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ModernTokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties

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National
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Chapter 3
Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally-Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally-Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizenMURAKAMI Masayoshi
Chairman, Specified Nonprofit Corporation Aigi tunnel group preservation and revival committee

1. Introduction

people. In this report, I would like to introduce to every-

people adjacent to the northeast of Nagoya City, Aichi

were discovered by chance.

In 2006, in Kasugai City, which is a city of 300,000

Prefecture, roughly in the center of the Japanese archipelago, abandoned railway lines and tunnels froma former Japanese National Railways (JNR) era, which
had even been forgotten by its own citizens, were sud-

one the preservation and utilization of the tunnels that

2. Aigi Tunnel

2-1. Overview

The Aigi Tunnel Group (Fig. 1), which straddles

denly discovered. The discovery site was located in the

Kasugai City in Aichi Prefecture and Tajimi City in Gifu

middle of the mountainside in a deep V-shaped valley

Prefecture, is a group of 13 abandoned tunnels (14that borders Kasugai City and neighboring Tajimi City inat the time of tunnel construction) located between

Gifu Prefecture. Hidden by dense trees and bushes that

Jokoji and Tajimi Stations on the Chuo Main Line, andgrew after the discontinuation of the railway line, andit was used for over half a century since the opening

blocked by the massif in the background and the Shonaiof the section between Nagoya and Tajimi Stations on

River, which is a first-class river that flows beneath, it

the JNR Chuo Line in 1900. After the Chuo Main Line

was an almost perfect place for stopping any humanwas opened, timber such as Tono cypress, high-quality

intrusion, as nobody could reach it. Therefore, for 40

pottery clay, and pottery were transported to Nagoya

years, it luckily (?) lay dormant without being seen by

via this railway line. Wood was exported to automobile

Whole Map of Aigi Tunnels
No.13

No.14

Tajimi St.

No.12

Areas open to public
in a certain days (1.7Km)

No.10
No.8
No.7

Current Chuo Main Lineei
kok
Ko St.

No.11

No.3
No.1

ji
Ko

Jo

Current status
No.1 & No.2

St.
No.4

No.2

No.５

No.6

: owned by JR Central
using for track maintenanceNo.3~No.6: owned by the NPO
No.7: owned by Nagoya city
No.8, No.10~No.14 : owned by Tajimi city
No.9
: not eixist now

Figure 1 Whole map of Aigi tunnels（prefectural border is between No.6 and No7）

40

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

manufacturers (e.g., Nippon Sharyo) and automaticconstruction is easily progressing,” and completing allloops (e.g., Toyota Industries), and pottery clay wastunnels was estimated to take almost two years. How-

exported overseas as Japan china, the representative

ever, in April 1897, heavy rain caused Tunnel No. 6 toexample of which was Noritake. Thus, this railway line

collapse, followed by Tunnel No. 5 in November 1897,

is said to have played a major role as a material supply

leading to a tragic accident where workers were buriedsource for creating the prototype of “Monozukuri Chu-

alive. In response to such collapse accidents and frag-bu” (“manufacturing center”). Following electrification

ile ground conditions, designs were changed multiple

and double-line development in the post-war period,

times. However, the construction of Tunnel No. 6 con-new routes were opened with a long tunnel, and thetinued to be difficult, and in the same year, construction

railway service ended in 1966, ending the role of theof the tunnel was conducted using a square winding

8-km track bed and group of 13 tunnels between Jokoji

structure, which was rare in Japan in order to prevent

Temple and Tajimi Stations. After the end of this ser-collapse, with a “structure where the earth and sandvice, the area was completely untouched by humanfrom the upper part of the mountain is cut off, an em-

hands, and until recently, it was buried in thick bushes.

bankment is built at the lower part, and a square wind-(Photo 1)

ing tunnel is built in the embankment.” Furthermore, inJune 1899, cracks appeared in the tunnel due to the un-2-2. Historical backgroundeven pressure of the earth and sand caused by rainfall,

