Hosokura Mine-park/Japan

Hosokura mine was a leading mining company of lead and zinc in Japan, it has a history of 1200 years. This mine closed down in 1987 and now it is a theme park using tunnels. The work scenery has been faithfully reproduced in the tunnel. Cultural assets such as ancient documents are displayed in the exhibition room. You can experience gold panning in the pool.

Address: Nangou Uguisuzawa Kirihara-shi Miyagi-ken

Homepage of  Hosokura Mine-park

https://www.kuriharacity.jp/index.cfm/12,389,63,167,html

Taio Gold Mine/Japan

Gold ore was discovered in 1894. It was the largest gold mine in the Orient about 80 years until the closed mountain in 1972.

The total length of the tunnel was 110 km, and five shafts reaching 500 m underground were dug.
In 1983 it revived as "Underground Museum Taio Gold Mine”.

Also, you can enjoy gold panning in pool near the entrance.

The “Kyusyu Gold Panning Championship” is held once a year

 

Address:Gouse Nakatue-mura Hita-shi Ooita-ken

Homepage of Taio Gold Mine

http://taiokinzan.jp/kinzan.html
http://taiokinzan.jp/gold.html

Mikawa Mu-valley/Japan

This place is the tungsten mine closed in 1993. This mine has been reborn as the "Underground Kingdom Mikawa Mu-valley".
It is a unique adventure type theme park that explored 1 km of the tunnel as the stage.
The theme of this park is mysterious ancient civilization "Mu Continent".You can do gold panning experience in the pool and the pond.


Address:Nekasa Mikawa-machi Yamaguchi-ken

Homepage of Mikawa Mu-Valley

http://www.muvalley.com/

Maintopia Besshi/Japan

Besshi Copper Mine was discovered in 1690, it produced 700 thousand tons in about 280 years until 1973 and contributed to Japan's trade and modernization.
The Sumitomo family managed this mine and the copper related business became the cornerstone of the huge chaebol in Japan.


Maintopia Besshi is a theme park which used old facilities of Besshi Copper Mine. Mine tourism and gold panning in the pool can be done. Some of the gold flakes has stamp of raccoon, if you can collect 3 pieces, you will exchange for 5 g gold bar.

Address:Tachikawa Niihama-shi Ehime-ken Japan

Homepage of Minetopia Besshi
http://besshi.com/

Ikuno Silver Mine/Japan

This place is Silver Mine. It is said that the first digging was done in 1542.It is one of the leading silver mines in Japan and produced 1,700 tons of silver by the close of the mountain in 1973.
Currently, it is maintained as "Historic site of Ikuno Silver Mine". We can see tunnels and the mining museum.
This is not a gold mine, but you can wash sand in pan to separate out (gold, silver and tin) in the pool.

Address: Kono Ikuno-cho Asago-shi Hyogo-ken

Homepage of Ikuno Silver Mine
http://www.ikuno-ginzan.co.jp/

Toi Gold Mine/Japan

Toi Gold Mine was dug by about 1370, the first Golden Age was around 1600, the second Golden Age was around 1900, and closed in 1965. Estimated output amount is 40 t of gold, 400 t of silver.
After that, the inside of the tunnel was opened to the general tourists, and you can experience gold panning in the pool.

Also in 2005, 250 kg of gold bar were exhibited and that was registered in Guinness Book.

The gold panning competition is held once a year. The competition takes place in a classified water tank, competing for the number of gold flakes taken within the time limit.
This has not been adopted in the World Gold Panning Championship.The winner can get 5 g of gold nugget.

Address:Toi Izu-shi Shizuoka-ken Japan

Homepage of Toi Gold Mine

http://www.toikinzan.com/