Built in 1943 during the Pacific War, the eight-story Winding Tower of Shime Coal Mine once hoisted thousands of miners and tons of coal from deep subterranean depths. Today, it stands as one of only three surviving vertical winding shafts of its design in the world, designated as an Important Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Its stark, quasi-Brutalist silhouette gained viral internet fame as an impenetrable "anti-zombie fortress." Now surrounded by a serene community park, it offers an unforgettable and photogenic glimpse into Japan's 20th-century industrial heritage.
- Architecture
- Historic Landmarks
- Industrial Heritage
- Mines
- Ruins & Haikyo
- Towers
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