Otani

This is a district in the western part of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. The tuff on the hills along the Sugata River was quarried to produce Oya stone for use in civil engineering and construction, and there are many buildings made of this stone in the vicinity. The walls of a natural cave are carved with Oya rock-carved Buddha statues, including the Thousand-Armed Kannon from the Heian period, and the area is a special historic site and a nationally designated important cultural property. There is also the 27-meter-tall Peace Kannon and the Oya Museum, which displays materials related to Oya stone. The area is part of Utsunomiya Prefectural Natural Park.

[Hisashi Okuda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

栃木県宇都宮市西部の地区。姿(すがた)川沿岸の丘陵の凝灰岩は、土木・建築用の大谷石として採掘され、付近にこの石の建造物が多い。自然の洞窟(どうくつ)の壁面に平安時代の千手(せんじゅ)観音など大谷磨崖仏(まがいぶつ)が浮彫りされ、特別史跡、国指定重要文化財。また高さ27メートルの平和観音、大谷石に関する資料を展示した大谷資料館もある。付近は宇都宮県立自然公園。

［奥田　久］

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