The Shime Winding Tower, located in Shime Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, stands as a rare and significant relic of Japan's industrial history. Completed in 1943 during the Pacific War, this tower was part of the Shime Coal Mine, which operated from 1889 to 1964. It is the only surviving winding tower in Japan and is recognized as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, a designation it received on December 8, 2009.
Constructed from steel-reinforced concrete, the tower rises 52.7 meters above ground and extends 430 meters underground. Its primary function was to serve as a vertical mine shaft, facilitating the extraction of coal through a powerful 1,000-horsepower winch system that transported both workers and coal to and from the depths of the mine.
The Shime Coal Mine was unique in Japan for being entirely government-owned throughout its operational history. At its peak, the mine produced up to 500,000 tons of coal annually, supplying fuel for warships and steam locomotives during and after World War II. The winding tower, due to its robust construction, was left standing after the mine's closure in 1964, while most other facilities were dismantled.
Today, the area surrounding the Shime Winding Tower has been redeveloped into an athletic park, preserving the tower as a historical monument. It serves as a testament to Japan's industrial heritage and offers visitors a glimpse into the nation's coal mining past.