The Oya History Museum in Utsunomiya, Japan is not your ordinary history museum. For one thing, it was built accidentally. Which is to say, it was “built” not by being built, but by being dug out. The museum was once a rock quarry for oya stone, a type of porous volcanic rock that was popularized as a building material after Frank Lloyd Wright used it in the design of a famous Japanese hotel in 1922.

The stone was quarried at this location for 70 years, then the quarry was abandoned, then later converted into this unique and stunning attraction.

After setting out on a rather lengthy drive with our hosts, we stopped for lunch, then went across the street to another curious attraction: an indoor garden with a number of little rock sculptures in a variety of action poses: swinging on a swing, climbing a rope, playing games, etc.

Then, after driving a bit more, we came to the museum, where we descended 30 meters and found ourselves in a massive and labyrinthine subterranean wonderland, enhanced by the special effects of lighting and background music.

Underground Marvel: The Oya History Museum

There are exhibits depicting how the rock was quarried, and what kinds of uses it has been put to.

There are works of art that are fortunate enough to have this very unusual setting to be exhibited in.

And there are displays commemorating the history of this quarry as a popular shooting location for a number of films and TV shows.

There’s also an exhibit of wine. Why? Because the quarry is cool in more ways than one, and therefore makes an ideal wine cellar — for which it is indeed used.

We were back at home for dinner, and another one of Yukari’s imaginative home-cooked meals. And we were happy to help with the dishes afterward.

As we wrapped up our day, the Oya History Museum left an indelible mark on our memories. It began long ago as a gritty site for hard labor, and ended up generations later as a bewitching otherworldly landscape to be explored by awe-inspired sojourners like us who continue to be overwhelmed by the beauty and grace of Japan.

3/2/2023