Located just below the rock-fill dam, this artistic space is composed of a vast outdoor sculpture park and an art museum. Artworks are spread throughout the entire Tatara Valley, creating an environment where art and nature seamlessly blend. Inside the museum, works by Toshio Yodoi—a recipient of the prestigious Order of Culture and a native of the city—are permanently exhibited both indoors and outdoors. The museum also hosts a variety of special exhibitions throughout the year.

739-3 Tataragi, Asago City

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Built in 1919 (Taisho 8) after the closure of Mikobata Mine, the Mikobata Concentration Plant processed ore from the Akenobe Mine. It proudly held the title of the largest facility of its kind in East Asia until operations ceased in 1987 (Showa 62). Today, visitors can see remnants such as concrete foundations, parts of a device called a “thickener,” and the “Moose Former Residence,” a designated prefectural cultural property. Another highlight is the Mikobata Cast Iron Bridge, a nationally important cultural asset spanning about 1.7 km, which was constructed to transport ore to the Ikuno Smelting Plant.

1842-1 Sanou, Asago City

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Takeda Castle Ruins sit atop Mt. Kojoyama at an elevation of 353 meters. As one of the rare mountain castles in Japan to remain almost completely intact, it is also known as “Torafusu Castle” or “Koga Castle,” named for its resemblance to a reclining tiger. On clear late-autumn mornings, the area is often shrouded in mystical sea fog—a beloved Tajima tradition. Visitors from far and wide come to witness this magical scene, where the castle appears to float in the sky.

169 Takeda Kojoyama, Wadayama-cho, Asago City

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Tataragi Dam is the lower dam of the Okutataragi Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Station, one of Japan’s largest of its kind (with Kurokawa Dam serving as the upper dam). Constructed as a rock-fill dam, Okutataragi utilizes an elevation difference of about 400 meters, boasting the second-highest power output in the country. The area around the dam lake is renowned for its stunning autumn foliage, especially at Asago Eco Park located beside the power station, where the vibrant colors create a truly unforgettable scene.

1198 Tataragi, Asago City

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The approximately 1-kilometer-long tourist mine tunnel at Ikuno Silver Mine brings the rich history of the mine’s heyday to life. Visitors can see vivid remnants of Edo-period hand-chiseled rock, alongside recreations of modern mining operations from the Meiji era onward. A highlight is the massive winding drum of the elevator once used by countless miners who entrusted their lives to it as they descended deep underground—an awe-inspiring testament to the past.

33-5 Ono, Ikuno-cho, Asago City

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Located on the ridge’s tip at about 144 meters above sea level along Hōju Pass, which connects Wadayama and Santo, Chasuriyama Kofun is a large circular burial mound from the early 5th century. It is one of the tombs of the rulers who governed Tajima and, with a diameter of 90 meters, stands as one of the largest circular tumuli in the Kinki region. Recognized as a National Historic Site, the mound’s central coffin yielded a vast collection of weapons and armor, reflecting the great power held by the ruler buried here.

Tsutsue, Wadayama-cho, Asago City

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