About
When you set foot in Kuroya, cradled by the mountains of Chichibu, you are enveloped by a sensation as if time is flowing back some 1,300 years. This is the historical stage where natural copper was discovered in the first year of the Wado era (708 AD), leading to the birth of Japan’s first circulating coin, the Wado Kaichin.
The Wado Ruins, which spread at the foot of Mount Wado, still retain a strong sense of the past. On the mountainside, the remains of open-pit mining are engraved, and natural fault surfaces are exposed. This geological feature, known as the Ideushi-Kuroya Fault, quietly stands as evidence of the copper mining that once took place there.
To the west of Mount Wado stands Iwayama, said to be the site where the ceremony for the offering of Wado copper was held. On the summit, the large characters for “Wado” are inscribed, making its presence visible from afar. Here, Hijiri Shrine, deeply connected to the offering of Wado copper, is enshrined, and within its grounds is the Wado Mineral Museum. The museum displays over 350 items related to Wado, including native copper and ore specimens collected from all over Japan and abroad, conveying the prosperity of mining in those days to its visitors.
Furthermore, around the Wado Ruins, many place names and legends related to copper production and smelting still remain. For example, names such as Wadozawa, Dowarabori, and Kanayama tell of the area’s history as a major copper-producing site. Moreover, local folklore includes legends such as that of Hitsuji Dayu, who is said to have transported copper to the capital at Nara on Chichibu horses, as well as stories about unique plants believed to grow only on Mount Wado, like Hana-ikada and Ichiyou-shida. These traditions show that the Wado Ruins are not just the site of an old mine, but a place rich in culture and history.
Visiting the Wado Ruins, you feel as if you can hear the breathing of people from over a thousand years ago. The lush green mountains, clear air, and weight of history blend together, quietly stirring the hearts of visitors. This is a place where past and present intersect. The Wado Ruins are more than just a historical site; they are a living witness, conveying the dawn of Japan’s currency system to the present day.