Minetopia Besshi

Built on the grounds of the Besshi Copper Mine in Niihama, Ehime, which the Sumitomo family operated for 283 years before it closed in 1973. A mine train takes visitors through reconstructed tunnels showing how the operations worked when Besshi was among the most productive copper mines in the world. The surrounding mountainside holds dramatic stone ruins of original smelting facilities now overtaken by forest, with a quality that draws comparisons to European castle ruins. The complex includes a hot spring, children's play area, and engineering exhibits. Cherry blossoms soften the industrial landscape each spring.