Hyogo Prefecture, there is a area called “ore of the road,” deep in the mountains of Ikuno. Miko field from Akiranobe, and to Ikuno, thing of the road that connects ore and people, and the history of Japan’s modernization that culture was taken, the mining heritage group existing.Among them, Ikuno silver mine is but a famous tourist destination visited by many tourists, there is a legacy that I want to see absolutely in the heritage group. The heyday scale, is said to be the East one in production volume both, but “Miko field beneficiation field mark” as referred to as the “Great White Way” because it continued to operate regardless of the day and night.

Great White Way, which boasted the scale of the East “Miko batabeneficiation field”

In the development from the end of the Edo period, Meiji and modern Japanese industry formation, given to the remains, which played an important role “modernization industrial heritage”. “Tomioka Silk Mill” is famous, such as “warship island”, has attracted people as well as a major tourist destination now. Here, “silver mine of the road” even though he of such heritage group, remains have been called and that you are scattered and apart, will hazy on the impact of “Takeda Castle” called Castle in the Sky in the vicinity as the “Great White Way”, “Miko even the field beneficiation Castle “, even in the holiday or public holiday, there are no little people.

Originally, this area of high-quality mining resources have been mined, after the Meiji Restoration, has been re-developed as a model mine of modernization incorporating Western technology.

Blasting mining method by gunpowder, tram track, mining for aqueducts, so the heyday lived about 1300 people, children many, was also established for the first time of the School of Mines in Japan. Facility became a closed school is adjacent to the mineral processing field trace.

Beautiful contrast of the lonely ruins and vivid autumn leaves

I was told that the East “Miko field beneficiation field” is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the scale. Difference in height about 75 meters and a height that corresponds to the 22-story building, a width of about 110 meters, the length of the swash 傾部 is that it is about 165 meters. When the facility has not been demolished are, it must really was the atmosphere, such as the castle.

In “Muse former residence” of buckwheat immediately, or have been placed in history was written material, because such a model of “Miko field election ore field” of miniature made the miners protested the mine closure are on display, appearance of the Great White Way Ogameru with photos. Also, it does not help loving this land, the interesting local volunteer us to the carefully the description of the ruins.

This fall, surrounded by browned mountain, also in showing us a different one side “Miko field beneficiation field mark”, might also say to the ruins tour.

Miko field beneficiation field mark (Mikobata plugs improve after)
every time feel the roots of the current Japanese culture ★★★★★
￭ Address: Hyogo Prefecture Asago Sano

“Text, Photo: Naoyuki Nakagawa”