For a first time visitor by car, this is the safer and easier place to park your car. You will have to take a public bus from this center to the gateway to the Iwami-Ginzan area, which is basically one narrow street stretching from lower part of the creek to the upper part of the creek. The bus ride would cost yen 240 (US$2 or less), while the car park was free and abundant at this center. It turned out that getting a rental bicycle (electric powered one at yen 700 for two hours) at a former gas station near the lower bus stop would be ideal lakes you enjoy uphill walk without shades for 2 km or so.

This museum is not a typical tourist attraction or scenic landmark, but a serious place dedicated to learning about the history of the region. Its exhibits are carefully curated to provide educational value rather than entertainment, making it ideal for visitors with a genuine interest in the area's historical development. A worthwhile stop for those seeking depth and context in their travels.

Nice historical place with the beautiful nature of the mountain

If you want to park for free and take the bus to the village it’s a good way to get there. But walking alone is probably out of the option considering the ‘caution bears’ sign

Great center that introduces to the whole history of the mining region in quite an interactive way! Almost all the information is accompanied with English translation which is very nice. It is only 20 min walk from the center of the charming Omori village. So, if anyone is interested, I had a perfect day taking a 10:15am bus from Hiroshima directly to this center, learned about mining, walked to Omori and browsed it around a bit (it is gorgeous!), and from there took a 15 min ride (google maps knows it all) on a very cute small electric bus to the Ryugenji mine shaft (open to public without guides). And finally hiked from there for three hours through majestic forest to one of the most authentic hot springs in the country in Yunotsu. Memorable day full of history, nature, hiking, and relaxation!

A must stop for any history, geology or geography enthusiast. Wonderful presentation, amazing staff, just awesome.

This center highlights the contributions of Japan to earth in terms of Silver. Not many may know that Japan was mining 90% of the world's supply of silver 300 years ago... recommend a visit. The trails are good too for the hiking enthusiasts.

Interesting to go into the old silver mine. Recommend wearing the hard hat provided unless you are very short as the ceiling is low in many places and we bumped our heads a few times. There were some pictures of what the mining working conditions were like for the workers. Would have been a hard life.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage silver mine. Walking around Iwami Ginzan, I felt the harsh conditions under which people worked to earn money in those days. A guide accompanied us, providing detailed and easy-to-understand explanations, making the experience both enjoyable and informative.

The Iwami Ginzan historic site is impressive for its preserved old structures and landscape. It's clear that a considerable budget has been invested in maintaining the authenticity of this heritage site.

This was a fun experience. If you come here expecting to go deep under ground in a deep, vast tunnel you will be let down. The tunnel is nice to walk through but it's not the most thrilling thing in the world so its best to keep your expectations low. What really made this experience special was hiring a bicycle and riding through the beautiful traditional buildings in the town which leads up to the mine.

Iwami Ginza Mines is a great experience. Very peaceful and relaxing. There is only two ways to reach the mine walk or hire a bicycle some of which are electric. Its a 2.5 km easy walk with things to see along the way (temples, shrines and beautiful scenery and toilets). The mine cost is 500 yen and foreigners get a discount. A must see.

I really enjoy when visiting Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. This place, become UNESCO heritage site because here you will find the trace of the glory silver mine 400 years ago. Roads, tunnels, Samurai's house, and artifacts as remnants of silver mine still exists until now. This place is conserved well until now. Had trade with Europe, prove this silver mine activity affected Japan's economy at that time. Tour into the tunnel will give you the idea how the labors work to get the silver. It really hard to work under having water problems, and the shortage of light and fresh air in the past. Please visit Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, you will not regret!!

This is a great place to take a walk and it is a important place during Japanese history. It provide funds during 15~16 century. The Major issue is lack of English resource. It is hard for Foreign visitors to understand the picture by using audio guide. As a UNESCO site, I think it is reasonable to training small number of English guide.

A bit of a walk but you can rent bikes not far from the carpark! Refer to google maps for location. The mine itself is awesome and does a loop! Nice and cool on a hot summers day

2024/12/16 Closed for construction. Google open time was showing as open regular hour. We drove all the way from Hiroshima and not able to get in.

