O-ya Kannon and wandering around
There is are stone statues around O-yaishi museum. There was the oldest statues which were made in nineth century! The statue named O-ya Kannon looked like Buddda with a lot of arms. There are three groups of Statues which were made in different periods. The figures of the oldest ones were kind a broken so that I could not really tell about it. The second ones had gentle figures bending their body forward, and the last three were more keen figures having a degnified bearing. I liked the last three statues with other small statues which were seen to be floating in midair. I wish I could show some photoes here as we were not allowed to take photoes of them.
There was a big Deity of Mercy which prays for peace, and some other impressive O-yaishi natural rocks around. As we walked by a car we saw many houses made of O-yaishi stones. I even saw a house which also had a thatched roof!
O-yaishi and Utsunomiya are not a popular sightseeing spot in Japan. I do not think so many Japanese people know it, but worth to visit once in a life. I especially want kids come to visit caz they can learn how our old generation developed our society by hands.
O-yaishi Museum
I've wanted to visit O-yaishi museum which is a rock drift. O-yaishi is a stone's name which is mined aounrd the area called O-yaishi. I do not know which was named first.
It was massive and well conserved! It was a big space underground! There produces an eco-sound so that it sometimes used as a consert hall, or beg space for museums or fashion show. O-yaishi is a special stone which has a distinct brown dots which is called "miso". Miso covers the top of the stone so I think it is a soft stone or clay. I did not specifically feel the stones beautiful, but it seemed to be for old people caz it is used for Teikoku hotel which is one of the most famous hotels in Japan.
The inside was 3 degree which was very cold.
You can see many buildings which were made of O-yaishi in Utsunomiya. There are a lot of buildings called "Kura" in the area. Kura is used to be used as a storage for food, but now they are reformed and used as restaurants or hair beauty salon. Now those restaurants are very popular among young people. I think they enjoy the gap between its classic outlooking and modern style inside. These restaurants do not advertise by themselves (maybe its their policy), but always clouded with reservation. The customers are the most spread propaganda, as they come back again with friends or tell them about it. I had a course of good Japanese home style food at one of Kura restaurants(it was the second shot caz the first place we wanted was full of reservation!).
