This is Kikkō Karami.　This rightside photo shows Kikkō Karami displayed at the Nikko Memorial Museum, one of Japan’s most prominent mining museums located in Ibaraki Prefecture.

The Legacy of Ogoya Copper Mine

Nestled in the mountains of Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Ogoya was once home to one of Japan’s leading copper mines. From the Taishō era (1910s) to early Shōwa (1930s), the mine produced large amounts of copper — and with it, a fascinating by-product called **karami** (slag from copper smelting).

Instead of discarding it, people in Ogoya found a creative way to reuse this material — they turned it into **karami bricks**, giving new life to what was once industrial waste.

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What Is *Karami*?

Karami (written 鍰 in Japanese) is the residue left after copper ore is refined in a furnace with lime and silica. During the smelting process, molten copper and unwanted minerals separate — the leftover part becomes karami.

In Ogoya, this by-product was shaped and cooled into solid bricks, later used for building roads, retaining walls, and even houses around the mining town.

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The Unique “Kikkō Karami”

Unlike the rectangular karami bricks found in other mining areas of Japan, Ogoya’s versions often have a **hexagonal** shape. Because they look like a turtle’s shell, locals affectionately call them **“Kikkō Karami”**, meaning “Turtle-Shell Karami.”

Today, you can still spot these beautiful hexagonal bricks scattered throughout the old mining town — silent witnesses to Ogoya’s proud industrial history.

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Preserving a Hidden Heritage

The **Karami Town Preservation Society**, together with the **Ogoya Mine Museum** and the **Natsukashi no Ogoya Railway Preservation Group**, works to protect and share this unique heritage. Thanks to their efforts, many long-buried karami bricks have been uncovered from the grass and soil, revealing a nostalgic, almost otherworldly landscape.

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Visit Ogoya

Explore the remains of the Ogoya Copper Mine, stroll through streets lined with shimmering karami walls, and discover how history, craftsmanship, and nature blend beautifully in this quiet mountain town.

📍 Location

Ogoya Mine Museum / Karami Town Preservation Society

〒923-0172

Ka 1-1, Ogoya-machi, Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

🚗 Access

From Komatsu Station: About 30 minutes by car

From Komatsu Interchange (Hokuriku Expressway): About 40 minutes by car

From Komatsu Airport: About 40 minutes by car

🗺️ Route guidance:

From National Route 8, take the Higashiyama Interchange and continue on Route 416 toward the Okuradake Ski Resort.

The museum is located just before the parking area of the ski resort.