Central Facilities

Hub facilities
1.Akiyoshidai Museum of Natural History

At the museum you can learn everything about Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau from its geology and landforms, animals and plants, and archeological findings. The museum exhibits many fossils that were found in Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau including small animals such as coral, fusulina and ammonite, larger animals such as Giant Japanese elk and a type of small rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus nipponicus), as well as creatures that live in limestone caves such as bats. You can also find out about other geoparks in Japan!

  • Opening hours: 09:00-17:00
  • Closed on Mondays, and between December 28th and January 4th
  • Entry fee: Free
  • Address: 11237-938 Akiyoshi, Shūhō-chō, Mine-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
  • Inquiries: (TEL) +81(0)837-62-0640
Hub facilities
2.Akiyoshidai Eco Museum

The museum shows the landforms, history and nature of Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau from various perspectives through videos and scale models. There are many sections where visitors can learn about the natural environment and ecosystem of Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau through hands-on experiences. There is also a space where it feels like you’ve just walked into a cave.

  • Address: 2368-1 Aka, Mitō-chō, Mine-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
  • Opening hours: 09:00-16:30
  • Entry fee: 200 yen (free for senior high school students and below)
  • Closed on Tuesdays (closed on the following day if the Tuesday is a public holiday), and between December 28th and January 4th
  • Parking: 5 buses, 135 cars (free)
  • Access: 60 minutes by bus from JR Shin-Yamaguchi station / 5 minutes by car from Edō IC, Ogori-Hagi Road
  • Inquiries: Akiyoshidai Eco Museum (TEL) +81(0)8396-2-2622
Hub facilities
3.Naganobori Copper Mine Cultural Exchange Center (Daibutsu Museum)

At this facility, visitors can learn about copper ore and how copper deposits are formed. There are exhibits of mokkan (strips of wood that were used to write on), artifacts related to smelting, pigment made from copper ore (verdigris) and tools that were used to make this pigment.

  • Opening hours: 09:00-17:00
  • Closed on Mondays, and between December 27th and January 4th
  • Entry fees: Senior high school students or older: 300 yen / Junior high school and elementary school students: 150 yen / Pre-school or younger: free
  • Address: 610 Naganobori, Mitō-chō, Mine-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
  • Inquiries: (TEL) +81(0)8396-2-0055