Oya-ji Temple (Oya Kannon)

4.0

This Tendai Sect Buddhist temple in Oya Town, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi has been built surrounded by a cavern. Within the temple are 10 stone carvings of buddha carved directly into the cavern wall including Japan’s oldest statue of the goddess Kannon (the Oya thousand-armed Kannon). These historical artifacts have led the temple to have been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, even today the temple draws many visitors.

Spot details

Address: Tochigi Pref. Utsunomiyashi Oyamachi 1198 Map
Area: Utsunomiya Area
Phone: 0286520128
Hours: [Hours]
[Apr.-Sep.]8:30-16:30(Last entry16:10)
[Oct.-Mar.]9:00-16:30(Last entry16:10)
Closed: Thursday (open on public holidays), 12/26-12/31
Fees: [Adult]500yen
[Junior high school students]200yen
[Elementary school students]100yen

[Adult]400yen
[Junior high school students] 150yen
[Elementary school students]70yen
Parking Lot: Available (50 spaces, 3 spaces for large bus parking)
Credit Card: Not available
Smoking: Not available
Wi-Fi: Not available
English Menu: Available (homepage, leaflet)
Estimated stay time: 0-30 minutes

Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN

Review

It is worth a visit to Utsunomiya for this temple

Reviewed : 2020.03.31

We have followed Kobo Daishi around Japan, so no wonder that we came here.The temple was founded by him and the thousand-armed Kannon is said to have been his work. In addition to this figure...
Amazing temple something a bit different from the normal type.

Reviewed : 2020.02.11

What an amazing temple with so much history. There is a small cost to enter the temple but with that a guide comes with you and explains all about the history and some key points within the temple...
Historical temple with a 1000 hands Kannon stone carving

Reviewed : 2019.08.12

This nice temple is worth a visit despite that photography is prohibited inside it and guided tours are only in Japanese. The Kannon and Buddha sculptures are quite different as these are carved out...