Educational tour of a 400 year old mine from the Edo period to the 1970's.
Signs mostly in Japanese and there's no reception to use Google translate. However the main pamphlet with the map was in in English if requested.
After learning about the history of the mines and city I was very interested in going. The ride into the mines is short but great! I loved looking around inside the parts of the mine we could visit. And on the way out there were some cool things to see as well as a building that shows the history of Ashio and copper coin production.
There was some information in English, but you definitely miss out on a lot if you don’t know Japanese.
Overall, I loved it!
The mine has been in operation since the early 17th century, with its peak production occurring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Ashio mine was one of the first mines in Japan to use electric trolleys to transport ore as early as 1891.
The severe pollution from sulfur dioxide emissions led to deforestation, acid rain, and contaminated water sources that devastated the local ecosystem.
Efforts have been made to address the pollution, and while some impacts are still visible, the site is now deemed safe for visitors.
Visitors can explore underground tunnels by trolley and learn about the mine's history, its impact on Japan's development, and the environmental challenges it faces.
