What Is Osarizawa Mine?｜Industrial Heritage of a Copper Mine in Kazuno
Osarizawa Mine (Osarizawa Kōzan) in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading former copper mines, where the remains of mining tunnels offer insight into mine labor and the development of local industry.
Because the current visit system differs from the former public access system, start by checking the reservation requirements instead of relying on old sightseeing information.
A Gold and Copper Mine in the Edo Period
Although it is unclear when mining first began, the mine was operating on a large scale as a gold and copper mine of the Morioka Domain during the Edo period.
Mining involved not only extracting ore but also many processes such as transportation, beneficiation, and smelting, making the mine an industrial site where technology and human labor came together.
An Underground Production Site
The tunnels preserve traces of excavation that followed ore veins, along with mine carts, mining machinery, shafts, and other features that reveal a working environment invisible from above ground.
Looking at the bedrock and extent of the tunnels helps you imagine surveying, excavation, transportation, and safety management as one continuous set of tasks required to obtain underground resources.
Transition to a Social Studies Field-Trip Facility
Today, this is not a general tourist attraction that visitors can enter freely. It is operated as a reservation-based facility for social studies field trips.
You cannot apply to join after arriving, so once your travel date is set, check the acceptance requirements first.
Current Visit System｜Confirm the Fully Reservation-Based Group Policy
The mining tunnels open only for reserved visits, which are led by a facility guide.
Unlike a typical tourist attraction, you cannot enter at any time during business hours. Visitors must meet requirements concerning eligibility, group size, opening dates, and the application deadline.
General public access ended on March 31, 2026. Since April 1, the facility has operated on a fully reservation-based system exclusively for groups visiting for social studies purposes.
The minimum group size is 8 people. Groups of 7 or fewer must consult the facility in advance.
Make your reservation at least one month before the visit date.
Tunnel tours are offered Monday through Saturday from April 1 to November 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The facility is closed on Sundays and public holidays, as well as during winter from December through March.
Fees for a guided visit are 1,500 yen per adult, 1,100 yen per high school student, 1,000 yen per junior high school student, and 900 yen per elementary school student or younger child.
Visitors age 18 or older, except high school students, pay the adult fee. Preschool children are also charged.
Do Not Use Old Public Access Information
Past travel articles may still list the hours, closing days, and fees from when the mine was open to the general public.
Because those details differ from the current system, check the publication date and current acceptance information, and do not plan your visit using only an old fee table.
Information to Prepare Before Reserving
Organize your preferred date, number and category of participants, purpose of the visit, contact details, and other required information before applying.
Eligible groups are limited to those visiting for social studies purposes, such as school trips, off-campus classes, universities, academic societies, professional training groups, and social studies tour groups.
Individual Visitors Are Generally Not Eligible to Reserve
Individuals and general leisure tour groups are generally not eligible for admission.
Groups of 7 or fewer are not accepted automatically, so consult the facility without assuming that a reservation can be made.
The following table provides a suggested order for confirming your reservation.
| Step | What to Confirm | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Opening date | Whether a visit is possible |
| Requirements | Eligibility and group size | Application category |
| Procedure | Deadline and method | Acceptance completed |
What to Observe in the Tunnels｜Connect Mining, Transportation, and Safety
Instead of focusing only on the tunnels' enormous scale, follow the process by which ore became raw material for products to deepen your understanding.
Listen to the guide and proceed while checking which task each piece of equipment was used for.
Excavation Traces That Follow Ore Veins
The tunnel shapes are not uniform; miners advanced according to the locations of ore veins and the condition of the bedrock.
Do not touch the ceiling or walls carelessly. Observe the rock colors and excavated surfaces from within the lit areas to see the boundary between natural geology and human labor.
Mine Carts and Machinery
Mined ore had to be transported from underground to the surface, and mine carts and transportation equipment were essential to production.
Rather than memorizing the name of each machine, think about where material was loaded, which route it traveled, and how it was passed to the next process to understand its role.
Shafts and Safety Management
Underground work required measures for hazards different from those above ground, including falls, darkness, and narrow passages.
