History can be found in so many places and one of them are museums, being something completely fascinating, but there are many of them that do not seem real. The same happens with this great museum that has its history embodied in stones, because it is a mine of Oya stones and at some point in Japanese history was an important source of wealth. After disappearing, many parts of the mine remained, transforming it into the Oya History Museum, which can be explored and it will be like traveling to a subway kingdom.
It is located on the outskirts of the city of Utsunomiya, capital of Tochigi Prefecture, so it can be reached by bus from Utsunomiya Station and the best thing about it is that the trip only takes about 30 minutes.
What is most striking about this place is its strange creation, because the igneous rocks of Oya were formed from lava and volcanic ash, which were used for Japanese buildings since the seventeenth century. A clear example would be the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. However, their use decreased drastically with the proliferation of cement.
This grandiose museum opened its doors in 1979, giving a new meaning to the stones. The last mines closed in 1986, but the museum continues to thrive as one of the most popular destinations in this great capital.
Inside this small building you can view exhibits on the Oya stones, but the real draw of this place is the subway network of caverns with more than 20,000 square meters of open space. However the exhibits on the walls explain a bit about its history, the local geology and Oya's mining methods.
We could say that walking underground is fascinating and artwork from this place is displayed throughout the mine, and many of the rooms are illuminated with various colors, creating a sometimes surreal atmosphere. However, there is a space for events such as weddings, concerts, parties, among others.
This place is still something like no other, due to the fact that it has a rich history that the inhabitants and visitors are easily attracted to. The museums are amazing!
I hope you liked and enjoyed this article!
Tell me, what did you like the most about this place, what did you think and what is your opinion about it?
