Brazil by Terry Gilliam. Big sublime quarry. It can take all day to get there and back to Tokyo. I say go if you are near or quarry lovers. If you go, make sure to check the bus schedule because it is less frequent. Oh, eat Gyoza at Utsunomiya station. Any store is really good.

Incredible stone quarry now used for events and tourism. Worth a visit. Scale of quarrying is impressive particularly the chasms created and their high ceilings.

Great place, inside the museum it is always cold, so be prepared with some warm clothing if you are sensitive to cold. However the mine is very beautiful, a new experience

Visited in October 2020 Urban oasis in the heart of Utsunomiya. Like many shrines in Japanese cities, it's perched on top of a hill and can be reached by climbing a steep stair. There is no lift or escalator of any kind unlike in some downtown shrines elsewhere, so some cautions are needed. One can see down towards the bustling downtown and preserved Utsunomiya Castle some hundred of meters away.

It takes about 15 minutes on foot from JR Utsunomiya Station. It’s a bit of a walk, but you’ll see the large torii gate straight down the main street. By bus, get off at “Futaarayama Jinja-mae” and it’s right there. Climbing the stone steps gives you a pleasant view over the city. The shrine grounds are surprisingly quiet for being in the city center, and you can enjoy seasonal scenery such as cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall. Restrooms are also available inside the grounds. The shrine has a long history, said to be founded about 1,600 years ago. The enshrined deity is Toyokiirihiko-no-Mikoto, known as the pioneer of this region. The name “Utsunomiya” itself is believed to come from this shrine. Although it feels far from the station, this shrine has always been the true center of the city. Utsunomiya originally developed as a castle town, and the shrine served as its guardian. When the railway was built later on the outskirts, the distance from the station became noticeable. It may take a little walk, but this is one of the best places to feel both the history and the atmosphere of Utsunomiya.

A peaceful retreat from the busy city of Utsunomiya. Nestled atop a hill, you must climb several flights of stairs to reach the shrine, which had a restful and sacred air. It was quiet, yet lively with only a few people around noon time. The surrounding statues are interesting, and the contrast from bustling city to serene shrine was amazing.

A very large shrine with many special attractions. It's recommended to come early to be able to explore everything.

I went to explore since I was in Utsunomiya. It was a nice place but there was so many stairs that I was already tired half way up. Though I was lugging a bunch of camera gear and was tired from traveling. I don’t know much of the history behind this place but known as Omyojin-sama or Futaara-san. With three deities Toyoki-Irihiko-no-Mikoto, Omononushi-no-Mikoto, and Kotoshironushi-no-Mikoto being worshipped.

Great Shrine walking distance about 10-15 minutes from train station.

Great Shinto shrine in Japan. Also known as Ichinomiya shrine of Shimotsuke province. This shrine has sacred atmosphere.

Nice place for outdoor and indoor time pass. Onsen / aqua play space where swimsuit is allowed. Good number of of Shops/restaurants/cafe. Free parking as well.

It's a great place to enjoy local and fresh products, but most shops are closed in the evenings, which makes it less useful at that time.

The Village is a nice place for the locals , but not a tourist stop. The food was amazing but very little appealing outside of that. Maybe when Covid is over more will come back

Nothing is so unique but enjoyable enough for me. The restaurant on the left serves average food, and the shop on the right sells some food, plants, and souvenir goods of the Utsunomiya area. And what's more important is that the toilet is cleaner than other places like that in Japan.

Most places are closed in the evenings, so not useful. The one open restaurant is extremely average. Do your shopping early or plan to eat somewhere else is my recommendation.

Good place to enjoy local and fresh product. Many fruit and local food product to choose. Not so expensive.

Nice park to jog or have a picnic. Lots of open area, parking, publics fountains & bathrooms. Not located near a JR Station, so you'll need to take the bus or drive to get here.

Ōya Temple, or Ōya Kannon, is a beautiful and spiritual site nestled among dramatic cliffs of soft Ōya stone, just a short drive from Utsunomiya. The temple is famous for its ancient rock carvings, including the impressive eleven-faced Kannon statue, said to be Japan’s oldest stone Buddha, delicately carved directly into the cliff face over a thousand years ago. The setting is serene and mystical — surrounded by towering stone walls, lush greenery, and the quiet sound of nature. The temple’s atmosphere feels timeless, offering a sense of calm and reverence that contrasts perfectly with the bustling city nearby. Visitors can also admire the massive Heiwa Kannon statue overlooking the site, symbolizing peace and compassion.

