Opening hours and admission for this place have not been checked yet, so none are shown. Check the official site
Our guide
The Besshi copper mine in Niihama, Ehime, was a rich source of copper. The deposits were found in 1690 and mining began the next year; in the late 1690s it was the world's largest copper producer, and it turned a small fishing and farming village into a major industrial city of Shikoku. Between 1691 and its closure in 1973 it produced about 700,000 tonnes of copper, contributing to Japan's trade and modernisation. It was run by the Sumitomo family and helped build the Sumitomo zaibatsu; the Dōzan River is named after it.
Today the Minetopia Besshi theme park uses some of the mine's facilities. We have not checked its opening hours, fees or a public-transport route.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Tounaru 20230526 2 — Araiyasushige · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Besshi copper mine — Unknown author · Public domain · source · resized
- Tounaru 20230526 1 — Araiyasushige · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Tonaru third substation — Jack serow · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Tonaru — As6673 · Public domain · source · resized
- Maintopia 20250816 2 — Araiyasushige · CC0 · source · resized
- Maintopia 20230506 5 — Araiyasushige · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Maintopia 20230506 4 — Araiyasushige · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Maintopia05 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
The Besshi copper mine (別子銅山, Besshi dōzan) was a rich source of copper in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The deposits were discovered in 1690, and copper mining began in the following year. It was the world's No. 1 copper producing mine in the latter half of the 1690s and changed a small fishing and farming village into a major industrial city on Shikoku. From 1691 until the closing of the mine in 1973, Besshi produced about 700,000 tons of copper, and contributed to Japan's trade and modernization. The Sumitomo family managed the mine, which helped build the Sumitomo zaibatsu. The Dōzan River was named after the copper mine. The Minetopia Besshi theme park uses some of the mine's facilities.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: History
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Traveler reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share how it went.