When constructing the railway section between Na-

so construction work involved making the ceiling andgoya and Tajimi Stations on the JNR Chuo Line, whichside walls of the tunnel even thicker and implementing

includes the Aigi Tunnel Group, the Ministry of Rail-an invert structure. Such difficult construction work

ways chose a route to dig 13 tunnels along the Shonai

was conducted for its completion, and as a result, Aigi

River valley. In 1896, construction work on the tunnel

Tunnel may be the only one of its kind where an invert

began. The Annual Report of the Ministry of Communi-

structure is currently visible locally. (Fig. 2 and Photo 2)

cations stated that “the geology is extremely rigid, andAs a result of the above, the construction work was

Photo １ No.3 tunnel at the time of discovery

41

twice as difficult as planned, and its construction was

As previously mentioned, after the end of the rail-

completed on May 31, 1900, only two months before

way service and the discontinuation of the railway line

the scheduled opening of the Chuo Line on July 25,

in 1966, the existing 13 tunnels and the 8-km track

1900.

bed that had been owned by JNR were privatized andtransferred to the Japan National Railways Settlement
Corporation (JNRSC). The railway tracks from Nos. 3–6(approximately 13 ha) on the Aichi Prefecture side,
excluding Nos. 1 and 2, were transferred to a medium-sized general contractor in Nagoya City via a major
construction consultancy. Meanwhile, the track bed
Nos. 7–14 on the Gifu Prefecture side were transferredto the local Tajimi City as is. Afterwards, in 1978, Nagoya City acquired Tunnel No. 7 and its surrounding landalong with the construction of the final waste disposalsite. Therefore, there was a mix of landowners of theabandoned approximately 8-km railway line such as JR
Tokai, Aigi Tunnel Group Preservation and Restoration
Committee, Nagoya City, and Tajimi City; and unified intentions for future utilization or re-use is likely to be anissue.

Figure ２ Many experts cooperated in the Invert investigation

Photo 2 Invert excavation scene

42

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

3. Efforts toward preservation

2016, Tunnel Nos. 3 and 4 (Tamano Tunnel Nos. 3 and3-1. From the faint memories of elders

4) and Kasaishi-hora Culvert were selected as National

In 2006, when the JR Kachigawa Station building inRegistered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings) by

Kasugai City was being renovated, removal of the Mei-

the Agency for Cultural Affairs, with official registration

ji-era disused brick platform was initiated, and citizens

in November of the same year.

began efforts to preserve the brick platform (Photo 3).

The “railway tunnel” is a legacy of the technology

At that time, a local elder blurted out “Maybe the brickof our predecessors who contributed to the industrial

tunnel remains?”, and based on those words, a searchdevelopment of Japan through the formation of the na-

for the tunnel was initiated, and half a year later, thetional railway network, while also being a Heritage ofremains of a tunnel that lay dormant in the mountains

Modernization that has little connection with the daily

were discovered. In 2007, the Former JNR Tunnel

lives of citizens. Furthermore, in the case of the Aigi

Group Preservation and Restoration Committee was es-

Tunnel Group, this had a historical background of being

tablished by citizen volunteers. In 2009, they acquired

abandoned in the mountains for nearly half a century

legal status and re-organized as the NPO Aigi Tunnel

and forgotten by local residents until it was excavatedGroup Preservation and Restoration Committee (hence-by citizens, but its historical value was established fol-

forth, “Committee”), where the citizens’ group has been

lowing an assessment by the Japanese government.

responsible for preservation activities to the presentday.

3-3. Largest number of bricks used in Japan

Digressing a bit here, I would like to discuss the num-

3-2. Debut to national district

ber of bricks used.

In 2009, Tunnel Nos. 3–6 on the Aichi Prefecture

After four years of difficult construction work, all 14

side, along with nine railway-related heritages nation-

tunnels of the Aigi Tunnel Group were completed inwide, such as the Former Ousakayama Tunnel in Otsu

1900. Table 3 shows the number of bricks in construct-

City, Shiga Prefecture, and the Usuitōge Tunnel Grouping the group of tunnels. Incidentally, as is well-known,in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, were certified as partwhen ranking the number of bricks used in buildings,of the “33 Heritages of Industrial Modernization (Con-the highest count is Tokyo Station, with approximately

tinued)” as the “Group of Heritages of Industrial Mod-eight million bricks, followed by the Osaka City Central

ernization that tells the story of the tunnel construction

Public Hall with three million bricks, and the Hokkaidothat overcame mountains and straits and contributed

