Tochigi Prefecture - Utsunomiya Underground Oya Stone Quarry

 I have wanted to visit the Utsunomiya Underground Oya Stone Quarry for a long time. And, we finally did it!

In Japan it is always a good idea to visit the Tourist Information Center. So, the first thing we did was visit the Utsunomiya City Tourist Information Center. They not only gave us maps and schedules, they also sold us tickets for the bus to get us to the Oya Stone Quarry and tickets to get in the Quarry... at a discount price!

Our plan was to visit the quarry first thing Monday morning to avoid crowds. This is the parking lot for the quarry, it looks like our plan worked.

This is the front of the underground quarry.

As one can see, it's underground. What one can't see is how fast the temperature drops. 

Our first view... this place is huge!

For anyone seriously interested in the history of this place, and especially if one is thinking of visiting here, please check out this official website

This underground quarry is now a historical site. 

I used an extreme wide-angle lens to take these pictures.

These pictures are nice but until one visits here it's hard to grasp the enormity of this place.

We are not just wondering around, there is a route to follow and we're following it. 

It's cold down here, it's like walking in a refrigerator. We brought jackets with us and I'm glad we did.

It's not only cold down here, it's damp, too! All the floors are wet.

In this picture it's easy to see the grooves in the walls left from the stone cutters.

All the walls have the grooves in them. 

There's Emi!

We're now on the return part of the tour route.

I'm switching back to black & white photography.

What an adventure! 

Getting close to the exit.

And, out we go. 

Outside of the underground quarry and already tour buses are arriving. I'm glad we came here early.

Now we're going to walk to Oyaji Temple (it's included in the ticket we bought at the tourist information center.

When we arrived at the temple there was a small tour group in front of us.

The temple is a sacred place and is built into the side of this mountain.

I'm still using the wide-angle lens so things look a little distorted.

In we go! Since this place is sacred there is no photography allowed inside.

Back outside and we're visiting the temple's pond and garden.

Next up is a short walk to visit the Heiwa Kannon Statue.

The statue is 27 meters tall.

There is some excellent information on this statue at this website

That's Emi in front of the statue.

Well, that's it. Here we are waiting for the bus to take us back to Utsunomiya city where we plan to have gyoza for lunch! Utsunomiya city is famous for gyoza!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike