Desolate Matsuo Mine: Abandoned Japan Sunset.
Decaying ruins of Matsuo Mine under a fiery sunset in Japan.

The Haunting Silence of Tōhoku Mines

The strong winter wind is howling through the abandoned concrete blocks where there are no windows left. The casually arranged blocks were the dormitory for the workers; there are so many of them, looking like giants standing in the middle of these deep mountains.

Abandoned mines in Japan have always been a great attraction for all urban explorers, but I never expected to visit the best of them so soon. In this trip, we are going towards the great northeast of Japan where many of them sleep quietly. It is 5 am and the chilly wind is really intimidating, but we must get going before the sun awakes. Driving uphill into the Matsuo mountains, we are rising with the sun. Inside the forests, the leaves are turning red; not many birds are singing, only the brave eagles hovers coolly and gracefully.

Matsuo Mine (松尾鉱山)

Tohoku Mine - Good Morning Matsuo

We passed through the not yet ruined destruction site for Matsuo Mine quietly in the Morning Reveille, heading towards our even quieter destination. It took us some time to drive around in circles trying to figure out the best approach to the mine. And when we finally get off the car, it actually started to rain.

Tohoku Mine - Matsuo Mine

The strong winter wind is howling through the abandoned concrete blocks where there are no windows left. The casually arranged blocks were the dormitory for the workers; there are so many of them, looking like giants standing in the middle of these deep mountains. We trespassed into the first empty corridor, the floor is cracked, and plants are climbing in from everywhere. Our troop separated from here, to have some private exploring time. Since the place was so huge, we actually never saw each other at all until the gathering time.

Tohoku Mine - To The Bathroom

Marching through the complex resided almost 100 years ago, we are really walking through history. Unfortunately there are not many belongings left here, but our friend did report to have found some war time posters. But it felt like such a treat already to be able to see abandoned buildings all around wherever you stand. With no doors or glasses left, these buildings are really easy to enter.

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abandoned, apartment, haikyo, iwate, japan, japanese, ruin, tohoku, urban exploration, urbex

Tohoku Mine - Autumn Leaves

You should also climb onto one of the roofs, sit closely to a chimney to hide from the sharp wind, and get some warmth of the sun when the rain stops. The emptiness echoes in the Iwate mountains, the haunting silence of the abandoned mines.

Tohoku Mine - Ride the Concrete Monster

Tohoku Mine - Concrete in the Moutains

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There is even a school not far from the complex, the iron board hanging on top of the building is cracking loudly ready to fall and chop someone’s head off anytime… Taking about getting killed, someone did kill himself in the school gym with the basketball rack…

Tohoku Mine - Matsuo Mine Room
Tohoku Mine - Gunkanjima

The midday sun drove our chill away, and dried me up from the frozen rain in the morning. We are now at Osarizawa. This is a mine with 1300 years history, it closed down at 1978 but there are still many workers around, probably cleaning up the left overs.

Osarizawa Mine (尾去沢鉱山跡)

Tohoku Mine - Osarizawa Mine

We carefully avoided attention and ran into the bushes of the deserted side. This ruin is really old, even the original shape of the building is more of less gone. The main “tourist” spot is the two pure blue chemical pools right at the foot of the mountain, which reminded me of the non-chemical but more colorful pools in Jiuzhaigou (Sichuan, China).

Tohoku Mine - Chemical Pools

Not satisfied from the most visited area, our troop started to climb the old mountain, where some unrecognizable concrete blocks still lying around. However, besides the fact that the hiking itself was quite exciting, there was nothing much to it. The Osarizawa ruins were too ruined (not that I am complaining :/) and it was too dangerous to move around on the slippery, steep and sandy surface while trying to hide from the cars that kept slowing down when passing near us. After watching the workers from the top of the hill for a while, we packed and left without looking back, because the pictures taken from further away is much more interesting. The abandoned constructions of the mine looks like a big spider devouring the yellowish mountain slowly but surely.

