Best Places to Experience Modern Industrial Japan!
What makes modern industrial Japan so interesting?
In just 170 years, Japan transformed from a closed samurai society into an industrial powerhouse. Driven by a relentless pursuit to catch up with the West, Japan rapidly built industries that shaped what Japan is know for today.
When in Japan, why not explore these fascinating sites that showcase this journey of innovation and resilience? Discover our top picks below where you can to learn about modern industrial Japan.
1 ) The Mysterious Underground Oya mines
⛏️ Delve Down 100 feet beneath the ground to the Mysterious Underground space!
Come and visit the home of Oya stone, a world-rare stone that can only be ⛏️mined in Oya! Don’t know much about the stone? The🏚️ Oya History Museum offers an informative introduction to Oya stone’s ⚙️history and transition.
Here comes the real 🌟 surprise — You can walk around the massive underground cavern located 30 meters (100 feet) beneath the museum, which was an operational mine until 1986 and played an important role in the construction of storage houses in the early 20th century. Overseas architects including Frank Lloyd Wright (wikipedia) also used Oya stone to design his buildings.
Covering a total area of more than 20,000 square meters, the underground quarry is truly a ✨mind-blowing site to 👣 wander through. Parts of the giant walls and 🏛️ chambers are illuminated into different colors, bringing its visitors into a 🔮 mysterious dream-like world far from reality.
⛏️Come and enjoy a day of one-of-a-kind 👀 exploration!
Season
All Year Round
Cost
800 yen (Adult)
400 yen (Child)
Nearest Station
How to get there
– 20min drive from Kanuma IC
– 15min drive from Utsunomiya IC
[By, bus ]
– Take the [45] Bus from JR Utsunomiya Sta. or from Tobu Ekimae (3 min walk from Tobu Utsunomiya Station) and get off at Shiryokan Iriguchi bus stop (Approx. 25-30min)
Contact
+81 028-652-1232
(Oya History Museum)
Things to do
Carry Express (Charter Bus)
Wakayama Farm
– Oya Kannon
– Kanehon Mine
– Oya Connect
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
2 ) Ashio Copper Mine
📣Hi-ho! Hi-ho! To the copper mine we go ⛏
🚂Enjoy a ride through the winding tunnels of Ashio Copper Mine in a real mine cart! Feel the carriage sway underneath you as you advance toward the 🕯bright lights illuminating the passageway.
With a 400 year history, you will witness the life of medieval miners and marvel at the ingenious technology of 🏯Edo Japan. Walking through 700 meters of ✨glistening passages, you will be taken back in time by life-size reconstructions, sounds of miners, and the purr of machinery. Then, 👣step into the exhibition room, where you will see the transformation of ore into brilliant copper❗️ 😲😲
(See underground map here)
Season
All Year Round
*Closed for refurbishment from 8th Jan to 6th Feb 2025
Cost
830 yen (Adult)
410 yen (Child)
Nearest Station
Tsudou Station (通洞駅)
Watarase Valley Railway (Watrase Keikoku Tetsudo)
How to get there
5min walk from Tsudo Station.
(Drive from Nikko or Kiryu)
Contact
+81-288-93-3240 (Ashio Copper Mine)
– Furukawa Kakemizu Club
– Watarase Valley Railway (Watarase Keikoku Tetsudo)
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
3 ) The Railway Museum
Attention all 🚂 Railway Fanatics! Deepen your Love and Knowledge on 🚃 Railways at the 🚉 Railway Museum!
Come visit the 🚃Railway Museum in Onari, Saitama City, a wonderful space to ✨celebrate the history and development of railways in Japan and abroad. Built as part of the ⭐JR East 20th Anniversary Memorial Project, the museum has a 🚂“History Zone” that displays carriages and parts of historic vehicles, including early 🚅shinkansens (bullet-trains) and diesel locomotives!
👀Don’t miss the world’s only 📷steam locomotive simulator to the left of the main entrance! The museum is also family-friendly and teaches ⭐children about 🚂railway systems and technologies through their displays and simulations. When you get hungry, be sure to try out the 🚉railway-themed restaurants!
Season
All Year Round
*Official: Check opening days here (Grey days are closed days).
Cost
1,600 yen (Adult)
6000 yen (Child)
Nearest Station
Tetsudo Hakubutsukan Station (鉄道博物館駅)
On the New Shuttle Line (Saitama Shin Toshi Kōtsū).
*2 min ride from JR Omiya Station.
How to get there
1min walk from Tetsudo Hakubutsukan Station.
Contact
048-651-0088 (10:00am-5:00pm)
– Hikawa Shrine
– Saitama City Space Theater (Planetarium)
– Omiya Park
– Mint Museum Saitama
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
4 ) Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC)
🚀 Three, Two, One… BLAST OFF!
🌠 Visit One of the Coolest ✨ Space Centers in Japan!
Don’t miss out on an incredible opportunity to visit 🚀Tsukuba Space Center, a world-class space center in Tsukuba Science City! This is where 🌠JAXA, the Japanese national aerospace and space agency train their astronauts and conduct ⭐research and 🚀space development.
✨The coolest part is that you get to 👀see a glimpse of the facilities! Through the tours that the center offers, you will get to see ⭐“Kibo,” the Japanese Experiment Module for the International Space Stations, as well as the 🚀astronaut training facility to learn about the astronauts’ ✨cool jobs!
Season
Booking is required
Space Dome is closed for refurbishment until Spring 2025.
Cost
Tour is 500 yen (Once a day in Japanese)
Nearest Station
Tsukuba Station
How to get there
From Tsukuba Station take a bus towards ‘Arakawa Oki iki’ and get off at ‘Busshitsu Zairyou Kenkyu Kikou’ Bus stop and walk 1 min.
(If you have difficulty ask at Tsukuba Station)
Contact
Tel: 029-868-2023
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
⛏️🚂 Best Places to Learn About Modern Industrial Japan 🚀
Looking for more Japanese Culture and History near Tokyo?
Discover all the Japanese Culture and History Experiences near Tokyo here.
Why not also check out the best Cultural Craft making near Tokyo as well!
(click on the pink links to see more)
Our Team
We write these articles
Angus Miyaji
‘Woody’ Shu Yokoyama
Kayo Hirai
