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  1. Home
  2. Places
  3. Nikko
  4. Ashio Dozan Copper Mine
Dimly lit tunnel with wooden beams supporting the walls and ceiling. The pathway is wet, with orange pipes and small lights running along both sides, creating a sense of depth and perspective.
Dimly lit tunnel with wooden beams supporting the walls and ceiling. The pathway is wet, with orange pipes and small lights running along both sides, creating a sense of depth and perspective.
A mountain village with scattered buildings sits at the base of tall, rugged mountains partly covered in snow, under a partly cloudy sky. Sparse trees cover the lower slopes and some rooftops are visible.
An old industrial building and two large rusted storage tanks sit on a rocky hillside surrounded by green trees and mountains, with a narrow river flowing below.
A tall stone monument with Chinese inscriptions stands in a lush, green forest. The monument sits atop a stepped platform, surrounded by trees and dense foliage.
A dimly lit, narrow wooden tunnel with wet surfaces and wooden beams, leading deeper underground. Some green moss grows on the stone walls, and a wooden railing is visible at the end of the passage.
Nikko

Ashio Dozan Copper Mine

3.9 (3711)Tourist AttractionHistorical LandmarkHistorical PlacePoint Of InterestEstablishment
Last updated May 23, 2026

Deep within the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture lies the Ashio Dozan Copper Mine, a site that has played a pivotal role in Japan's industrial history. With roots tracing back to the early 17th century, this mine once stood as Japan's leading copper producer, contributing significantly to the nation's modernization efforts.

The Ashio mine was a powerhouse of production and a center of technological innovation, introducing electric trolleys to transport ore as early as 1891. However, the mine's legacy is also marked by environmental and social challenges, including severe pollution that devastated the surrounding landscape and prompted one of Japan's earliest ecological movements.

Today, visitors can explore the extensive underground tunnels by trolley and discover the stories of the workers who toiled here and the broader impact the mine had on Japan's development. Experience the blend of history and nature as you walk through this storied site.

Plan your visit to the Ashio Dozan Copper Mine and delve into a chapter of Japan's industrial past that continues to echo through time.

Hours

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Closed

No closing days

Available

All year

Minimum Age

All ages are welcome.

Admission Fee

830 yen (Adult)

410 yen (Children: 6 - 15 years old)

Hours
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone
+81 288-93-3240
Website
www.city.nikko.lg.jp

Overview

Address
9-2 Ashiomachitsūdō, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1514, Japan
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Hours

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 288-93-3240

Website

www.city.nikko.lg.jp

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Traveler reviews

Loved it, short train ride underground, then a free walk thru the mine tunnels, very wet and cold but very worth it, if you have your own transport there are heaps of other old factories etc in the area
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Ian Calvey
May 8, 2026
One of the quite interesting experiences — you get to learn about how copper is extracted and actually go into the mine for a real tour. Worth the money.
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Hellen Pham
Dec 9, 2025
A small museum with some English displays that can take up to 2 hours of your time. It was pretty interesting to see how the mine was structured, and the techniques to repeatedly refine the copper. There was also a small building that had dioramas of the transformation of copper to coins. Overall a small attraction that's informative (with Google translate) and I feel, in need of support.
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Levin
Nov 18, 2025
Interesting and educational. There're a mine train to bring you and learn how the people are working in the mine. Free parking.
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Louisa Chung
Mar 28, 2025
Once upon a time, there were many people living in the Ashio area. Today, I saw a few tourists and locals. I got on a small trolley. The ceiling of the inside mine was so low that I had to watch my head. Apparently, the height of people in the Edo period was shorter than ours! If you were over 180 cm, you would still need a helmet to protect your head! lol. I arrived at a small museum. The exhibition was so informative. Outside the mine, I opened the door of the mint museum. The Tokugawa shogunate made coins here. People had to take off their clothes before leaving the mine. The magistrate needed to check that miners didn't steal any coins. I was lucky that I didn't have to take my clothes off! LOL. I checked a souvenir shop, but the restaurant was closed. Overall, the Ashio copper mine is an important heritage site. It is worthwhile visiting here!
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Mark N. Takayama
Dec 21, 2025

Places & attractions near Ashio Dozan Copper Mine

A winding dirt path lined with moss and greenery runs through a dense forest of tall trees, with stone walls on the left and a canopy of lush foliage overhead.

Cryptomeria Avenue

Three people in traditional Japanese attire are on stage. The center person wears an elaborate green and gold kimono and headpiece, flanked by two others in red robes, kneeling before a painted gold folding screen.

Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura

Heike no Sato

Heike no Sato

Kinugawa Onsen Sanroku Station

Kinugawa Onsen Sanroku Station, Nikko

Places & attractions near Ashio Dozan Copper Mine

A winding dirt path lined with moss and greenery runs through a dense forest of tall trees, with stone walls on the left and a canopy of lush foliage overhead.

Cryptomeria Avenue

Three people in traditional Japanese attire are on stage. The center person wears an elaborate green and gold kimono and headpiece, flanked by two others in red robes, kneeling before a painted gold folding screen.

Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura

Heike no Sato

Heike no Sato

Kinugawa Onsen Sanroku Station

Kinugawa Onsen Sanroku Station, Nikko

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