Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces — Attraction in Izunokuni

Disappointing! I respect the historical value of the furnace but I was extremely disappointed about its tourist information center. I am a foreigner living in Osaka and my hobby is to travel to different UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This time my target was this furnace in Shizuoka so I emailed the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace Tourist Information a week before if it's open on the travel date that I planned. They replied yes and gave me the opening hours. I went as planned only to find out that the whole furnace building was under construction covered with scaffolding and thick net. Very disappointed about the dishonesty of the information center. They could have just warned me like "yes it's open but the building is covered due to construction". I went all the way from Osaka spending 2-way shinkansen tickets just for this one (I didn't go anywhere else as I have traveled almost all places around). REALLY DISAPPOINTING SERVICE. The reason why I emailed prior is because I know and understand that most UNESCO-acknowledged buildings in Japan are under reconstruction taking advantage of the pandemic season. I hope the tourist information center was MORE INFORMATIVE that's why they are called information center in the first place. Tourists go and see the furnace not only for historical value but also for its architectural value (which we cannot see as it is covered). We don't go there to pay and to listen from tour guides about the history. We could search the history on the internet! In the end no beautiful picture for my UNESCO Site album. To the information center, please be informative and not just make business. I could have rescheduled my trip after the construction if only you told me the truth. Do not waste people's money,...

Well, for a recognized and designated world heritage structure, it didn't really exude any of the "wow" factor. And to be honest it was a lot smaller than I expected, details and information around the furnace were quite lacking for visitors

The tourist center did put up some decent exhibits (all in Japanese though) and information in regards to the history of the industrial revolution in Japan and how the furnace was a symbol of Japan's initial attempts at kick-starting the steel/metal industry.

The surrounding area is surprisingly nice. With a tea plantation terrace nearby, and nestled in a quiet, quaint...

とても歴史があって趣深い場所でした。 Access　⭐️⭐️ Reasonable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Structure ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Knowledge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Total ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 反射炉というのは、熱効率よく製鉄するための施設であり、明治の軍事産業に大きく貢献するものでした。ボランティアのおじさんが、とても熱く教えてくれるので、僕も感化されて覚えてしまいました。笑 鉄を冷やすための川が近くにあることが反射炉設置の条件でもある為、近くを綺麗な川が流れています。そういった立地の関係性を考えるのも非常に面白い場所です！ 反射炉もいいですが、この辺りはとても自然が豊かで、写真にも載せましたが、美しい竹林や茶畑も近くにあるので、行ってみることをオススメいします！ただ、反射炉以外何もないという印象なので、暇なときにいってみてください！笑 It was a very historical and quaint place. Access ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reasonable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Structure ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Knowledge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Total ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The reverberatory furnace is a facility to make iron with high thermal efficiency, which greatly contributed to the military industry in the Meiji era. The volunteer uncle was very passionate about teaching me about it, so I was inspired to learn about it too. (laughs) There is a beautiful river flowing nearby, as it is a condition for the installation of the reflector that there must be a river nearby to cool the iron. It's a very interesting place to think about the relationship between those locations! Aside from the reverberatory furnace, the area is very rich in nature, and as I mentioned in the photo, there are beautiful bamboo groves and tea fields nearby, so I recommend you go there! However, I have the impression that there is nothing but the reverberatory furnace, so please go there when you have...