At the entrance to Ryugenji Mabu, there is an entrance fee of 500 yen, with the convenience of cashless payment. The short tour inside takes about 30 minutes and offers a fascinating glimpse into the historic mining tunnels. Although compact, the experience is immersive, with the cool, damp air and narrow passageways bringing the history of Iwami Ginzan to life. It's a well-organised visit, perfect for a short but memorable stopover.

Interesting site that gives a window into the history of the Iwami Ginzan silver mine. Not a lot of information in English, yet foreign visitors qualify for reduced price entry.

Nice temple to visit if you're in the area.

It's more interesting than I thought cos it's the HISTORY of the mine that makes it interesting to visit. We were lucky to have a local guide, but there isn't really one needed for a visit. It's not a cave but a mine shaft. Ceiling is low over the first few metres but gets higher further in. Flat shaft floor, so it's easy to walk. Overall maybe 10 minutes from entrance to exit when rushed. But for getting a feel what working in here was like, one should stop and look around and into the side shafts (some look incredibly narrow for people having had to work in there), and in January maybe even spot some hibernating bats.

The largest silver mine in Japan. It was closed in 1923 and turned to a tourist attraction. It is listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The clothing section of the store is quite expensive, but the homemade home goods side is lovely. There’s a large selection of very beautiful and affordable handmade pottery and wood works. A great place to buy gifts or personal home goods that also supports individual creators. The cafe area is very stylish and has a pretty garden and long glass wall, giving it lots of natural light. I’ve only had small sweets which can be a little pricey, but worth it for the experience. The women’s bathroom in the cafe section is very pretty as well

A tastefully decorated cafe serving healthy light dishes and desserts

Ideal place for lunch. Deliciously seasoned dishes in a relaxing atmosphere.

Local crafts and clothing, and a cafe with "mountain village rice" lunch. Local ingredients, tasty!

A very beautiful shop and cafe. Suddenly you feel more in Tokyo than deep in the Japanese countryside.

good

(Translated by Google) September 21, 2025 You could even say that this was my real purpose for visiting the World Heritage Site, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. While it's not related to the silver mine, I highly recommend this place for anyone who enjoys visiting general stores. As a general store, the atmosphere of the old house and the way the products are displayed were wonderful, but the food was also fantastic, using carefully selected ingredients and handmade items. I had time to try the sweets, and they were delicious! ♬ (Original) 2025.9.21 世界遺産の石見銀山に来て、本当の目的はこっちだったと言っても良いかもしれませんｗ　銀山とは関係ありませんが、雑貨屋巡りが趣味の方なら必ず寄って欲しいと思う位お勧めします。 また、雑貨屋さんとしても古民家の佇まいや商品の見せ方が素晴らしかったのですが、食事も拘り素材の手作りの品を使ってあるそうで素晴らしい物でした。今回は時間的にスイーツをいただきましたが、とても美味しかったですよ～♬

Museum in a historical place, with parts still remaining from Edo period. Exhibition shows original remains from the long history of Iwami Ginzan. This museum isn't part of the local tourist organisation (which is good). Staff is very knowledgeable about the subject, kind and helpful.

a long drive in the rain for not much - museum was only in Japanese so I didn't get a lot of the meaning - apart from a few maps. There may have been other shops open earlier but as we got there around closing time (4pm?) it looked largely closed.

There was a few cool things and it was pretty cheep for foreigners, but few things had translations, and overall it was a pretty small museum.

