Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
石見銀山
A World Heritage Site and the silver mine that produced roughly one-third of the world's silver in the 16th and 17th centuries. Explore the Ryugenji Mabu tunnel and the Ōmori old town.
Iwami Ginzan is in Ōmori, Ōda City. At its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries, roughly one-third of the world's silver came from Japan, most of it from here. In 2007 it was inscribed on the World Heritage List as the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape. The main highlight is a walk of about 2.3 km from the Ōmori old town along the Ginzan River (or by rented e-bike) to the Ryugenji Mabu tunnels, where you can enter a mining tunnel about 160 meters long. The Ōmori old town preserves samurai and merchant residences and the ruins of the daikansho (magistrate's office). In keeping with environmental principles, private cars are not allowed in; park at the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center and transfer by bus. Tunnel admission is about ¥500; open roughly 9:00–17:00. Access: about 1 hour by car from Izumoshi Station, or about 25 minutes by bus from JR Ōda Station.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Inasa Beach
- Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse & Shrine
- Shinmon-dori Street
- Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo
- Izumo Taisha
- Matsue Vogel Park
- Tamatsukuri Onsen
- Kumano Taisha (Izumo)