Kitchen Sink (Industrial Heritage) Questions

Hi All,

I know I've said this like 5 times - but I'm currently planning my LAST trip to Japan as I managed to score ULTRA cheap flights home via Japan for the upcoming summer. I'm happy that I purchased before the announcement as the flights have already increased by quite a bit....

My current dates are: June 11th - July 8th

My return trip is a bit shorter @ August 4th - August 9th.

I've probably got around 3 or so weeks of stuff planned that can be easily changed around - but I'm also interested in finding a bit more on the Industrial Heritage track (main focus on Kanto, Eastern Tohoku + Nagoya - Gujo Hachiman Area.

I've visited more of Japan than most - but my interest in Industrial Heritage only really peaked once I stumbled across some of the gems found in Kyushu. I've even made a best of post!

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3407

Any suggestions of industrial heritage (high quality) in this area would be much appreciated.

Now to get back to planning my autumn break to Bologna and Naples. Oh the difficult life of an international teacher....

Kosaka Town has a huge coal mine museum and railway museum dedicated to their industrial revolution hay days.

http://kosaka-mco.com/smarts/index/46/

http://kosaka-rp.com/sp/

Awesome! In May, $416 round trip business class seats with ANA for April, paying just the taxes. It also will be my last trip to Japan (my 14th as a tourist and 15th stay in Japan-first was a military 2 year stint in 1987).

I hope you enjoy your trip and also the one to Italy. But just remember not to order the Spaghetti Bolognese in Bologna (or anywhere in Italy for that matter)!

It's my personal favorite.
I like the textile-related facilities in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture.
http://kiryu-walker.net/?lang=en
Shops such as Basho, brick, or izushin are recommended.
https://we-love.gunma.jp/gourmet/basho
https://www.kiryu-renga.jp/
https://www.gunlabo.net/shop/shop.shtml?s=1008
The sauce katsudon (sitamiya) was also delicious.
http://www.sitamiya.com/
I also like the Okawa Museum of Art. (on the hill)
http://okawamuseum.jp/
I remember when I went to Kiryu a long time ago, the residents asked for a signature to register the Tomioka Silk Mill as a World Heritage Site.
http://www.tomioka-silk.jp/tomioka-silk-mill/
I think the Tomioka Silk Mill is also good, although it's a little further away (I've never been there).
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1449
If you take the Watarase Keikoku Railway from Kiryu (the trolley type is recommended), you can also go to the Ashio Copper Mine.
https://www.watetsu.com/
http://www.nikko-kankou.org/spot/28/
There seems to be a Megane Bridge in Annaka City.
Originally part of the railroad tracks, it is said to be the largest brick bridge in Japan.
It seems that the season of autumn leaves is the season.
https://www.city.annaka.lg.jp/kanko_spot/megane.html
https://gunma-dc.net/tourism/989/
https://www.city.annaka.lg.jp/kanko_spot/megane_hiking.html
Hawaiians in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture was originally a coal mine, but it seems that tours are being held.
https://www.hawaiians.co.jp/taiken/ex02.html
Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture has Nippon Steel Corporation, so it seems that there are many industrial heritage sites.
https://en.kamaishi-kankou.jp/learn/kamaishikouzan/
https://en.kamaishi-kankou.jp/about/industry/
https://www.marue.info/cn23/cn17/kogawa_sisen2020.html
https://www.nipponsteel.com/news/old_nsc/news/data/20071203143445.pdf
https://kamaishi-kankou.sakura.ne.jp/tpa/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/a_...
Kamaishi Mine
https://www.sennin-hisui.com/kozan/kounai.html
It is also a component of the World Heritage Site.
(Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site (Japan))
https://en.kamaishi-kankou.jp/learn/hashinotekkouzan/

In addition, Wikipedia information on industrial remains
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BF%91%E4%BB%A3%E5%8C%96%E9%81%BA%E7%...
I've never been there, but Sarushima Island in Yokosuka might be good too.
https://sarushima.jp/
https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/destinations/kanagawa/sarushima-monkeyis...
Verny Park near JR Yokosuka Station is famous for its roses, and you can also see the old Yokosuka Arsenal. https://www.city.yokosuka.kanagawa.jp/2120/seitetsuzyo/documents/yokos...
https://www.city.yokosuka.kanagawa.jp/2120/seitetsuzyo/main.html
Japan Heritage in Yokosuka
https://www.city.yokosuka.kanagawa.jp/8120/bunkazai/nihonisan/bunkazai...
Route Museum
https://routemuseum.jp/

You may have seen this already, but now even JG has a page dedicated to industry tourism:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2465.html

Thanks for the info everyone.

@ Likebike - yep I've seen the page. I've visited more than half of it already - and had planned to visit Kamaishi Iron Works + Taiji Whaling Museum already.

@ H - Kosaka is unfortunately a little bit too North. I don't intend to travel too far North or Morioka but I'll keep my options open.

@ John B - where are you heading for your last trip? I'm guessing Bolognese sauce is just a meat sauce in Japan.

@ Haro - some of the stuff you've suggested is on my to do list already. Some is in the process of being added. It's fair to say that I have a lot to check up on and might make my way down to Tomaika and also find an onsen town in the general vicinity. I'm just worried that the area does not hold enough "big ticket" attractions as I'm doing mainly smaller stuff for the 5 or so days before.

Sarushima also looks like an interesting day trip from Tokyo.

Bolognese is not served in Italy, but you can order Ragu Bolognese. I'll be based in Tokyo and Hiroshima and will most likely see friends and definitely visit Onomichi's Minato Matsuri. It's just a farewell trip. It's getting too expensive to fly 13 hours just to see a few friends and places. Going to Spain in the meantime really opened my eyes for travel to closer environs where I can actually converse with the local population.

Not history but current industry:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/09/30/style/industrial-tourism-...