Miike Coal Mines Mandako

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Miike Coal Mines Mandako

A large-scale coal mine site registered as a world heritage.

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Miike Coal Mine is one of the mines that supported Japan’s modernization as the site of tremendous amounts of coal produced from the Meiji Period to the early Showa period. Mining has started since the Edo period, but started to expand after the Mitsui Corporation purchased operations in 1889. It is best remembered post-World War II as the stage for the Miike Struggle labor dispute, cheap foreign coal imports, and focusing more on fossil fuels as an energy resource. It then closed in 1997. In 2015, it was designated a world heritage site as part of “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution”.

The Miike Coal Mines feature a hoist chamber, lamp house, office, and bathhouses made of red brick. The second shaft tower and a mountain god altar remains in its original look. The second mine shaft features a 274m tall pit that has been filled.

The nearby Mandako Station features replicas, old photos, and film clips that retell the history of the Mandako.

Highlights

  • Registered as a World Heritage site as "Industrial Revolution Heritage of Meiji Japan: Iron and Steel Making, Shipbuilding, and Coal Industry.
  • One of the main shafts of Miike Coal Mines located in Arao and Omuta cities.
  • The uniquely structured second shaft, and hoist chamber are designated as national important cultural properties.
  • Located on the border of Kumamoto prefecture.

Photos

  • A steel-made second shaft and red-brick hoist chamber.

    A steel-made second shaft and red-brick hoist chamber.

  • The pulley machine is still in its place inside the hoist chamber.

    The pulley machine is still in its place inside the hoist chamber.

  • An industrial heritage that supported Japan’s modernization from the Meiji period.

    An industrial heritage that supported Japan’s modernization from the Meiji period.

  • One of Japan’s largest mining facilities during the Meiji Period, and was the standard of the mining industry.

    One of Japan’s largest mining facilities during the Meiji Period, and was the standard of the mining industry.

  • Snowfall during a couple of days of the year.

    Snowfall during a couple of days of the year.

Reviews

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  • 薛玉美

    日本現存最古老的鋼結構建築物哦

Details

Name in Japanese
三池炭鉱万田坑
Postal Code
864-0001
Address
200-2 Haramanda, Arao City, Kumamoto
Telephone
0968-57-9155
Closed
Mondays (if holiday, the next day), Year End and New Years
Business hours
9:30 am - 5:00 pm (Admission fee charging area open until 4:30 pm).
Admission
Adults 410 yen, High School Students 310 yen, Elementary / Middle-School Students 210 yen (Mandako Station: free)
Directions
Take the Kyushu Sanko Bus from JR Arao Station, disembark at “Mandako-mae” stop and walk 2 minutes.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)