{"id":2269,"date":"2026-10-22T16:45:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T16:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/?p=2269"},"modified":"2026-10-22T16:45:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T16:45:20","slug":"iwami-ginzan-silver-mine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/zh\/iwami-ginzan-silver-mine\/","title":{"rendered":"Iwami Ginzan 2026\u201327: Ryugenji Mabu, Omori Town and the 500th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iwami Ginzan is a UNESCO-listed silver mine in Oda, Shimane, where you walk or cycle up a wooded valley to a 300-year-old mine shaft, Ryugenji Mabu, after strolling through Omori, an Edo-period mining town of wooden houses. Entry to the shaft costs \u00a5500, and it’s open every day of the year except 1 January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes Iwami Ginzan different isn’t the mine. It’s that Omori has kept the 21st century at arm’s length: cars stop at the edge of town, the vending machine hides in a wooden cabinet, and the shop locals call the ‘convenience store’ is a family-run general store. Here’s how to see it properly in late 2026 and 2027, without a car.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u00a5500<\/p>

Ryugenji Mabu entry, adult<\/p><\/div>

2.5 km<\/p>

Omori to the mine shaft<\/p><\/div>

2007<\/p>

\u5217\u5165\u8054\u5408\u56fd\u6559\u79d1\u6587\u7ec4\u7ec7\u4e16\u754c\u9057\u4ea7<\/p><\/div>

2027<\/p>

500 years since the mine's discovery<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

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\"Iwami
Omori, the old town of Iwami Ginzan. Photo: 663highland<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

Why is Iwami Ginzan worth the detour?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UNESCO lists the site as ‘Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape’ (inscribed 2007, boundary modified 2010). Its mines produced high-quality silver at scale in the 16th and early 17th centuries, and that silver drove trade between Japan, East Asia and Europe (\u8054\u5408\u56fd\u6559\u79d1\u6587\u7ec4\u7ec7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The listing isn’t one building. It covers the mine shafts, smelting sites, the town of Omori, the routes that carried ore, and three ports on the Sea of Japan: Tomogaura, Okidomari and Yunotsu. That’s why a visit is mostly walking, and why it rewards a slow day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Omori was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1987, and Oda introduced a landscape ordinance for Iwami Ginzan in 2005. Some 40 resident groups work on keeping the townscape alive, from reusing empty houses to running guides (MLIT case study<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is missing from Omori’s main street?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Walk the main street and you’ll notice what’s missing: the bright signage of national chains. The vending machine outside Tamaruya, a general store selling food, stationery and laundry drop-off to residents, sits inside wooden joinery so it doesn’t clash with the street, and it has become a photo spot (Iwami Ginzan 36 Views<\/a>). Locals nickname Tamaruya ‘Omori’s convenience store’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one brand you may know was born here. Iwami Ginzan Gungendo, a lifestyle label with about 30 shops nationwide, keeps its flagship in a restored old house in Omori, with a caf\u00e9 that does a popular lunch (Iwami Ginzan 36 Views<\/a>). For more places to buy Japanese-made goods, see our guide to Japanese crafts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical upshot: plan meals around lunch hours, carry some cash, and don’t expect late-night snacks. Omori is a town where people live, not a theme street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you get to Iwami Ginzan without a car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take a train to JR Odashi Station, then a local Iwami Kotsu bus to Omori, which japan-guide says takes about 30 minutes and runs roughly once an hour (japan-guide<\/a>). From Izumoshi Station, the JR San’in Line to Odashi takes about 40 minutes (Oda City Tourism Association<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u51fa\u53d1\u5730<\/th>\u8def\u7ebf<\/th>\u65f6\u95f4<\/th>\u5907\u6ce8<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Izumoshi Station<\/td>JR San’in Line to Odashi, then bus to Omori<\/td>About 40 min + about 30 min<\/td>JR section covered by the Japan Rail Pass; the bus is not<\/td><\/tr>
Matsue<\/td>JR to Odashi, then bus<\/td>45\u201390 min + about 30 min<\/td>Limited express is faster than local trains<\/td><\/tr>
\u5e7f\u5c9b<\/td>Iwami Kotsu highway bus via Iwami Ginzan (Omori) to Odashi<\/td>About 3 hours to Odashi<\/td>Shimane Prefecture says about 2.5 hours to Iwami Ginzan<\/td><\/tr>
JR Nima Station<\/td>Iwami Kotsu bus (Nima line)<\/td>Check timetable<\/td>Fewer services than from Odashi<\/td><\/tr>
\u5f00\u8f66<\/td>Park at the World Heritage Center<\/td>Izumoshi about 50 min; Matsue about 70 min<\/td>Then bus or walk into Omori<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Japan-guide warns that the Odashi bus is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. If you’re weighing a pass for a San’in trip, our JR Pass\u6307\u5357<\/a> runs the numbers. Taxis wait near JR Odashi Station; the tourism association lists Fuji Daiichi Kotsu (0854-82-0660) and Nippon Kotsu (0854-82-0456).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highway buses from Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto also stop at Izumoshi Station, according to Shimane Prefecture’s access sheet (Shimane Prefecture<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the rules for cars, bikes and walking at Iwami Ginzan?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iwami Ginzan runs a park-and-ride system. Drivers leave the car at the World Heritage Center car park (about 400 spaces) and take the paid local bus into Omori; private cars can go only as far as Iwami Ginzan Park at the bottom of town (Oda City Tourism Association FAQ<\/a>). No vehicles are allowed up in the mine area (JNTO<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no bus to Ryugenji Mabu. You have three options for the last 2.5 km: walk, cycle, or take the Ginzan Cart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9009\u9879<\/th>\u8d39\u7528<\/th>Time to Ryugenji Mabu<\/th>\u987b\u77e5<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u6b65\u884c<\/td>\u514d\u8d39<\/td>About 35 min from the Omori bus stop (2,500 m); about 45 min from Iwami Ginzan Park<\/td>A long, gentle uphill; allow about 2 hours return with the shaft<\/td><\/tr>
Electric bike (Rental Cycle Kawamura)<\/td>\u00a51,000 for 2 hours, then \u00a5200 per 30 min<\/td>About 1 hour return including stops<\/td>8:30\u201317:00; next to the Omori Daikansho-ato bus stop; may stop in bad weather<\/td><\/tr>
Standard bike<\/td>\u00a5800 for 3 hours, then \u00a5100 per 30 min<\/td>Longer; the slope is steady<\/td>The tourism association recommends e-bikes for the hill<\/td><\/tr>
Ginzan Cart<\/td>\u00a5500 one way to Ryugenji Mabu<\/td>Check the live timetable<\/td>Six seats, no reservations on regular runs; counter closed Wednesdays<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bike prices are from the operator’s April 2025 rate change (Rental Cycle Kawamura<\/a>); the cart has live seat and timetable info on its own site (Ginzan Cart<\/a>). The Iwami Ginzan visitor site lists bike hours as ending at 16:30 from December to February (visitor guide<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n

