The Sorachi Coal Mine Memory Management Center is located right in front of the JR Iwamizawa Station station square. It is a place that provides information on coal mining heritage, mainly in the Sorachi region, as well as various other information about the area. By the way, "Coal Mine" is read as "Yama".

It is conveniently located so that you can drop by while waiting for the train, and the quaint stone building built in 1927 should be easy to recognize. It is interesting just to look at the exterior, as the window frames are very different from those of today!

Once inside, you will find a wide variety of goods, books, documents, and other items throughout the spacious area.

The Sorachi coal mining area experienced its peak and fall in a short period of only 100 years. Many tangible and intangible "memories of the coal mine" still remain. The center also serves as a concierge to connect people in and outside the region with these memories of the coal mines.

Pamphlets of tourism-related facilities of each municipality are always available, as well as original printed materials and handouts related to coal mining. Many books donated by the general public are also available, allowing anyone to freely browse through valuable materials that cannot be found in bookstores.

Another great feature of this center is that visitors can see actual items such as charging stations that were once used at coal mine sites, allowing them to get a close-up look at the history of the area. Events are also held to visit the actual coal mine site, so if you are interested, please check the official website.

If you go further into the center, you will reach the stone warehouse attached to the office. This stone storehouse, made of Sapporo soft stone, was built in 1909! It is now used as a space for exhibits related to coal mining, concerts, and other events.

The Sorachi Coal Mine Memory Management Center was established in 2009. It was realized by the NPO "Coal Mine Memory Promotion Organization," which was formed two years earlier.

Not only in Sorachi, but also in other parts of Hokkaido, the memory of coal mines is still very much alive. The Coal Mine Memory Promotion Organization is expanding its efforts from "dots to planes," linking the past with the future, and the outside with the inside. The Sorachi Coal Mine Memory Management Center is an important center for such activities and is likely to attract even more attention in the future!

<そらち炭鉱の記憶マネジメントセンター>
Location: 1-jo Nishi 4-3, Iwamizawa-shi, Hokkaido
Contact: 0126-24-9901
Official website: http://www.mc.soratan.com/

<撮影協力>
laufen Katsu