Government Office with 2.5 million bricks (excluding

to the formation of the national railway network.” Inwarehouses, among others). In that case, where is the

仁

E

‘

高架化で撤去 勝川駅の 思い出、

｀にキ 』

, Tfi

春日井市松新町でコンクリートからレンガをはぎ取る参加者 11

使っ てコ ンクリートなど。 はぎ取
から 引き離した自持ち帰るために 段ボー

っ たレンガは参 加者が各

ルの 中へ。 松浦 和幸さん

ホームを持ち帰られて 幸（ 塁 は「 親しみ 深い 駅の

赤レン ガ お疲れさま

JR 中央線勝川駅のホームに 使われてい た赤、 松新・ 駅南まち
レンガの はぎ取り作業が二 日） であっ
づ くり事務所前広 場（ 春日井市松新町。 勝川駅周辺まちづ く り協議会の 呼び掛けにた。 （ 岡本太）
集まっ た市民ら約 百人が参加した。
います」 と 話した 市民。 ガーデニ ング用に 使
せ

この 日はホーム 約三十認 とともに 作業に 参加した。に すべ てが撤去された

春日井 市民らはき取り、
勝川駅の 赤レンガは） が撤去された 春日井ライオン ズクラブ
年のJR 中央線開通時か 分（二 吠）―
一 九00( 明治三 士、 赤レンガを 使っ て 勝
らホームの 土台として 使 ままの 固まりの 状態で用 は。
プ定ァ
に 伴い 今年三 まで バ ーや 電気ドリルなどを メン トを制作す る、 参加者がドラ イ 川駅北側の 広揚にモニュ、 駅高架化 意 されわれていたが（第3種郵便物認可）

Photo 3 Newspaper article about brick removal

43

“most impressive” brick building in Japan? Something

Committee recognized that this was a valuable heritage

where, no matter how gorgeous the building is, theof the region that should be kept, and learning frombuilding has a presence that keeps everything elsethe citizen fundraising campaigns for nature conser-

away, and whose status is solidly assured. My belief isvation in the United Kingdom, in 2009, the Committeethat this title goes to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial,launched a “National Trust movement” with the aim ofwhich bears the negative history of early-modern Japan,

acquiring land for the first time in Aichi Prefecture. Inor rather, the world, and whose presence is deeply im-

the present day, the concept of crowdfunding has begun

printed in our hearts.

to be established, but at the time, the purchasing of land

Meanwhile, the structure with the largest number ofby citizens’ donations for the purpose of preserving

bricks is Usuitōge Tunnel, which is the first railway tun-civil engineering structures was reported as a rare andnel in Japan to be nationally designated as a Important

unique case in Japan by newspapers and on television.

Cultural Property and is a representative of the railway

Five years later, a total of 11,143 citizens raised ap-

world, with 15 million bricks; followed by the Lakeproximately 15 million yen in funds, which led to the

Biwa Canal, which is a water supply facility that runs

acquisition of the former JNR Chuo railway line, includ-from Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, to Nanzenji Temple ining four tunnels (Tunnel Nos. 3–6) on the Aichi Prefec-

Kyoto, with 14.5 million bricks. These are the top-rank-ture side in June 2014.

ing structures that use the largest number of bricks inJapan. However, what about the recently discovered
and utilized Aigi Tunnel Group? Results of research by
the members showed that, according to the Meiji Chuo
Line construction summary found in the National Diet
Library, 18 million bricks were actually used. (Fig. 3)
Unfortunately, this is a new facility where it has only
been 16 years since its discovery, and although it has
hardly any name recognition nationwide, “the numbers
speak for themselves.” Over time, when this group offacilities becomes more well-known, I hope the day will
come when this number, which is the highest in Japan,
will shine.
Furthermore, numerous bricks are present aroundthe group of tunnels that were no longer deemed necessary and dumped due to collapses during construction.
The Committee collected them, and proceeded with surveys to identify the manufacturer by searching for theoriginal address of the brick stamp. It became clear thata considerable number of bricks for construction weretransported from the neighboring Tajimi area, as well as
Nagoya, Mikawa, Yokkaichi, Ogaki, and even from the
Osaka area (Fig. 3).