\u51fa\u53d1\u524d\u987b\u77e5<\/p>

Start early<\/p>

Buses run about hourly, so an early one from Odashi leaves time for both the mine and the town.<\/p><\/div>

Wear proper shoes<\/p>

The shaft is narrow and its damp walls flake. Watch your head and footing.<\/p><\/div>

1 January is the only day off<\/p>

Ryugenji Mabu opens every other day of the year.<\/p><\/div>

Wednesday cart gap<\/p>

The Ginzan Cart counter is closed on Wednesdays, so plan to walk or cycle.<\/p><\/div>

Take the \u00a5500 guide<\/p>

The volunteer guide association does two-hour walks for \u00a5500, no booking needed for individuals.<\/p><\/div>

\u5e26\u73b0\u91d1<\/p>

Small shops and the bike rental may not take cards in person.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Ryugenji Mabu: hours, fees and what you’ll see<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ryugenji Mabu is the shaft you can walk into without booking a tour. It was dug in 1715 and runs about 600 m, and it stays mild year-round: cool in summer, warmer than outside in winter (JNTO<\/a>). You walk 157 m of the old shaft, or 273 m including a newer exit tunnel (Oda City Tourism Association<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9879\u76ee<\/th>\u5185\u5bb9\uff082026\uff09<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u5f00\u653e\u65f6\u95f4<\/td>9:00\u201317:00; 9:00\u201316:00 from December to February. Last entry 10 minutes before closing<\/td><\/tr>
\u4f11\u606f<\/td>1 January only<\/td><\/tr>
Adult (high school and over)<\/td>\u00a5500<\/td><\/tr>
Child (elementary and junior high)<\/td>\u00a5250<\/td><\/tr>
Groups of 20+<\/td>\u00a5400 adult \/ \u00a5200 child<\/td><\/tr>
Parking<\/td>None at the shaft; use the World Heritage Center car park<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fees have applied since 1 April 2024, per Oda City (Oda City<\/a>). Inside, look for the chisel marks on the walls; the city warns that the condensation-soaked walls peel easily, so keep your hands off them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about Okubo Mabu?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Okubo Mabu is the larger, rougher shaft, open only on guided tours. The tourism association describes the two-hour route as closer to mountain climbing, with temperatures around 10\u00b0C inside even in summer (\u5e38\u89c1\u95ee\u9898<\/a>). Tours stop in winter, when bats use the shaft (JNTO<\/a>), and Shimane Prefecture’s August 2026 newsletter lists tours until the end of November (Shimane Prefecture<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Ryugenji
Inside the Ryugenji Mabu mine shaft. Photo: Wakuwaku99<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons, Public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

A one-day Iwami Ginzan route, in order<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The tourism association suggests at least half a day for the Omori area, with about 1.5 hours to walk the townscape. This full-day route works from Odashi without a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning: up to the mine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n