Oya History Museum
大谷資料館
A vast underground space left by about 70 years of quarrying. Walk through a former quarry of about 20,000㎡, 30m deep on average, at this Utsunomiya museum.
An underground space carved out for Oya stone
The Oya History Museum is in the Oya district of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. This area has long been quarried for Oya stone (Oya-ishi), a soft stone that is easy to work, and the museum tells the story of that quarrying.
The main attraction is the underground former quarry. It is the space left behind after about 70 years of digging out Oya stone, from 1919 to 1986, and it covers about 20,000㎡ (140m by 150m), roughly the size of a baseball ground. It is 30m deep on average and 60m at its deepest point.
Secret factory, rice store, then film location
This underground space has been put to many uses over the years. During the Second World War it served as a secret underground factory, where aircraft engines and other parts were made. After the war it was used as a warehouse to store government rice.
Today it is used as a venue for concerts, art exhibitions and plays, as a wedding chapel, and as a location for photo shoots and films. It appeared as a location in the film Rurouni Kenshin. It opened to the public as a museum in 1979.
As cool as an "underground fridge"
The underground quarry averages around 8°C over the year. The official website likens it to an "underground fridge": it stays chilly even in midsummer, and the museum advises bringing a jacket.
Getting there and closing days
From JR Utsunomiya Station, take a Kanto Bus to the Shiryokan Iriguchi (Museum Entrance) stop. If you drive, the official website warns that setting your satnav by address can lead you astray into the mountains.
It is open every day from April to November, but from December to March it closes every Tuesday (or the following day when Tuesday is a public holiday). It is also closed over the New Year holidays. Check opening hours and fees on the official website.
Tips
- Even in summer, bring a layer you can throw on. The temperature difference from above ground is large.
- The museum may close at short notice in bad weather such as typhoons (it closed for a typhoon on 21 September 2026). Check the notices on the official website before you set out.
- If you drive, enter the facility's name or phone number into your satnav rather than its address.
Sources
Updated 28 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