During the tour, do not cross restricted lines or walk ahead of the guide. Confirm where photography is permitted and where you may stop.
The following table organizes the relationship between objects to observe and the work performed.
| Object | Process | Perspective |
|---|---|---|
| Excavated surface | Mining | Ore vein |
| Mine cart | Transportation | Route |
| Shaft | Vertical movement | Safety |
Osarizawa Mine Materials｜Understand the Work Through Tools and Illustrated Records
The Osarizawa Mine materials are cultural properties that convey work inside and outside the mine through actual mining tools and illustrated work records.
Designated as a Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Akita Prefecture, the collection comprises 77 mining tools of 41 types used for mining, transportation, beneficiation, and other work, as well as 2 illustrated records depicting mining work.
The materials are housed at the Kazuno City Mine History Museum (Kazuno-shi Kōzan Rekishikan), but only the sightseeing tunnels are available on regular visits at present.
Check the exhibition status in advance. If the materials cannot be viewed, use cultural property information to learn about the roles of the tools.
Mining and Transportation Tools
Chisels, pickaxes, ladders, baskets, lighting equipment, and other tools supported the work of breaking rock, securing footing, and carrying ore.
Compared with modern heavy machinery, they reveal how many processes depended on human power and the skill required to use different tools for different tasks.
Beneficiation and Smelting Tools
Not everything excavated was usable ore. Workers had to select the needed components and extract the metal.
Materials such as grinding mills, tubs, and bellows show that many work areas and specialized skills were needed outside the tunnels as well.
The Role of Illustrated Work Records
Tools alone may make it difficult to imagine how they were held or how many people performed a task, but pairing them with illustrated work records reveals their use and the sequence of operations.
Notice the clothing, posture, and surrounding equipment to view mining not only as a history of machinery but also as the lives and work of people.
Clothing and Safety｜Prepare for Cold, Darkness, and Uneven Footing
Tunnel temperatures and lighting differ from outdoors, and some surfaces may be wet or uneven.
Prioritize any items specified by the organizer and choose clothing that emphasizes safety more than ordinary city walking.
Comfortable Shoes and an Extra Layer
Choose slip-resistant shoes and keep your baggage compact so that both hands remain free, making it easier to move around.
Even when it is warm outside, the tunnels may feel cold, so bring a layer that is easy to put on and take off.
Prioritize Guidance Over Photography
Walking while looking at a screen in a dark place makes it harder to notice steps and people around you.
Even where photography is allowed, stop before taking pictures, confirm the rules for flash and tripods, and keep shooting brief.
Consult About Participation Requirements in Advance
Participation arrangements may vary depending on age, walking conditions, and tunnel facilities.
When reserving, ask about steps, movement, rest breaks, and whether mobility aids may be used, so that you do not have to decide on an unreasonable participation plan on the day.
Digital Materials and Summary｜Begin Learning by Checking Reservations
If the reservation conditions or schedule do not work for you, use historical materials in the Kazuno City Digital Archive and the 360-degree tunnel panorama.
Do not travel to the site or enter restricted areas without permission. Use the public materials to prepare for a future visit.
360-Degree Virtual Tour
A 360-degree panorama of the Osarizawa Mine tunnels is available online.
Move the viewpoint to check the width and ceiling of the tunnels and the locations of exhibits; this makes it easier to understand their spatial relationships than with flat photographs.
City History and Cultural Property Information
Digitized Kazuno city histories and cultural property information can help you investigate local history and the significance of the materials that a basic facility introduction may omit.
Learning the terminology before your visit will make it easier to distinguish mining, beneficiation, and smelting in the guide's explanation.
Summary
Osarizawa Mine is an industrial heritage site where excavation remains, mine carts and machinery, tools, and illustrated work records reveal the technology and labor that supported copper mining.
Visits are now fully reservation-based and limited to groups with a social studies purpose. Confirm current information on eligibility, group size, dates, fees, and the application deadline, and follow the guide's instructions inside the tunnels.
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