Tada Silver and Copper Mine, Natural monument and mine in Inagawa, Japan
The Tada Silver and Copper Mine is an extensive mining site in the Hokusetsu mountain range that stretches across multiple slopes and valleys. The old workings still show traces of shafts and collection pits where miners extracted and processed the ore.
Mining at this site began during the Nara period and supplied copper for the Great Buddha at Todai-ji temple. During the Edo period, it became one of the country's most important sources of silver and copper.
The mine represents industrial development in Japan, with local farmers organizing into mining communities that controlled surrounding villages from 1279 onwards.
The site can be explored along public paths, allowing you to view the mining landscape from different angles. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the slopes are steep and the ground is uneven.
The site was later operated under Edo control and drew thousands of workers, leading to the founding of entire settlements in the area. These mining communities developed into self-contained places with their own organizations and local structures.
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