Japan Mint is a public institution that manufactures precious metals into common Japanese coins (1~500 yen), memorial coins, decorations, and medals. There are three offices in the country, and at the main headquarters in Osaka, visitors can take part in a factory tour where they can observe the process of making money by pressing currency designs on thin metal sheets and cutting them into shape.
At the on-site minting museum, there are 4,000 pieces on public display, including old coins that the mint bureau has preserved, memorial coins, and more, and visitors can learn about the history of coins. The brick building of the museum was built during the Meiji period as a thermal power station, so not just from the items on display, but history also emanates from the building itself.
Factory observation tours are only held on weekdays, but they are free, so it gets especially crowded with families during the summer holidays. Participation is possible even without a reservation if there are open spaces, but reservations often fill up, so we recommend either making a reservation or checking the availability on the official website in advance.