Nestled in the forested mountains of Chichibu, the Wado Ruins mark the legendary site where high-purity copper was unearthed in 708 AD to forge Japan’s first official minted coins, the Wadōkaichin. Visitors can hike tranquil woodland trails to explore preserved 8th-century mining trenches and pose beside striking monument-sized replicas of ancient currency. According to local folklore, washing your modern coins in the nearby mountain stream and offering them at the adjacent Hijiri Shrine invites enduring financial prosperity. It is an enchanting off-the-beaten-path excursion combining early industrial history, Shinto traditions, and peaceful nature.
- Archaeological Sites
- Historic Sites
- Shrines
- Mining History
- Folklore & Legends
- Off the Beaten Path
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