An underground museum that traces the history of the gold mine that boasted the highest gold production in the East.

The largest goldmine mine in the East

Along this path full of greenery, the first place we came to was the entrance to the underground museum.

On the right hand side there was a signboard that read ``Heritage of Modern Industrialization'' and on the left side there was a signboard that read ``Oriental's No. 1 Gold Mine Mine.'' Let's go inside right away.

Shinto altar

As you enter the tunnel, there is a small altar on your right. Japanese homes and businesses set up altars to pray for divine protection.

Especially at that time, underground mining work was still relatively dangerous, so people probably prayed to God when they went in and out.

We are also told to obey the village when we enter the village, so let's pray to God.

hans hunter

As you go further in, the path splits into two, and the entrance is the one on the right.

There are mannequins installed here that look like Europeans. One of the important founders of Kanayama was an Englishman named Hans Hunter.

He brought advanced mining techniques here and was able to mine 4.6 tons of gold and 9.5 tons of silver in seven years.

room of Secrets

There are three mannequins in the next room, and one of them raises his hand as if to ask us to do the same.

This seems to have been a place to check whether workers were sneaking out money.

shaft

As you go further inside, you will find something like a well in a large space.

This place is called a shaft. There are five shafts, and this is the first shaft.

This is one of the five tunnels that have been dug 540m underground. One horizontal tunnel was dug for every 30m depth of the shaft.

air

One important role of an air compressor is to supply fresh air to the driveway.

sake

Shochu is also stored here because the room temperature remains constant all year round and there is no sunlight.

The quality of sake is affected by changes in sunlight, temperature, and atmosphere, so if you age your sake in a place where the room temperature is constant throughout the year and out of sunlight, you can avoid the risk of deterioration in quality. This is the perfect place to store alcohol.

It will be shipped after 3 years of aging. I'm sure it will be a very delicious drink.

How about that. Do you want to see what was once the largest gold mine in the East? Please come and visit Taio Kanayama.

Taio Kanayama

877-0302 3750 Aise, Nakatsue Village, Hita City, Oita Prefecture

A different world underground where time sleeps. Taio Kanayama once boasted the highest gold production in the East, with a total length of...