The Oya Underground Quarry, with a vast space of over 20,000 square meters, is the main attraction in the Oya History Museum. The difference among various manual excavation techniques used from the Meiji era to the modern era of Showa can be seen from the rock surfaces. Exploring this lit-up space is a must; akin to the mysterious feeling of wandering through the subterranean caves of the Pyramids. Also, for a limited time in winter, the church zone that is usually only accessible on special occasions is lit up and open to the public.
The Museum is located in Utsunomiya, in Tochigi Prefecture, a city synonymous with pan-fried dumplings (Gyoza). Often ranked as the city with the highest number of dumplings consumed in Japan, it’s no wonder that Utsunomiya is a Gyoza-lover’s mecca. The area around Utsunomiya Station is home to many Gyoza shops, selling various types of gyoza. You can also enjoy the dumplings in 300 restaurants all over the city. Among these restaurants, Utsunomiya Gyoza Kan Kenta Gyoza is famous for their wide variety of a dozen different variations of gyoza and cute gyoza mascot!
Oya History Museum (Remains of Oya Quarry)
Access :909 Oyamachi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Operating hours :From April to November: from 9am to 5pm (last admission at 4.30pm) From December to March: from 9.30am to 4.30pm (last admission at 4pm), closed every Tuesday from December to March. If Tuesday is a holiday, the following day will be closed. Also closed during year-end holidays.
How to get there :From Tokyo, it is approximately 50 minutes by Tohoku Shinkansen. Get off at JR Utsunomiya Station. Take the bus for 30 minutes and get off at the Shiryokaniriguchi stop.
Website :http://www.oya909.co.jp/
Utsunomiya Gyoza Kan Kenta Gyoza
Access :1-9-1 Higashishukugo, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture (Various shops throughout Utsunomiya)
Operating hours :6:30am to 8pm (last order at 7:30pm)
How to get there :From Tokyo, it is approximately 50 minutes by Tohoku Shinkansen. Get off at JR Utsunomiya Station. It is a 5 minutes walk from there.
Website :https://www.gyozakan.jp/
