Kosaka, town in Kazuno district, Akita prefecture, Japan
Kosaka is a small town in northeastern Akita Prefecture surrounded by mountains and forests. The municipal area is large but mostly wooded, with traditional wooden buildings in the town center and several hiking trails leading into the surrounding mountains.
Kosaka was historically a mining center that became one of Japan's largest sources of silver in the early 1900s. After World War II the mines gradually closed, with the last one shutting down in 1990, after which the town shifted toward recycling and new industries.
Kosaka's name reflects its mining heritage, which shaped the town's identity and character. The traditional wooden buildings from the Meiji era and the Korakukan Kabuki theatre continue to express the craftsmanship and local pride in this industrial past.
Most visitors explore the town best by car since passenger train service ended in the 1990s and highways like the Tōhoku Expressway connect it to larger cities. The area offers hiking trails to Lake Towada and Nanataki Falls, though visitors should watch for bears in the forests.
Kosaka was among the first places in Japan where residents had early access to electricity, running water, and modern plumbing because the town was important for ore production. These mining-era technological advances improved daily life decades before such conveniences became available in other regions.
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