Oya Temple

Oya Temple (大谷寺) is a historic Buddhist temple founded in the 8th century, and is famous for its unique architecture and stone carvings. The temple is located in a quarry area where Oya stone, a type of tuff rock, has been extracted for centuries. The temple buildings are constructed using Oya stone, which gives them a distinctive look.

One of the most impressive features of Oya-ji Temple is its underground cave temple, which is carved into the Oya stone quarry. The cave temple is also known as the “Dragon Cave” due to the dragon-shaped stalactites that can be found inside. Visitors can explore the cave and see the various Buddhist statues and carvings that line the walls.

Another highlight of the temple is the Oya History Museum, which showcases the history and techniques of Oya stone quarrying. The museum features exhibits on the geology of the area, the tools and machinery used in quarrying, and the use of Oya stone in architecture.

Getting there

From Utsunomiya Station to Oya Temple:

Bus	Utsunomiya Station ↓ Bus Number 45 ↓ 29 minutes (26 stops) Oya Kannon-mae Oya Temple (Cost 530 yen)

Details

Hours	April to September / 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM October to March / 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Reception closes 20 minutes before closing time. Closed on Thursdays (except for public holidays). Closed from December 26th to 31st.
Admission	Adults: 500 yen Junior high school students: 200 yen Elementary school students: 100 yen
Phone	+81 28-652-0128
Address	1198 Oyamachi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-0345
Official Website	http://www.ooyaji.jp/