The Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining (明治日本の産業革命遺産 製鉄・鉄鋼、造船、石炭産業 Meiji nihon no sangyōkakumei isan: seitetsu, tekkō, zōsen, sekitan sangyō) is a world heritage site, comprising 23 components around Japan.

Understand

During the Bakamatsu and Meiji eras (the second half of the 19th century), Japan transformed from a feudal state to a more modern society. The emperor realized that the needed to keep up technologically with the West in order not to become a colony. This resulted in an industrial revolution, and Japan can be considered the first country not part of a western empire to adopt western 19th century technology. This site, inscribed on the world heritage list in 2015 comprises some of the best preserved and most important places from that time.

Sites

Hagi Proto-industrial Heritage

• 1 Hagi Reverbatory Furnace. (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 Ebisugahana Shipyard. (updated Dec 2017)
• 3 Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works. (updated Dec 2017)
• 4 Hagi Castle Town. (updated Dec 2017)
• 5 Shokasonjuku Academy. (updated Dec 2017)

Kagoshima

• 6 Shuseikan. (updated Dec 2017)
• 7 Terayama Charcoal Kiln. (updated Dec 2017)
• 8 Sekiyoshi Sluice gate of Yoshino leat. (updated Dec 2017)

Nagasaki Shipyard and near Nagasaki

• 9 Kosuge Slip Dock. (updated Dec 2017)
• 10 Mitsubishi No.3 Dry Dock. (updated Dec 2017)
• 11 Mitsubishi Senshokaku Guest House. (updated Dec 2017)
• 12 Mitsubishi Giant Cantilever Crane. (updated Dec 2017)
• 13 Mitsubishi Former Pattern Shop. (updated Dec 2017)
• 14 Takashima Coal Mine. (updated Dec 2017)
• 15 Hashima Coal Mine. (updated Dec 2017)
• 16 Glover House and Office. (updated Dec 2017)

Elsewhere in Kyushu

• 17 Mietsu Naval Dock (Saga). (updated Dec 2017)
• 18 Miike Coal Mine and Miike Port (Omuta). (updated Dec 2017)
• 19 Misumi West Port (Uki). (updated Dec 2017)
• 20 The Imperial Steel Works, Japan (Kitakyushu). (updated Dec 2017)
• 21 Onga River Pumping Station (Nakama). (updated Dec 2017)

Central and northern Japan

• 22 Nirayama Reverbatory Furnaces (Izunokuni). (updated Dec 2017)
• 23 Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site (Kamaishi). (updated Dec 2017)

See also

• Industrial tourism
• Pre-modern Japan