(Translated by Google) This is a paid area (600 yen for adults). The history of Iwami Ginzan and why it is called "Imo Daikan"? There is an explanation. This is a general museum. (Original) 有料エリア(大人600円)です。石見銀山の歴史や，なぜ「いも代官」と言われるか？の説明とかがあります。一般的な資料館です。

(Translated by Google) While visiting the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine World Heritage Site and strolling through the streets of Omori, I passed by the Iwami Ginzan Museum. The building's facade, with its old-fashioned, historic design, prompted me to take a photo, but due to time constraints, I ended up not going inside. However, upon further research, I discovered that this facility is an important base for gaining deeper insight into the World Heritage Site and has a fascinating historical background. The museum, officially known as the "Potato Magistrate Museum," as its name suggests, features exhibits centered on the achievements of Ido Heizaemon, the magistrate who saved people during the Great Famine by popularizing sweet potatoes. This answers the simple question, "Why the potato magistrate?" Even just knowing this fact makes the history of Iwami Ginzan feel more familiar. The building itself also bears witness to its changing history. It was originally the site of a jin'ya (camp) where the shogunate's magistrate's office was located during the Edo period. The current museum building is a repurposed version of the former Nima County Office, built in 1902. The fact that a Meiji-era administrative center stands on the site of a former magistrate's office evokes a sense of the complex history of the area. The exhibits include valuable materials such as mining tools, ancient documents, and picture scrolls from the Sengoku period through the Edo period, when the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was at its height, as well as a wealth of mineral specimens, including silver ore. This comprehensive guide to the 500-year history of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and the mining technology of the time makes it an ideal place to get a general understanding before exploring the Omori townscape and ruins such as Ryugenji Mabu. As public vehicles are restricted from entering the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, the most convenient way to get there is to take a bus from JR Oda City Station and get off at the "Omori Daikansho Ato" bus stop. If you come by car, you'll need to park in the World Heritage Center's parking lot (free) and then take a local bus from there. Admission is 600 yen for adults (300 yen for elementary and junior high school students), and some people say that the volume of exhibits is lacking compared to other World Heritage Centers, but considering the condensed historical exhibits that can only be seen here and its location on the site of a former magistrate's office, I've come to realise that it's a facility worth stopping by at least once. Next time I'll make time to go inside. (Original) 世界遺産石見銀山を訪れ、大森の町並みを散策した際に、石見銀山資料館の前を通りました。建物の外観が歴史を感じさせる古めかしい造りだったので、なんとなく写真を撮ったのですが、時間の都合で結局中には入っていません。ただ、後で調べたところ、この施設が世界遺産を深く知るための重要な拠点であり、非常に興味深い歴史的背景を持っていることが分かりました。 この資料館は、正式には「いも代官ミュージアム」とも呼ばれており、その名の通り、大飢饉の際にサツマイモ（芋）を普及させて人々を救った代官、井戸平左衛門の功績をメインにした展示があるそうです。これは「なぜいも代官なのか？」という素朴な疑問の答えにもなっていて、知識として知っておくだけでも石見銀山の歴史がより身近に感じられます。 建物自体も歴史の変遷を物語っており、ここは元々、江戸時代に幕府の代官所が置かれていた陣屋跡です。現在の資料館の建物は、明治35年（1902年）に建てられた旧邇摩郡役所（にまぐんやくしょ）を再利用したものだそうで、かつての代官所跡に明治時代の行政の中心地が建っているという点に、歴史の重層性を感じました。 展示内容としては、石見銀山が最も栄えた戦国時代から江戸時代にかけての採掘工具、古文書、絵巻物といった貴重な資料に加え、銀鉱石などの鉱物標本が豊富に展示されているとのことです。石見銀山の500年にわたる歴史や、当時の鉱山技術について体系的に学べるため、大森の町並みや龍源寺間歩などの遺跡を巡る前に、ここで知識の概要を把握しておくのが理想的だと感じました。 アクセス面では、石見銀山は一般車両の乗り入れが制限されているため、JR大田市駅からバスに乗り、「大森代官所跡」バス停で下車するのが最も便利です。車で来た場合は、世界遺産センターの駐車場（無料）に停めて、そこから路線バスで移動することになります。 入館料は大人600円（小・中学生は300円）で、展示物のボリュームについては、他の世界遺産センターと比べると物足りないという意見もあるようですが、ここでしか見られない歴史を凝縮した展示や、代官所の跡地という立地を考えると、一度は立ち寄る価値がある施設だと認識を改めました。次は時間を作って、中に入ってみようと思っています。

