History (Origins)

Oyaishi (Oya stone) excavated from quarries in Utsunomiya City's Oya district are easy to cut and shape. They were used as building materials during the Nara Period (710–94) when constructing Shimotsuke Kokubunji Temple, Kokubun Amadera (the Kokubun Buddhist nunnery) and other buildings and structures in the area.

Characteristics (Techniques and Materials)

Oya stone is characterized by its elegant texture, soothing color and aged appearance cultivated over the centuries. Today, it is a popular material for toro (stone lanterns) and other decorative garden objects as well as craft goods.

Contact Information

Oya Bijutsu Kogei Seisansha Association
1261-1, Oyamachi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi, 321-0345
TEL: +81-28-652-0117

Tetsuo Watanabe
200-2, Nissato-machi-Ko, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi, 321-2118
TEL：+81-28-652-1700