Shime Winding Tower, Mining headframe in Shime, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
The Shime Winding Tower is a 47-meter-tall steel structure with wooden elements standing at a former coal mining site in Fukuoka Prefecture. The tower served to lower and raise miners and coal from underground, forming the central part of the mine's extraction system.
The tower was built between 1941 and 1943 by the Japanese Imperial Navy to extract coal for military vessels during World War II. After the war ended, the mine eventually closed, but the structure remained standing and became a monument to this significant industrial period.
The tower represents the work of miners who shaped Japan's industrial development during the 20th century. Visitors who come here gain insight into how ordinary workers contributed to their nation's rapid growth through hard manual labor.
The site sits near Shime Station, and a short walk from the station brings you to the mining complex. Wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking through the grounds of the old facility.
The structure blends traditional Japanese carpentry techniques with industrial construction methods and was designated as an Important Cultural Property in 2009. This combination of old craftsmanship and modern mining technology makes the tower a rare example of its kind in Japan.
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