Iwami Ginzan is a silver mine with a deep history located in Shimane Prefecture.
It is registered as a World Heritage Site not only for its mines but also for its “cultural landscape”. Everything is all part of “Iwami Ginzan,” including over 900 mine shafts and mine settlements, townscapes, highways and nearby mountain castles, and even the port and port town.
Its history dates to the 16th century. Iwami Ginzan was the center of silver production in Japan for a long time, contributing to the development of Japan’s history, culture, and industry. This area is attracting attention from both inside and outside the country, not only for its role as a mine, but also for its unique landscape and cultural importance. The area around the silver mine is filled with towns and ruins that reflect the lives of the miners at the time, providing a glimpse of their lives.
Iwami Ginzan, due to its scale and production amount, it became an important source of silver worldwide, and much of it was exported to East Asia and Europe. This allowed Japan to play an important role in international trade. The mining technology was also very advanced for its time. The tunnels for digging out the ore extend deep underground and resemble a complex maze. The refining technology for extracting silver from the ore was also advanced, resulting in the production of high-quality silver. However, production gradually decreased after its peak period from 1620 to 1640. As the mines grew deeper, became more difficult to work, and the investment for flood prevention increased causing a decline in profits. By 1691, 63 out of 92 mine shafts had been closed. Ultimately, the mine was closed in 1923 and has since become a tourist spot, playing a role in passing on its history and cultural heritage to future generations. “Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape” was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 due to its historical importance and cultural landscape. Its registration provides international recognition of its influence on Japanese history and culture and demonstrates the importance of its preservation and protection.
Iwami Ginzan is an essential World Heritage Site in shaping Japanese history, due to its history, culture, landscape, and influence.
Recommended itinerary (Approximately 200 min.)
- Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center（40min）
→→→🚌Go to Omori by bus（5～10min） - Walk around the Town of Omori（80分）On foot or by bycycle🚴
★Imo Daikan Museum,Shogenji Tenmple Former Kawashima House,
Gohyaku Rakan, etc… - Mine “Ryugenji Mabu”（30min）
→→→Return to the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center by foot or bicycle and bus.
― Information ―
■Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center
〒694-0305 1597-3 Omoricho,Ota City,Shimane Prefecture,694-0305
TEL / 0854-89-0183 FAX / 0854-89-0089
OPEN / 8：30～17：30
Exhibition room viewing time / 9：00～17：00（ last reception 16：30 ）
Closed / Last Tuesday of every month, New Year holidays
