Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works

The Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works complex contains clay furnaces, underground tunnels, and production areas spread across 0.63 hectares of land.

The facility operated during three periods between 1751 and 1867, manufacturing steel products for warships and contributing to Japan's industrial development.

The site demonstrates the traditional Japanese tatara steelmaking method, which involves smelting iron sand with charcoal in specialized clay furnaces.

Visitors can access the archaeological remains through the Tourism Division of Hagi city, with guided tours explaining the iron production processes.

The iron produced at this location supplied materials for the Heishin Maru, the first Western-style warship of the Chōshū navy.

Location: Hagi

Part of: Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

Website: http://ohitayama-tatara.net

GPS coordinates: 34.50600,131.53825

Latest update: March 3, 2025 05:13