Ashio Copper Mine, Industrial heritage site in Nikko, Japan.
Ashio Copper Mine is a former mining complex in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, about an hour from Nikko. The site includes several preserved tunnels, surface buildings, and machinery spread across a site that gives visitors insight into copper extraction.
Copper mining began here in the 16th century and expanded greatly under Tokugawa shogunate rule. The mine experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century through modern techniques before closing permanently in the 1970s.
The name Ashio comes from the time when small settlements existed between the mountains. Visitors today see reconstructed worker housing and tools that show how miners lived for centuries under difficult conditions.
The site lies in the mountains and is best reached by car, as public transport in this area runs infrequently. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes for the tunnel tour because the ground is uneven and damp in places.
Part of the old railway line that once carried ore out of the tunnels is still visible and now serves as a photo spot for visitors. The track used to run down to the smelting facilities farther along the valley.
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