3-4. National trust

The Committee initially operated with permission

from the general contractor to obtain entry permission
for surveys, but as more surveys were conducted, the44

Figure 3 Number of bricks used in Aigi Tunnels

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

3-5. Start of preservation activities

abandoned railway line, taking a route that prioritizes

Nos. 3–6 on the Aichi Prefecture side, which had be-

tail.

The 1.7-km abandoned railway line between Tunnel

the citizens’ perspectives, kindness, and attention to de-come the Committee’s private property in this way, isAt the root of this effort was the realization from anormally set as off-limits using steel gates. At the timemember’s comment that “a tree can be cut down atof its discovery, the abandoned railway line between

any time, but restoring a tree that has been cut down

Tunnel Nos. 3–6 was open to the general public for one

takes decades of time and effort.” In the half century

day under the name of a “Pioneering Site Tour,” but ow-

after the end of service, this abandoned railway line has

ing to the massive influx of aspiring visitors, it has since

witnessed the revival of many trees and flowers, with

been opened to the general public for a total of aboutnearly 50-year old trees thriving on the track bed, andtwo weeks each spring and fall as “Special Openings toover 600 trees across 50 species growing on the entire

the Public” (Photos 4 and 5).

abandoned line, and it has the appearance of a nature

The first turning point was encountered at the be-zone, with the discovery of endangered flowering plants

ginning of activities in 2006. Is it possible for citizens

listed on the Regional Red List. In particular, nearly 300

alone to protect such a large group of public facilities,

maple trees grow wild on and around the abandoned

especially one that is so widespread? When conducting

railway line, and during the spring and fall public open-

surveys of the status of utilization of abandoned railway

ings, people have come to enjoy the spring maple andlines nationwide, most local governments were involved

autumn foliage by strolling around the abandoned rail-in some form of preservation. However, there were also

way line. Despite the railway site, railway fans are notscattered cases where “money would be given, as wellconspicuous, and most visitors are citizens who cameas an opinion.” In fact, when looking at other cases of

to enjoy the nature, so this seems to be playing a very

conservation of abandoned railway lines, there were

important role in the sense of connecting the historicalmany cases where natural features on abandoned rail-

heritage of the tunnel with ordinary citizens. (Photo 6)

way lines were completely cut down and covered with

Creating the rule of “not eradicating the natural faunaasphalt pavement in order not to incur a large amountand flora that has been revived due to over 40 years ofof expenses for year-round maintenance and manage-

neglect,” the Committee has made efforts to prioritize

ment of the abandoned railways, such as weeding. The

nature conservation.

above tendency was particularly strongly observed in

The result is a notable phenomenon in which the 300

cases where local governments managed and main-

maple trees that grow wild on the abandoned railway

tained the railway lines, and there were a considerable

line are becoming a famous spot for viewing the au-

number of cases where the railway lines were trans-

tumn foliage. Though in hindsight, these nature conser-

formed into simple forms for maintenance purposes.

vation efforts are also linked to the opinion of visitors

For example, a zelkova forest that had been revived on

who come seeking natural beauty.

the site of a local abandoned railway line in a region ofNagano Prefecture was clear-cut in the name of regeneration, and the site reverted to an unremarkable linear
abandoned railway track. Using such cases as lessons,the Committee chose to cut off contact with govern-

4. O ther aspects of preservation and utilizationof Aigi Tunnel Group

4-1. Preservation and utilization efforts

As of 2022, the Committee, which is a civic organ-ments as much as possible from the outset of develop-

ization, has approximately 70 active members. The

ment. Preserving the tree flora that had revived on the

average age is over 70 years, and with participating res-discontinued railway line was given top priority, so theidents from nearby areas such as Kasugai City, Tajimi

abandoned railway line, which was born with a winding

City, Komaki City, Seto City, and Nagoya City.

