Toi Gold Mine, 'Toi Kinzan' in Japanese, in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, was inaugurated in the 1370s. It enjoyed the golden age early in the 20th century employing cutting-edge Western mining technology, before the final end of operation in 1965. Through its long history, 40 tons of gold as well as 400 tons of silver had been mined from the mining tunnel extending 100 kilometers in total. Making the most of the old tunnel, it was converted into a theme park focusing on gold in 1972. Two pictures show respectively the main entrance to the old gold mine and the inner part of the tunnel. The Buddhist statue in the second picture still stands here as a guardian god for the bygone safe work. In this connection, the world's heaviest gold ingot, 250 kilograms in weight, is displayed in the annexed pavilion.
Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久
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