Tohoku Mine - Giant Tub

Tohoku Mine - Workers Union

Tohoku Mine - Experiences

The last mission left was Taro mine. We bid goodbye to Akita, where the tasty rice are grown, and back to our base, Iwate Prefecture. It actually surprised me how long the drive is, so Iwate Prefecture must be huge (indeed it is, it is the second biggest in Japan, right after Hokkaido).

Tohoku Mine - Taro Mine in the distance

Mine closed down in the 1970s, the main building is huge, bare but full of green. This area once being quite busy, has residential buildings, a theatre hall for movies, and even a shrine. Nowadays, it became belongings of Meisei University, and they use it for Cosmic Ray observation.

Taro Mine (田老鉱山跡)

Tohoku Mine - Taro Mine
Tohoku Mine - Orange Tubs

Tohoku Mine - Machine Hall II

Tohoku Mine - Machine Hall

After the peaceful walk in the abandoned area, a tour around this laboratory of nobody is recommended. It is quite a shock for my not-so-scientific mind, with hundreds of cords coming out of the window, crawling on the floor, then spreading out onto hundreds weird looking little machines, and the chemical pools from the mines are right next to it. The beeping sound of the machines and the flushing sound from the pipes disturbed the silence of the mine. Students for the laboratory must be haikyo lovers to be able to research in such an environment.

Tohoku Mine - Tunnel

Tohoku Mine - Projector

Tohoku Mine - Meeting Room

Tohoku Mine - Army of Chairs
Tohoku Mine - Abandoned Bike

The not so well written article for sure cannot deliver the whole message. The Tohoku mountain talks better themselves; in their unique language they will charm you completely. The haunting silence of the mines, their once prosperities are still told by the wind, if only you listen carefully.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

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Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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In whispers of green, A windmill twirls tales untold, Red roofs fade in time. 静かな緑の中で、 風車が語らぬ物語を回し、 赤い屋根が時と共に消えていく。#windmilltales #rusticcharm #natureandcity #urbanserenity #japancontrast #offbeatjapan #japan
Rust cliffs kiss the sea, Turquoise whispers secrets deep— Nature's vivid brush. 崖が海と キスをしながら蒼き 自然の筆。 #offbeatjapan #japan #coastallandscapes #volcanicisland #naturelovers #stunningviews #wanderlust #cliffside
Rust embraces gray tones, Moss dances in vivid green— Nature's quiet claim.錆びた灰色に抱かれ 苔が鮮やかに踊る 自然の静かなる主張#offbeatjapan #japan #industrialart #rustandruin #naturewins #urbanexploration #mossybeauty
Concrete gray fortress Amidst the blue sea's embrace— Silent echoes speak. コンクリートの城 青い海の抱擁の中で— 静かな声が響く。 #Gunkanjima #HashimaIsland #BattleshipIsland #Nagasaki #Urbex #offbeatjapan #japan
Ancient coaster sleeps, Twilight whispers pinks and blues, Nature reclaims all. 崩れたコースターが眠る、 薄桃色と青の夜明けのささやき、 自然が全てを取り戻す。 #offbeatjapan #japan #abandonedplaces #rollercoaster #twilightbeauty #nostalgia #naturestriumph #forgottenamusement
Pink blossoms whisper, Quiet streets cradle old tales, Sky and mountains dream.桃の花囁く、 静かな道に古い物語を抱え、 空と山は夢見る。#cherryblossoms #japanesetradition #countrysidecharm #historicaljapan #sakura #offbeatjapan #japan
Dust veils whispered past, Ghostly echoes cradle dreams, Where silence presides.静寂の中で、 囁かれた夢は、 埃に包まれる。#offbeatjapan #japan #urbandecay #abandonedplaces #hauntingbeauty #forgottenworlds #silenthalls #explorejapan
Yellow noren glow, In a calm, verdant alley— Silent history.---黄色の暖簾、 静かな緑の小路に— 静寂の歴史。---#japanesehistory #traditionaljapan #serenealley #historicdistrict #japanesearchitecture #offbeatjapan #japan