Explore Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace: Japan’s Only Remaining Industrial Smelter with Stunning Mt. Fuji Views

Visit Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace – Where Industrial Romance Meets Mt. Fuji Views!

Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace – A Taste of Japan’s Industrial Revolution

Hooray for another UNESCO World Heritage site!
I dropped by the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace, the only functioning reverberatory furnace still standing in Japan, and boy, it was like stepping into an iron-clad slice of Meiji-era industrial dreams!

Located in Izu no Kuni, Shizuoka, Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace was used to melt iron and cast cannons. It’s a real-deal survivor from the 1800s and was recognized in 2015 as a part of the "Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution."
And get this—the visitor center is super modern and stylish. UNESCO-approved chic!

So… what is a “reverberatory furnace,” anyway?
It's a type of smelting furnace used to reflect heat onto iron to melt it—ideal for casting cannons.
I once saw the Hagi Reverberatory Furnace in Yamaguchi, but that one never went fully operational. This one? 100% legit.

Originally built with bricks and plaster, it now looks ultra-durable thanks to its reinforced steel structure. Kinda gives off Iron Man vibes, don’t you think?

You can peek inside the furnace from the outside, and if you ask the volunteer staff, they’ll give you a free guided tour.
One guide kindly asked, “Would you like a tour?” but I chickened out—solo explanations are kinda intense for me 😅
No lie, I regretted it later…

There’s also a lookout point in the nearby Kuraya Narusawa tea fields where you can see both Mt. Fuji and the Nirayama Furnace—two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one frame!
…Well, you can if the weather plays nice. I wasn’t that lucky—Fuji was hiding behind the clouds that day. Boo.

What is Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace?

The Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace, located in Izu no Kuni, Shizuoka, is Japan’s only remaining operational metal smelter from the late Edo period.
Built in 1857 under the guidance of Egawa Hidetatsu (aka Egawa Tarozaemon), this furnace was actively used to cast iron cannons and has been recognized as a valuable piece of Japan’s industrial legacy.

Unlike other furnaces that were only built for testing, this one actually fired up and got to work—making it a truly unique historical site.
The structure now has steel reinforcement for preservation, but the original bricks and plaster can still be seen, giving it that perfect blend of old and new.

Inside the museum, interactive displays and detailed models help explain how the furnace works, its significance during the Meiji Restoration, and how it helped Japan modernize in record time.

And if you’re lucky, you might catch a view of Mt. Fuji along with the furnace from the nearby tea-field observatory—a postcard-worthy double shot of heritage and nature!