The “Kato Household Farmstay” is located near the municipal parking lot in Oya, Utsunomiya City. In addition to agricultural experiences, you can try your hand at cooking “shimotsukare” (a local stew) and cooking “gyoza” (dumplings). It is located near Oya tourist spots, such as Oya Temple (Oya Kannon) and Oya Park (Heiwa Kannon). You can also walk to the Oya History Museum, a huge underground quarry. You can leave your luggage and walk around the rich Japanese heritage sights of Oya! The accomodation consists of a bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a toilet and bathroom.
The three main rooms are connected to each other and can be opened into one larger space.
The meals are hearty home-style cooking. Local dishes are served according to the season. They include dishes such as kanpyo soup with egg, gyoza (dumplings), local ‘Miyabiton pork’ rolled with asparagus, vegetables with tofu and sesame paste, seafood hot pot, chirashi-zushi, etc.
■A cooking experience is also available! The ‘Shimotsukare’ Challenge!
You can experience not only farming, but also making Tochigi Prefecture’s local cuisine. Kato’s Grandma’s Recipe for “shimotsukare”, has a mild taste. Lots of radishes and carrots are grated using a specialized bamboo grater. They are then stewed with salmon heads, beans and sake lees. It’s better to eat the next day after it’s cooled, rather than when freshly cooked. In Tochigi Prefecture, the people are starkly divided into two camps, the ‘Shimotsukare lovers’ and the ‘Shimotsukare haters’. Please accept the challenge and give it a try!
■Making Jizo Statues with Oya Stone
Oya stone is characterized by its softness and how easy it is to work. You can experience making Oya stone Jizo statues. The owner will carefully teach you how.
農家民泊「農泊かとう」
“Kato Household Farmstay,”
1160 Oya-machi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi (parking available)
Capacity: Only one group per day
Number of persons : 1 to 2
Rates ：8,500 yen per person per night with 2 meals (including tax and cleaning fee)
Overnight stay with no meal / 5,500 yen per person (including tax and cleaning fee)
Activites ：Agricultural experience/1,000 yen per person
Making local dishes or gyoza (dumplings) experience / 3,000 yen per group
Oya stone crafting experience – making Jizo (guardian deity): 3,000 yen
Inquiries and applications
Oya Green Tourism Promotion Council office
Mail:info@oya-gt.jp
