The Toi Kinzan (Toi Gold Mine) http://www.toikinzan.com/

Shizuoka was mined over centuries since the Middle Ages. The Toi gold mine was discovered in 1577. The first gold was found in the area as alluvial gold, the vein was eroded, the gold washed away and accumulated in pits in the rivers around. 

Under the direct control of the Ashikaga Japanese administration of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the mined gold and silver was used to make the keicho-koban or "Keicho" coins (a traditional Japanese oval gold coin). The mine's most productive years were during the years of Keicho - between 1596-1615...Toi Kinzan's production of gold was second only to that on Sado Island: over the 388 years of total production, 78 metric tons of gold and 2,330 metric tons of silver were mined. As a result of the industry, Toi flourished as a port with the frequent visits of Tokugawa ships that transported the gold and silver.

Mining ceased in 1965 and the site became a tourist facility. The tunnels have been made into a museum with animated figures and dioramas depicting the mining and the history of Toi town life in the feudal period. The mines are said  said to be 100km long and the tour of the mine takes place underground in a section the old tunnel. Dioramas with animated life sized figures depicting life and history of the gold mining community during the Edo era.

Mining techniques, smelting, working conditions and the gold and silver ore veins are shown. Because of the hot springs inside the mine that were discovered flowing out through the rocks, in 1610 by gold diggers, the temperature underground was hot so that it was not uncommon for workers to lose consciousness. Dioramas show workers wearing only a sort of loincloth or shortened garments.

There are models of the then flourishing town, Toi's gold mine surroundings and surface installations and of the Tokugawa ships that transported the gold. The Toi Onsen (Toi-Cho) is the oldest onsen on the Western coast of Izu Peninsula.

The processing of and uses of the metal are also depicted, and visitors can touch the world's largest gold ingot (200 kg) as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Other gold item exhibits are displayed here as well. Some 5 million yen worth of gold items (21 gold items), including necklaces and coins, were stolen from the museum although the 200-kilogram bullion was left untouched.

(Source: Mainichi shimbun retr. Oct 15, 2002)  

Visitors are likely to want to try their hand at gold panning as my kids did! Apart from the gold (dust or nuggets) that you are able pan from the river ores, hidden in the ores is a little gold Tanuki raccoon mascot. Should you find one, you stand a chance of winning a lottery of one of various gift items. (My son found a tanuki!) Adults pay 600 yen and kids 500 yen extra for the right to pan for gold in hotspring water.

Location: Toi Kinzan. 2726 Toi, Toi-cho, Tagata, Shizuoka

Access: (nearest railway station)

Toi Kinzan (Tel: 0558 98 0800)From Shuzenji station on Izu-Hakone Railway, take a bus for about 50 minutes, and then get off at "Toi-Kinzan."