Iwami Ginzan is a silver mine in Shimane Prefecture that has been designated as a World Heritage Site. Iwami Ginzan is a world-famous silver mine that once produced approximately one-third of the world’s silver production. Also, around Iwami Ginzan, there is a beautiful townscape that still retains traces of the Edo period. This time, we will introduce in detail the Edo period townscape that remains at the Shimane Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, which produced one-third of the world’s silver.
①World Heritage “Iwami Ginzan”
Iwami Ginzan is a mine that used to mine silver in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It is said that in the 17th century, it accounted for ⅓ of the world’s silver production. The Iwami Ginzan ruins are currently divided into three courses: the silver mine zone, the townscape zone, and the magistrate’s office zone, and you can walk through each of them. It would take quite a while if you tried to go around everything on foot. In that case, you can rent a “bicycle” or “Ginzan cart” to easily explore the area. A “Ginzan cart” is a 6-seater cart that comes with tourist information.
②Iwami Ginzan Park parking lot.
Iwami Ginzan Park Parking Lot is a tourist information center and souvenir shop located near Iwami Ginzan Ginzan. Simply put, it’s like a roadside station provided by the Ota City Tourism Association. The location is between the silver mine zone and townscape zone of Iwami Ginzan. The parking lot can accommodate 40 regular cars. The store has a souvenir shop, an AED, a nursing room, a diaper changing table, a Western-style toilet, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. We also accept guides and rental bicycles. It’s located between the Ginzan zone and the townscape zone, so we recommend parking your car and taking a walk.
➂A beautiful cityscape that retains the vestiges of the Edo period!!
In the Omori district of Iwami Ginzan, you can see a beautiful townscape that still retains traces of the Edo period. The Omori area was once the center of the Iwami Ginzan territory. Therefore, in the Omori area, samurai residences, merchant houses, private houses, temples, and other buildings that retain traces of the Edo period still remain in beautiful condition. Some private houses have had their interiors renovated and are now open as cafes or souvenir shops. We recommend visiting the Kumagai Residence, which is also an important cultural property.
④【Kanzenon Temple】You can see a panoramic view of the town from the hill‼︎
Kanzenon Temple is a temple built on a slightly elevated bedrock in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. There is an old temple at the top of the stone stairs. If you climb further up the hill, you will find a spot with a spectacular view of Omori Town. It was once destroyed by fire. The current Kanzenon Temple was rebuilt in 1860.
▲You can see the cityscape that remains from Edo from the stairs.
⑤Ota City Townscape Exchange Center (former Omori Ward Court)
Ota City Townscape Exchange Center is a history exhibition hall located in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. It was once used as the Omori Ward Courthouse. The exterior and interior remain the same, and some parts of the old courtroom from when it was a courthouse have been restored.
There is also a material exhibition room and a video room, so it is a recommended tourist facility for those who want to learn about Omori Town during the Meiji period.
⑥【Shimogawara Fukiya Ruins】The site of a silver refinery‼︎
Shimogawara Fukiya Ruins is the site of a “Fukiya” located in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. Shimogawara Fukiya Ato is pronounced as “Shimogawarafukiyaato.” ″Fukiya” is a silver smelter that was brought in to extract silver from ore. At the Shimogawara Bukiya ruins, silver was extracted using a refining method called the Haifuki method that used lead. However, it is now mostly vacant land, with only the stone foundation and hole remaining. By the way, the Shimogawara Fukiya site was used in the early Edo period.
⑦【Shimizudani Smelter Ruins】The smelter site looks like a ruin‼︎
Shimizudani Smelter Ruins is the site of a smelter located in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. The Shimizudani Smelter was opened in 1895. In fact, around 1890, the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was depleted of silver, and high-quality ore could not be mined. The Shimizudani smelter will be closed after just one and a half years of operation. Currently, it is mostly vacant land, with only the foundation remaining.
⑧Ore processing plant ruins.
The ore processing plant site is the site of an ore processing plant located in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. An ore processing site is a place where mined ore is sorted. The stone walls and stone stairs remain, but there is nothing there now.
▲Some climbing is required from the Shimizudani Smelter Ruins.
⑨Seisui temple ruins.
It is located next to the ore processing plant ruins.Seisui Temple is a temple located in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. When you enter the grounds of Seisui Temple, you will see the remains of the main hall. Kiyomizu-dera Temple was worshiped by feudal lords and magistrates at the time when silver mining was popular.
⑩Access information to Iwami Ginzan
Here you will find detailed information about access to Iwami Ginzan.
The address of the Iwami Ginzan Park parking lot is “Ha199, Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture.”
❶Route by car from Ota City Hall to Iwami Ginzan Park parking lot
Ota City Hall (1111 Otamachiro, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture) ⇒ National Route 375 ⇒ Prefectural Route 46 ⇒ Prefectural Route 31 ⇒ Iwami Ginzan Park Parking Lot
The total travel distance is approximately 11.6 km, and the travel time is approximately 16 minutes.
Summary 【Iwami Ginzan】
This time, we introduced the Edo period townscape that remains at the Shimane Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, which produced one-third of the world’s silver. The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Shimane Prefecture is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Iwami Ginzan was once a prosperous area, and even today there are many buildings with high cultural value, including samurai residences, merchant houses, private houses, and temples. When you visit Shimane Prefecture, why not stop by Iwami Ginzan?
▲Official site
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