Earth Science Field Trip in 2024
Yu-no-oku Gold Ruins
July 17, 2024
The Yu-no-oku Gold Ruins, located in Minobu town, Yamanashi Prefecture, is the remains of a gold mine that was operated during the Sengoku period just before the the Edo period. Geologically, this area is called Southern Fossa Magna, which is the geological boundary between the northeast and southwest sides of the Japanese islands.
Our program includes the observation of geography, rocks and minerals around the Yu-no-oku Gold Ruins to understand the history of geology and mankind in focus on the geological setting and minerals exploration.
Overview
- Date: August 24 (Sat.) -25 (Sun.), 2024
- Place: Yu-no-oku Gold Ruins and Mt. Minobu in Minobu city, Yamanashi prefecture
- Language: Japanese (English support is available)
- Eligible: Grade 5-12
- (Grade 5 and 6 students must be accompanied by guardian. For grade 7-12, guardian who desire to accompany is able to participate.)
- Number of participants: 16 (including guardian)
- (If participants visit Minobu city with family and their younger siblings desire to join the program, they can participate in the program on the first day.)
- Fee: Free for students
- (guardian and siblings should pay for ropeway at Mt. Minobu.Transportation between the home and the meeting/dissolution location and home is at your own expense.)
- Application deadline: August 11, 2024(sun.)
- （Application ends when the number of participants reaches capacity）
- Contact: info@geokatz.com
- Organizers：The Japan Foundation of Public Communication on Science and Technology (PCOST)
- The Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History
- Association of Earth Science Education of Japan
- Asia Air Survey Co., Ltd.
- Accel Kitchen LLC.
- Japan Geoscience Union（JpGU）
- Women for One Ocean
- Remarks: This program is funded by "the Watanabe Memorial Foundation for The Advancement of New Technology".
Instructors
- Tatsuro Chiba Guest lecturer from the Asia Air Survey Co., Ltd.. Inventor of the red relief image map.
- Tadataka Hayashi Mentor of the Accelerate Kitchen LCC.
- Misuzu Komatsu Senior curator of the Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History
- Tamano Omata Founder of the Association of Earth Science Education of Japan
Schedule
- Aug. 24 (Sat.)
- 9:45 Registration at jR Minobu Station
- 10:00～12:30 Observation of the Fossa Magna geography at the top of the Mt. Minobu）
- 12:30～13:30 Lunch and move to the Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History
- 13:30～16:30 Observation of rocks and minerals at riverside in front of the Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History
- 18:45～20:00 Optional. observation of the stars
- Aug. 25 (Sun.)
- 6:30 Registration at jR Shimobe Onsen Station and food procurement
- 6:30～7:15 Move to the starting point of the Yu-no-oku (Nakayama) Gold Mine ）
- 7:15～12:00 Climbing the mountain to the gold mining area up to an altitude of 1,700m under the check of the fatigue status for each participations
- 12:00～13:00 Lunch
- 13:00～14:00 Going down the mountain and observation of the manufacturing area
- 14:00～16:00 Going down the mountain
- 16:00～17:00 Move to the Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History
- (Program will finish by 17:00)
About Nakayama ruins climbing
- The Nakayama ruins are located halfway up Mt. Kenashi at an altitude of 1,964m. The trailhead is approximately 900m above sea level, and the mining area is approximately 1,700m above sea level, which involves a climb of approximately 800m.
Remarks
- Participation for 2 days is required.
- Guardian must be adults.
- For this grant project, "Comprehensive Research on Earth Science Education in Secondary Education2, we will be conducting questionnaires on participants and their guardians before and after the practical training, so please cooperate with us.
- On the first day, the limited expresses Fujikawa arrive at Minobu Station at 9:39 on both the JR Minobu Line and upper lines. On the second day, the Fujikawa departs from Shimobe Onsen Station on both the upper and lower lines at 17:19. If you will come by train, please use these trains.
- Participants who are not accompanied by a guardian will need their guardian's consent.
- Light rain will take place. If it is rainy on the second day and it is difficult to climb the mountain, a different program will be held. In the event of a warning-level storm, the event may be canceled at the organizer's discretion.
- Please note that photos and videos taken during the training will be posted on the websites and SNS of the hosting, co-hosting, cooperating, and supporting organizations.
- Please be aware in advance that you may be interviewed by media.
- We will not use your personal data for other purposes other than to register of this program.