The quarry features a massive underground space that is large enough to contain a full-sized baseball stadium.
Oya stone is a rhyolitic tuff, renowned for its distinct greenish-grey color and porous texture.
The location is frequently used as a filming set for music videos, commercials, and action movies due to its gothic, industrial atmosphere.
During World War II, the vast underground cavern served as a hidden location for aircraft part manufacturing.
The temperature difference between the surface and the interior can exceed 20 degrees Celsius during summer months.
Some areas of the mine are periodically used for aging wine and sake, taking advantage of the stable, cool subterranean environment.
The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, famously utilized Oya stone for its facade and interior accents.
The Oya History Museum occupies a massive, decommissioned underground quarry carved into Oya stone, a soft volcanic rock. The facility spans approximately 20,000 square meters with ceilings reaching heights of 30 meters. The cavernous subterranean environment maintains a constant year-round temperature of approximately 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. It serves as a site for contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, and film shoots. The quarry operated from 1919 until 1986, extracting stone used in prominent Japanese architecture. Visitors descend into a temperature-controlled maze of pillars and voids. The interior lighting is designed to highlight the rugged textures of the quarried stone walls.
The wide-angle perspective from the main gallery entrance looking toward the center of the illuminated cavern.
Bring a heavy jacket or coat even in the summer, as the temperature inside remains near freezing.
Wear comfortable, non-slip walking shoes to navigate the damp and uneven stone floor.
Allow your eyes time to adjust to the dim, atmospheric lighting upon entering the main hall.
Do not visit without a warm layer of clothing, as the constant cold will become uncomfortable very quickly.
Occasionally closes for private filming events or maintenance; check the official calendar before arrival.
Maintain a quiet volume; do not touch or climb on the loose stone walls; follow designated walking paths strictly.
