Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Silver mine in Ōda, Japan.
Iwami Ginzan is a former silver mine in Ōda that spreads across forested mountains and includes more than 600 shafts dug into the rock. The tunnels run at different levels through the hillsides, some close together and others scattered over a wider area within the surrounding valleys.
The mining complex started production in the early 16th century and supplied roughly one third of the world's silver during that period. Operations closed in the early 20th century after the ore deposits became largely exhausted.
The merchant district near the mining area shows wooden shopfronts and narrow lanes where traders once handled silver ingots bound for distant ports. Walking these streets today, you pass old warehouses that stored ore before it traveled to refineries closer to the coast.
A bus from Odashi Station brings visitors to the area, and the heritage center provides information on the different shaft sites. The Ryugenji Mabu tunnel is open to the public and shows the structure of the underground passages along a short walkable section.
Miners adopted a refining method from Korea in the mid-16th century that allowed them to extract silver more efficiently from the ore. Despite heavy production, the surrounding forests remained largely intact because operators practiced controlled timber use.
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