About Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

The foundation of modern Japan, laid by iron and coal, and the Meiji Industrial Revolution

The “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining” is a group of 23 assets that symbolize the modernization of Japan, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2015. These heritage sites are located in 11 cities in 8 prefectures across Kyushu, Yamaguchi, Iwate, and Shizuoka, and tell the story of how Japan achieved its Industrial Revolution during the Meiji era. In particular, they focus on the iron and steel making, shipbuilding, and coal industries, which laid the foundation for Japan's growth into a global industrial power.

As a tourist destination, the area is characterized by its historical value and a tangible sense of the progress of industrial technology. The heritage sites in each area demonstrate the technological innovations and industrial development of the time, and are full of industrial heritage attractions. For example, the Yawata Steel Works in Fukuoka Prefecture is known as the birthplace of Japan's modern steel industry, and a tour of its massive structures and factory ruins will give visitors a sense of the industrial grandeur of the Meiji era.

As a recommendation, the first thing to do is to visit Glover Garden in Nagasaki Prefecture. Here, visitors can learn about the history of the Nagasaki Shipyard along with the residence of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover. Along with its beautiful gardens, Glover Garden is a place of great industrial heritage. Also in Shizuoka Prefecture is the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace, Japan's first practical reverberatory furnace, which was used to cast iron cannons. This reverberatory furnace symbolizes the development of iron manufacturing technology in modern Japan.

In addition, the Kagoshima Shipyard and the Matsushita Village School in Kagoshima Prefecture are not to be missed. The Kagoshima Shipyard was built by the Shimazu family of the Satsuma Domain and laid the foundation for modern shipbuilding technology in Japan. The Shoukasonjuku was a private school presided over by Shoin Yoshida, who fostered many of the leading figures of the Meiji Restoration. These legacies played an important role in the development of industry and education during the Meiji era.

The “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining” is an essential tourist attraction for learning and understanding the history of Japan's industrial development. By touring the heritage sites in each area, visitors can deeply feel the technological innovations and industrial progress of the Meiji Era, providing visitors with a wealth of inspiration and knowledge.