Nichitsu Mine (日窒鉱山) was a bit challenging for us. I have been so many times to the abandoned town of Nichitsu, always passing by the mine but never dared going in. I eventually did, during a nice sunset in autumn. We had to cross a dangerous bridge to access the mining area, from where we could be perhaps be seen by the guards, still around. Only a very small portion of the mining complex is actually abandoned and the Nichitsu troops are everywhere.

The mine already existed before World War I but its real exploitation only started when Nichitsu bought it in 1937. The work day used to start at 8am. Blasting would happen around 3pm and once done, the day was over for those workers. Night shift was starting at 4pm and ended around midnight. Those miners carried out the minerals. Today you can still see an intense activity, around the clock, even on week-ends and holidays.

This part of the mine was active between 1937 and 1970.