figure that avoids the trees that grow on the abandoned

Preservation activities began with the excavation

track, was transformed into a nature trail rather than anof overgrown bushes on the abandoned railway track,45

Photo 4 100 carp dancing in the wind every year during the special public exhibition in spring

Photo5 The special public exhibition in autumn is becoming popular as a hidden spot for autumn leaves46

and over a period of about one year, the Committee de-efforts. As mentioned above, while cutting and thinningveloped the 1.7-km abandoned railway track between

the bushes on the surrounding mountain surface to pro-

Tunnel Nos. 3–6 on the Aichi Prefecture side such that

tect the endangered flower species with the aim of cre-people could walk through it. Many innovations wereating a scenery where visitors could feel the surround-made to ensure that visitors can enjoy themselves on

ing nature and feel the seasons, the Committee mem-the promenade that was developed through the above

bers discovered a colony of maple trees on the ground

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

Photo 6 Autumn leaves on abandoned railroad tracks

Photo 7 Autumn lesvaes growing in clusters on the ground above tunnel no.6

surface of Tunnel No. 6. When developing a 300-m

to the denseness of the colony. (Photo 7) Moreover, we

circuit around this colony of maple trees and naming

planted thoroughwort plants, which are a favorite foodit “Momijiyama” (“Maple Tree Mountain”), it was wellof the Chestnut Tiger Butterfly, which flies across longreceived by many people, including photographers, due

distances, and by doing so, visitors could now see these47

butterflies fluttering wildly in the area. Furthermore,
we prepared activities so that not only adults but families with children could enjoy, such as a massive swing
measuring over 8 m called a Tarzan Swing that uses thesurrounding trees (Photo 8), and preparing the thickets along the river as a thicket maze. Interestingly, wedeveloped the area around a 30-m rocky outcrop foundon the side of a mountain on the side of the abandoned
railway line, and we placed shimenawa rope around it
as the “God of the Mountain of the Tongari-Iwa,” striving to make the most of what is locally available.
Furthermore, in parallel with such field work, we ac-

Photo 8 Tarzan Swing is popular with children

tively conducted public awareness activities for raisingawareness, such as setting up panel exhibitions and lectures mainly in Kasugai City and Tajimi City (Photos 9

and 10), and we have also strived to accumulate knowhow and knowledge regarding preservation and utilization, such as visiting facilities that utilized abandoned
railway lines in various places, such as the Usuitōge
Tunnel Group in Gunma Prefecture and the abandoned
railway track of the former Fukuchiyama Line in Hyogo
Prefecture. (Photo 11)

Photo 9 Exhibiting at railway fairs

4-2. Utilization examples

In 2009, the driving wheel of a C57 steam locomo-tive was presented as a monument by the local Lions
Club, and it was installed near the Tajimi side entranceof Tunnel No. 5. Based on the opinion of the membersthat simple static preservation was not interesting, webuilt a mechanism that allowed the driving wheels to beturned manually. The wheels of the C57 locomotive rotate slowly when visitors pedal a bicycle installed next
to the driving wheel, and we have a hard time managing
the children who line up when the park is opened to

Photo 10 Exhibited at Tajimi Pottery Festival

the public. The Committee announced that it was thefirst human-powered dynamic preservation of driving
wheels in Japan. (Photo 12)
Events that were held using the characteristics of thetunnels are as follows:
In 2009, we held a Solar Eclipse Observation Party(Photo 13), where visitors can enjoy a solar eclipse by
projecting the sun’s light onto a screen in the tunnel; in
2013, we held a contemporary art exhibition entitled
Aigi Tunnel Group Art Project 2013: Light of the Wil-48

Photo 11 Abandoned Railway Tunnel Summit

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

Photo 12 Driving C57 driving wheels

Photo 13 Viewing the annular solar eclipse from inside the tunnel

derness, where we used sound and light performances

We also promoted the utilization of the “character-in the darkness of the tunnels and abandoned railway

istics” of the tunnel in addition to the charm of naturallines (Photo 14); and in 2019, we held a Explosive Clas-

beauty, such as opening beer halls from the summer ofsical Concert, presided by Reiko Yuyama, which toured

2018 by utilizing the temperature difference between

four tunnels and played classical music of different gen-that in the tunnel, which is about 10 °lower than theres, with the S seats (7,500 yen) immediately selling out

ground below (Photo 16).

