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A World Heritage Site and symbol of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution
Arao City
The Manda Pit, located in the city of Arao in Kumamoto Prefecture, northern Kyushu, is a site that symbolizes Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. The pit is part of the Miike Coal Mine, which was one of the largest coal mines in Japan and played an essential role in the rapid industrialization of the country during the Meiji era (1868–1912). The Manda Pit was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2015 and now attracts visitors from across the country and abroad. Take a visit to the complex and feel the magnificence of the buildings and machinery that stood the test of time. You can participate in a free guided tour inside the UNESCO Heritage Site and, if you are lucky, you can listen to stories told by former coal miners who used to work for the Miike Coal Mine and the Manda Pit.
How to get there
From Haneda Airport, fly to Fukuoka Airport. From Fukuoka Airport, take the express bus to Arao Station (about 1 hour 40 minutes). Manda Pit is about 15 minutes by taxi from Arao Station.
200-2 Haramanda, Arao-shi, Kumamoto-ken
