Iwami Ginzan is a tiny mining village tucked into the Shimane prefecture on Honshu, Japan’s main island. The mine and surrounding Omori Town were inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007 and are well worth your visit!
The best way to get to Iwami Ginzan is driving yourself since it is quite remote. You’ll find a few buses and trains not far away and will probably want to stay the night nearby because there is a ton to explore!
You can enter the silver mine itself for a discounted fee of 200 yen (foreigners get lots of discounts in the Shimane prefecture) But before you head to the mine I recommend taking the walking trail through the forest. It follows a beautiful roadside stream and you’ll pass ancient shrines and local Omori houses with their own small farms.
There are a few sites along the way where temples used to stand and you’ll begin seeing mine entrances with a metal gate preventing entry. The entire region is simply covered in greenery as nature has clearly taken over this lush landscape. There are so many unique things to do in Japan, for more ideas check out this list of things that you can only do in Japan.
What to do at Iwami Ginzan
Silver Smelters
- Hike along the trails to main mine shaft
- Explore the forest trails
- Visit the old smelter
- Hike a nearby mountain
- Walk through the old city
- Explore the Rakanji Temple with 500 stone buddhas
You don’t have to pay to enter until you get to the main mine shaft. This ancient site was the most prosperous silver mine in all of Japan. It churned out silver for the shogun warlords for over 400 years and has long been considered a national treasure!
The mine even played pivotal role in Europe during the age of discovery and the height of its production. European maps marked the area around Iwami Gizan as “Silver Mine Kingdom” and its silver was considered some of the highest quality in the world!
A stroll through the main mine shaft will reveal dozens of smaller mines all blocked off for safety. The one-way walk itself is interesting but a little anticlimactic. In fact I enjoyed wandering around the village and surrounding forests just as much as seeing the actual mine.
When you had back down you can opt to walk along the trails again or take the road and see how modern Japanese are living in this rural destination.
Once back in the town center be sure to explore the Rakanji Temple. Discounted entry costs about 400 yen and although the site is small it is full of culture and worth stepping inside. The temple is split into two halves with one still used for prayer and looking like a typical temple. On the other side of the road you’ll see what I reminds me of a Hobbit House from Lord of the Rings!
Inside the red doors photography and even sketching isn’t allowed. This sacred shrine is home to 500 stone Buddhas and the perfect place for a meditation or just a moment to take it all in.
Rakanji Temple
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15 comments
What a fabulous looking place to explore inside and out. I could really do some hiking there. Love the off the beaten places like this. Will pin for later so thanks for sharing!
I’ve seen all these stunning pictures of these amazing woods splashed across the internet, now I know where they’re hidden! Sounds like an amazing exploration! Bookmarking for when we get to Japan!
Wow, how much time did you spend in Japan so you have an opportunity to get to such off-beat places???
i had 2 weeks to explore Japan. Thankfully a friend was living there and helped me find these beautiful places!
Woah, this is really cool! I’ve never heard of these silver mines before. What is the closest major city?
wow, a “silver mine kingdom”! this looks like the perfect place for me: history + hiking, I don’t need anything else . . thanks for this new discovery (to me)
A “silver mine kingdom”, wow! Never heard about this place before but with the combination hiking + history it looks the perfect place for me. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! I thought I knew just about every site in Japan, but I didn’t know this one. I love visiting old mines, have been to many, but I’ll bet the Japanese have their own take on it. Very cool.
Awesome this looks like a really interesting place to visit – and beautiful as well – thats a win win ! Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I adore Japan! I’ve been twice but feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. This place looks so interesting. Amusing you think it looks like something from Lord of the Rings – I thought that straight away too!
It totally looks like a Hobbit house!
That looks like a really cool trip! I am a huge fan of hiking and the outdoors, and I have never been to Japan. I’d love to explore more. Are there places to stay or camp nearby?
There are lots of places to stay but im not sure about camping
What a unique spot! It looks like the ideal spot to do some hiking and I am a sucker for moss covered structures! Beautiful!
Well I’ve found something unique to add to my bucket list- exploring a mine shaft. Who knew you could do this? Very cool I must say. And I love UNESCO World Heritage Sites anyway. Thanks for sharing such an interesting post.