(Photo 15).

49

Photo 15 Explosive classical consert

Photo 14 Art event flyer “Hikari in the wilderness”

4-3. Many obstacles along the way

50

Photo 16 Forest beer hall

Meanwhile, there are many more problems behindThough the Committee is proposing utilizationthese preservation activities. For example, multiple

through such revitalization, they have simultaneously

temporary toilets were installed in the premises of theannounced a permanent revitalization vision for thegroup of tunnels owned by the Committee in prepara-original abandoned railway line. This is the “footpath

tion for the large number of visitors and for use duringconcept” that uses the abandoned railway track of theevents. These are simple mobile toilets that are used

forrmer Chuo Line, which exists along the current JR

during civil engineering work, but these are in an envi-

Chuo Main Line between Jokoji Station and Kokokei

ronment that are far removed from human settlements,

Station (Fig. 4).

where there are no lifelines for electricity and water,

The plan is to form a course of approximately 3.5 km

and is inaccessible for heavy machinery, so vacuuming

in total length that includes not only Tunnel Nos. 3–6,

up the human waste in the tanks or arranging sewage

which are owned by the Committee and are speciallytreatment equipment is not possible. Therefore, we

open to the public, but also Tunnel Nos. 7 and 8, andare forced to use a soil infiltration (dripping) method,enable people to walk through the abandoned nature

where the waste is treated on site. We are researchingtrail without having to take the train from Jokoji Station

all types of options such as a biological type and a sim-to the next Kokokei Station. However, many issues need

ple water-washing type, but under the current circum-

to be resolved, such as coordinating with the local gov-

stances of short-term intensive visits of approximately

ernments that own Tunnel Nos. 7 and 8, and protecting

two weeks in a year, we unfortunately are forced to use

the bats living in Tunnel No. 7.

dripping style toilets, which is a disappointing develop-

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-

Conceptual drawing of footpath between JR stationsa

To Nagoyt.

Jokoji S

about 2 hours

Kokokei St.

To Tajimifootpath area
prefectural border

600m

No.3 No.4 No.5 No.6

To Jokoji Park- mausoleum of
Tokugawa Yoshinao- Jokoji

No.7

No.8

To Oribe street- famous for ceramics- Ichinokura Sakazuki
Art Museum

To Tsuzuhara- U-pick farm ofstrawberry andblueberry

Figure 4 Footpass concept diagram

ment for us as we strive to make the site a tourist desti-

rating the “scenery of the flowers and trees around thenation.

promenade.” As natural beauty has been added to the4-4. “Value” movement

railway site in this manner, the perspectives of the fanshave considerably expanded, and I think that we haveSince its special opening to the public from 2008, thesucceeded in attracting a wide range of visitors who are

Aigi Tunnel Group has attracted people from all overnot just limited to railway and abandoned railway line

the country. It subsequently was “valued by the national

enthusiasts. (Fig. 6)

government” in the form of designation by the Ministry

Meanwhile, though “cultural valuation” has beenof Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency forpromoted, there has been hardly any activity regard-

Cultural Affairs led to a re-assessment by the citizens of

ing “economic valuation.” The Aigi Tunnel Group was

Kasugai City and others of the site as a phenomenon oforiginally discovered with the intent of utilizing it as a

re-importing from external parties and even from theresource for urban development, but the reluctance ofnational government. While the valuing of these tunnels

Kasugai City to implement tourism measures became

themselves continues, visitors to the tunnels are alsoa major obstacle, and creating an initiative that would

valuing the rich flora and fauna and scenic valley views

lead to the revitalization of the entire city was not pos-that have been revived on the discontinued railway line.

sible.