Very cool spot. Go see this and Heiwa Kannon. The temple in the rocks was incredible. Plus the mummy of the monk, many artifacts from the area, lots of beauty spots. Make sure you go behind the wooden main shrine to the left to see the museum, garden, white snakes, koi, and more! No photos allowed inside the temple but it’s gorgeous!

This is a very cool place! The setting is striking, and the stone buddhas are the most impressive I’ve seen in Japan; I believe that all of them are Important Cultural Properties. There’s also a little treasure hall with some ancient human remains, and a scenic garden.

A unique Buddhist Temple that is carved into the side of a rock cliff and preserves the oldest Buddhist stone reliefs in Japan. A giant statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, is located on the temple grounds. Free parking is available too.

Historical place in Tochigi ken, carvings are amazing. Photography inside the cave is prohibited unluckily. Carvings inside the cave are mind blowing. There are so many nice restaurants around as well.

Serene and calming temple — definitely should drop by if you are in the area! The stone carvings were unique and I felt very rejuvenated after spending some time here. We went on a nice autumn day and the garden was absolutely beautiful! Note that some areas require you to do a small hike up some stairs so make sure you wear the right shoes. ^^ But the view is worth it and the nature will give you energy. We paid 500 yen per person entry fee but free parking.

A very old Wonderful Buddhist temple.30mins bus from utsunomiya station..

Nice place to visit. Close to Oya Shrine. No entry fees for Heiwa Kannon, but need to pay if you visit Oya Shrine. Free parking available in front of Shrine. Good place to spend an hour & we can also go upto the top of Idol.

Good place to visit on A Weekend . There are many gift shops around the temple.. don’t forget to bring a Cap or a Umbrella if you are visiting here In Summer .. as its all made of Rocks the heat is unbearable.

Within the carved out area, you will come upon the gian Heiwa Kannon. There isn't much besides the stairs leading to a closer view next to the statue. People forget, this is a religious artifact, so this place is just that, to absorb the awe inspring statue.

A free tourist place to visit after the Oya museum.

The rock craved Kannon 観音 is erected in small park (located in a former mine). The park open to public and there is no entrance fee. You can walk up to the shoulder of the Kannon via stairs on the side. It is not that tall. The park itself is small and one can see the rock formation left from the abandoning mine. There is a free parking outside and it only takes 2 mins to walk from there.

The park itself is lovely and Heiwa Kannon is beautiful, but there’s nothing else there but the shrine (the day we came, it was closed) and there’s nothing else in the park besides the statue.

Tip: it's accessible from the path just in front of the riverside parking lot, which Google Map doesn't know. Kannon statue looks fantastic. If only there were a little bit more guidance of that around.

This was a really pleasant surprise. A portion of the castle has been restored to the medieval era plans. We were treated to complimentary tour by an English-speaking guide. She gave us some history and showed us around one of the turrets.

A peaceful park built on the remains of Utsunomiya Castle — blending history, gardens, and city views. Perfect for a calm walk and photos. 🌿✨

Good place. Very small castle & rebuild. You can visit inside & no entry fees. Nothing much to see here. But can spend 1 hour with family. Also I front of free parking.

Visited in October 2020 It's essentially a remnant of a feudal castle that is repurposed as a park, which is unique. Typically, Japanese cities and towns just simply let their castle ruins (those that didn't survive intact through the post-feudal and World War 2 eras) to rot. Here, instead of fully restoring the castle or raze it, they preserved the moat, enclosure walls, and guard towers as they are. The inner part of the castle, which is now an empty ground, becomes a public space, where the locals do sports and other recreational activities, and occasionally local festivals. Surprisingly, elevators were installed to access the wall rampart. The guard towers also house some artifacts of the feudal era, but by the time of my visit, it was off limits and not in display for public.

One of the best place to see cherry blossoms, you can enjoy see and around, and you can take some photos There are some photo spot that you can create your own, some people doing camping too, just come and feel it!

Somewhat interesting place in a nice setting. Beautiful during hanami (cherry blossom season) and one of the earliest places to enjoy sakura in Utsunomiya. Besides from the park and the reconstructed keeps/turrets and wall there's a small museum and information place with old maps, models and English speaking volunteer guides. Make sure to visit and let the guides tell you about the old castle, it's definitely worth the time. Now and then there are events and festivals held at the big grass lawn, including spring and gyoza festival.

Visited during the gyoza festival. Great atmosphere. The small museum is interesting although nothing is in English