Immersive art, local Italian, and rooftop views of Oya Kannon, all inside a public bathhouse that sat unused for nearly 30 years.
Written by Koki Suzuki
Oya Grand Center has an immersive art experience plus a restaurant and café that use local ingredients. I recommend it to anyone who wants to try something new in Utsunomiya, or who wants to add an accent to their photos and a splash of color to their social media feed. If you visit Oya History Museum or Oya Connect, be sure to stop by here too.
Oya Grand Center is a new spot near Oya History Museum where you can enjoy two things at once: an immersive art experience of light and sound fused with Oya stone architecture, and a restaurant and café serving dishes and sweets made with local ingredients. It was created by renovating a public bathhouse (sento) that had sat unused for nearly 30 years.
The striking exterior gives no hint that it was a ruin not long ago. Red window frames and a massive block of Oya stone serve as accents for the reborn art facility. Because it stands at the top of a cliff, you can spot it from a distance, which is a nice bonus if you’re coming by car.
The art space houses a permanent immersive installation by artist YOSHIROTTEN. What was once the bathing area is now a mysterious space that feels like you’ve wandered into another dimension. To celebrate the opening, his signature work SUN is also on display for a limited time.
The projected colors shift over time, so press the shutter when the moment feels right. My tip: make good use of the natural light coming through the windows. The installation is designed so that the daylight and the swaying trees outside become part of the work, meaning its expression changes with the time of day and the season. Take a shot you can only get here, and make it truly your own.
The restaurant and café share the same floor, and the Italian dishes and sweets created by Shoichiro Aiba (owner-chef of LIFE) and Hiroyuki Emori (owner-pâtissier of Maison Givrée) are like a jewel box of food. The Italian menu uses local ingredients grown in Utsunomiya and Tochigi, in a stylish space where Oya stone and modern design blend beautifully.
Each one-plate lunch is just the right size for one person. Made mainly with local produce, the dishes are colorful and delicious. Soup and salad come with the plate, making it a satisfying, well-balanced meal. Plates include a White Pizza with Tochigi’s Specialty Olive Yashio Trout and Mozzarella, and a Ragù Pasta with Local Nissato Leeks and LIFE’s Original Sausage, served with minestrone as part of the set.
Separate from the restaurant, there’s also a café, perfect if you just want a short rest. When you buy an entrance pass, you get a ¥500 drink ticket, so don’t forget to show it here (it works at the restaurant too). Coffee and tea can be had with the ticket alone; other drinks cost extra, but they all look so good it’s hard to choose.
This time I also ordered the strawberry tart. The sweet-tart strawberries and gently sweet custard are a perfect match, and it’s a treat I’d love for you to try. After all, Tochigi is known for its strawberries.
From the rooftop terrace you can take in the whole Oya landscape and see for yourself how the area is surrounded by Oya stone. Best of all, it’s a rare chance to view the profile of Oya Kannon from directly beside it. Make a wish. It just might come true.
The terrace near the entrance also offers a great view, so take a look on your way in or out.
From JR Utsunomiya Station, the Kanto Bus bound for "Oya / Tateiwa" takes about 30 minutes. Get off at "Oya Kannon-mae," and it's a short walk. You'll receive a lovely pamphlet on entry.
Start with YOSHIROTTEN's immersive installation. Watch the colors change and catch the natural light from the windows.
Settle in for a one-plate lunch with soup and salad, surrounded by Oya stone.
Trade your ticket for coffee or tea, and add a strawberry tart.
Take in the Oya landscape and the profile of Oya Kannon. Nearby, the Oya stone shop Lapis08 lets you make your own Oya stone art goods, and Oya History Museum and Oya Connect are close by too.
Advance tickets (adults ¥1,500) cost less than same-day tickets (adults ¥1,800) and come with a ¥500 drink.
Show it at the café or restaurant. Coffee and tea are covered; other drinks cost extra.
The bus from Utsunomiya Station is the easiest option. If you are driving, there are about 20 parking spaces by the entrance. On busy holiday seasons like Golden Week, you can also park at the public Oya Parking Lot, which is only a 2 to 3 minute walk away.