(Fig. 5) The Tamano area of Kasugai City, where the

However, following its transfer to the Kasugai City

Aigi Tunnel Group is located, has always been popular

Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2014, the tour-

as a health resort where visitors can enjoy cherry blos-

ist association began to collaborate with the Committee,

soms and autumn foliage along with the valley scenery,

and finally, with the theme of “aiming for the industrial-and in the pre-war period, was an area that was bus-

ization of tourism, and how to connect tunnel visitors totling with tourists, mainly Nagoya citizens, as “Nagoya’the economic effect of the city,” the two organizationss inner parlor.” In the Questionnaire Survey for Tourism

began to make efforts to connect their activities to

Resources conducted by the Chubu University Researcheconomic valuation, such as mobilizing related organi-

Institute for Industry and Economics in 2011, 71% ofzations during the public period to locally sell food andrespondents highly rated the fact that “the old tunnels

drinking water.

exist together,” followed by 60% of respondents highly

With these efforts, the Aigi Tunnel Group is seeing512023/5/6

40,000人

Number of visitors by year at Aigi tunnels

Spring Opening

35,000人

Autumn Opening

Opening under Covid-19
from ʻ20 autumn toʼ21 autumn

30,000人
25,000人
20,000人
15,000人
10,000人
5,000人人

Number of visitors
in spring opening
Number of visitors
in autumn opening

Total number of visitors
Cumulative numberof visitors

2008年
2008

2009年
2009

2011年
2011

2012年
2012

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

5,059

6,683

11,559

7,703

5,718

6,596

4,101

6,467

14,83812,873

15,591

19,483

13,221

13,135

15,83012,79425,263

1,080

17,831

17,932

22,27431,042

20,92418,85322,426

16,89531,73043,632

29,372

12,966

26,94929,2001,080

18,911

36,843

59,117

90,159111,083

129,936

152,362

169,257 200,987

244,619

273,991

286,957

313,906

343,106 347,443

2008

2009

350

2,993

730

2010年
2010

2013年
2013

2014年
2014

2015年
2015

2016年
2016

2017年
2017

2018年
2018

2019年
2019

2020年
2020

2021年
2021

2022年
2022

2023年
2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

5,701

3,596

526

3,154

3,868

4,337

37,931

25,776

12,44023,79525,332
4,337

Figure 5 Number of visitors (cumulative total of over 340,000people)

an increased number of visitors each year, and its namerecognition is steadily increasing, but when reflecting
on the current situation where special exhibitions andvarious events are held on a dozen or so days a year,
it is precisely this “limitation” that enables it to attracta certain number of visitors. Therefore, if the footpath
concept is completed in the future, and the promenadethat runs through the tunnels is made open to the public at all times, it is doubtful whether it will become abase for tourism in neighboring areas such as Kasugai
City and Tajimi City. Therefore, a future task is not only
for the private sector but also the government and academia to devise methods for developing a major basefor regional tourism and making it even more attractivefor visitors.

5. Conclusion

In addition to the nature of the “tunnel” itself, which

has little direct relation with the activities of citizens,and the historical background of its existence being
Figure 6 Survey resultsforgotten by local residents for a long period of time,government reluctance to utilize the site was a major
obstacle to external expansion. However, a proponent of
the Aigi Tunnel Group was elected in the local mayoral
election last spring. Nurturing the Aigi Tunnel Group asa resource for city revitalization in the future will likely

52

Chapter 3 Meiji tunnels discovered by coincidentally -Regeneration and a blueprint for the future created by citizen-require using this as an opportunity to fully explain thesignificance of preservation and utilization of this site
to the government and local residents, and to pass it
down to future generations with a better understandingof its utilization. In the future, if we can obtain the understanding and cooperation of administrative authorities, then we would like to propose the implementationof “field lectures” to elementary and junior high schools
in the city. We aim to establish an emerging identity
by nurturing and maturing a sense of pride in the area
where the students live by sharing a recognition ofvalue among children who will be responsible for its future.
If we could continue these field lectures for 10 years,
then the Aigi Tunnel Group will live on as a form of“civic pride” in the hearts of all young people in a city of
300,000 people.
What an exhilarating prospect!

53

Utilization of Modern Cultural Properties
Date of issue:
Edited by:

Published by:

December 5,2023

Independent Administrative Institution National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Center for Conservation, Restoration Techniques Section

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