Ashio Copper Mine

Ashio Copper Mine operated for 400 years until its closure in 1973. It was a national history site. Opened in 1610, After finding copper in Bizentateyama Mountain, it became busy as a copper mine designated by the Edo Bakufu government. 1871 saw the mine being privatized, and became an industry that supported Japan’s modernization. In the beginning of the 20th century, the mine accounted for 40% of copper exports in Japan.

Still, despite its development, there were concerns and long-standing problems such as forestry, smog from refining copper, environmental waste, water pollution, and soil pollution.

Some of the mineways of Ashio Copper Mine opened to the public. Visitors can learn the light and darkness of the mine’s history and how it supported Japan’s development. After going inside the 460m long mine on a mine train, mannequin dioramas explore the mining process according to periods of time. It is evident, work was done in extreme conditions.

Visitors can also see exhibits and documents such as the copper museum and coin issuing. They can learn how ores turn into copper, and the making of a coin.