A trip to Utsunomiya, Tochigi to obtain the power to be yourself.
A growing number of my friends have been facing turning points at work and in their private lives these days. I also wanted to think about my future, but I could not find the time. Then, I got a call from one of my close friends.
She said, "I am curious about this former underground mining site in Oya!" I looked at its photos and found the place to be so mysterious. We thought it might be a good idea to take some time off for some self-reflection in this place and talk to each other about our lives. So, we booked an overnight trip.
She said, "I am curious about this former underground mining site in Oya!" I looked at its photos and found the place to be so mysterious. We thought it might be a good idea to take some time off for some self-reflection in this place and talk to each other about our lives. So, we booked an overnight trip.
Recharging my batteries in a magical former mining site.
Located in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, the Oya History Museum was built on the site of a massive quarry. From Tokyo, it is just about a two-hour drive. The former underground mining site with a depth of 30 meters and an area of 20,000 square meters operated for about 70 years between 1919 and 1986 as a quarry of Oya stone that was used for building materials for exterior walls and storehouses.
As we went down the stairs going deep underground, we gradually felt a chill in the air. The average temperature in this place is 2 degrees Celsius in winter and 13 to 14 degrees Celsius in summer, which is fairly cool. I got an unusual sensation from the moment I set foot into this historic and magical world.
When I was gazing at the walls of the massive underground space,Ono, a museum staff, told me, "The parts that are shimmering are the salt in the stones. They emerge only during the dry season from December to April." He also said that this place used to be the seafloor 1,500 years ago, and hearing that made me feel strange about standing here.
"Oya stone releasing far-infrared rays is said to have a soothing effect," said Ono. The unusual sensation I felt when I stepped into this space might have been caused by the power of the Oya stone after all.
The sight of natural light leaking into the underground looked magical and we could not take our eyes off it, so we both lost track of time. I have been feeling uneasy these days. However, I felt the power of the Oya stone in my entire body and that made me feel calm and refreshed my mind and body.
"Oya stone releasing far-infrared rays is said to have a soothing effect," said Ono. The unusual sensation I felt when I stepped into this space might have been caused by the power of the Oya stone after all.
The sight of natural light leaking into the underground looked magical and we could not take our eyes off it, so we both lost track of time. I have been feeling uneasy these days. However, I felt the power of the Oya stone in my entire body and that made me feel calm and refreshed my mind and body.
We returned to the ground level and stopped by the café and shop "ROCKSIDE MARKET" next to the museum. There, I discovered home furnishings and miscellaneous goods made with Oya stone. I bought coasters, hoping to gain the power of Oya stone at home.
When I told my friend, "This visit gave me time to self-reflect," she replied, "Same. It meant a lot to me spending time like this." We both seemed to have fully recharged our batteries and gained energy.
When I told my friend, "This visit gave me time to self-reflect," she replied, "Same. It meant a lot to me spending time like this." We both seemed to have fully recharged our batteries and gained energy.
Reflecting on "my way of living" while exploring a lively street.
Our next destination was Kuroiso Street in Nasushiobara City. I've been always interested in 1988 CAFÉ SHOZO ever since it was recommended to me by a friend, so we visited it.
When we entered the café, we found the owner, Shozo Kikuchi.
When we entered the café, we found the owner, Shozo Kikuchi.
Kuroiso is Shozo’s hometown. When he was young, he thought there was nothing in this town, so he left and travelled to different places. He saw many towns and subconsciously compared them with his hometown. One day, he realized that his hometown had something good in it, too, so he returned to Kuroiso and opened his own café.
"In the early days of this café, my staff and I would look down the street from the window on the second floor and I would tell them how exciting it would be if new shops opened here and more people visited. After 30 years, that’s what actually happened," said Shozo.
"In the early days of this café, my staff and I would look down the street from the window on the second floor and I would tell them how exciting it would be if new shops opened here and more people visited. After 30 years, that’s what actually happened," said Shozo.
Shozo had an ambition to turn Kuroiso into a town that would be visited by travelers. He opened new shops one after another on both sides of the street to create Kuroiso Street. Today, many people visit this popular street as people from Kuroiso and Shozo’s former staff members also started their own businesses there.
"I want people to be happy when they remember their experience in Kuroiso and think of Kuroiso as a great town. I want to motivate people to make their town and hometown a better place through their experience in Kuroiso," he said.
"I want people to be happy when they remember their experience in Kuroiso and think of Kuroiso as a great town. I want to motivate people to make their town and hometown a better place through their experience in Kuroiso," he said.
Inspired by Shozo, I can’t help but be excited and positive when I think about what I want to do with my life!
After having a relaxing time at the café, we checked out the other shops recommended by Shozo and enjoyed talking with the shop staff as well as shopping.
After having a relaxing time at the café, we checked out the other shops recommended by Shozo and enjoyed talking with the shop staff as well as shopping.
After checking in, we walked to the nearby Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) and relaxed in our room. We talked about how wonderful life would be if we could empower and inspire other people and how great it would be if such action is appreciated by many people and communities. Once we started looking back on what we experienced that day, we found new topics one after another and could not stop talking until late at night. Our girl talk on that trip was endless.
I woke up feeling refreshed the next morning. I believe it was because of the power I received from the Oya stone and the energy I felt when we visited Kuroiso Street, as well as the heartfelt talk we had about ourselves the day before. If I want to self-reflect again, I will definitely revisit this place to recharge my batteries.