(Translated by Google) Tickets are ¥500 and include an introduction to the history of Iwami Ginzan. (Original) 門票¥500，介紹石見銀山歷史。

(Translated by Google) There are sweet potatoes hanging between the curtains at the entrance, so be sure to check them out. The silver veins are also explained clearly using a diorama. (Original) 入口の玄関幕の間に、サツマイモが吊るしてありますので、ぜひ確認してください。 銀の鉱脈もジオラマでわかりやすく説明されています。

The parking lot is difficult to find and is not close to the building. The museum itself was small and didn’t have much to see, so I think the cost was not worth it. They also gave us a postcard to decorate with colored sand. I think was the best part. They also do crafts on select days that you can pay to do. You can also get the manhole card to collect at the Road Station close by!

It was a very unique and rewarding experience. The place has the largest hourglass in the world or, shall I say, year glass, as it is flipped once a year only. There some very aesthetic art installations as well. I deducted one star as: - the place could be refreshed - the place could be expanded - more descriptions in English would help international visitors

This is a great, spacious building that is devoted to sand and artistic, beautifully crafted hour glasses. It also holds the world's largest hour glass that last for one year! I really enjoyed this small museum. There's also a nice park near by. The town is small but worth stoping by if it's on your route. It's a little less than an our from izumoshi station using local train. Cost is ¥700. Walkable from Nima station. Wall across to the intersection with the Lawson and turn right. You'll see the glass pyramids. 10- 15 minute walk.

Worth spending an hour if you are in the area. A small but interesting museum about hourglass which has the biggest hourglass in the world. Foreigners get a 50% discount if they show a valid passport/residence card. No English language descriptions though which can be a bore if you cannot read Japanese. There are many kinds of hourglasses on display including some stylish pieces (there is a blue hourglass to test the intensity of your love, of course both the partners need to hold it together) There is a sand art corner also for the artist in you. This was not my main destination in this area but I am glad I dropped by. I bought a nice hourglass (3 minutes time) and had a good Ice cream in the Summer heat .

We visited this museum with lab mates when we went for a lab tour. It's worth to send half a day here. There are many activities which keeps us engaged all the time. They have microscopes too look at the sand grains which is really amazing. Also they have kind of designs which is simply cool. The specialty of this museum is this has a one year sand clock. Along with they have many small clocks which has many durations. At the end they have a different color sands where we can make some design,sketch and coloring.

The museum as such is not particularly interesting. Locals say that it doesn't make much sense. It just exists because one person at the city hall across the street thought it to be great. But, on the other hand, it is used for local events, like live concerts. And for things like this, I think this is a great place. Of course there are buildings for gatherings already right across the street. In case you wonder: no there is no cultural or historical reason for this museum. Which makes me wonder why it's called museum. There is a 'famous' beach nearby - Kotogahama. Maybe this is the inspiration for this building. The last time I bought the soft ice they offer, it was ice but not soft ice what I received.

Foreigers get a discount. The museum has the worlds largest hourglass in the world which measures the length of a year. Has some interesting art too. It also has a corner where you can make your own candle, necklace and other stuff

Good food and soba

(Translated by Google) ``Restaurant Omori'' is located next to the river at the site of the Omori Magistrate's Office. The number one recommendation is the Daikan soba set meal. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and clean, and on warm days you can eat on the riverside terrace. Business hours are 11:00-15:00. The Daikan soba set meal includes ``wariko soba'' and ``tempura, yam, wild vegetables, plums, and soba soup,'' so it's a great value in terms of quantity and taste. There are also rice bowl dishes. Be sure to stop by and grab a bite to eat before walking the 3.1km to Ryugenji Mabu. (Original) 大森代官所跡の川横にあります「お食事処 おおもり」 1番のお薦めは「代官そば定食」でしょう。 店内は広く清潔感のある店舗で暖かい日は川側のテラスでも食事ができるようになっているようです。　営業時間は11:00～15:00。 代官そば定食は「割子そば」と「天ぷら・山芋・山菜と梅・そば湯」がセットになっていますので量もお味もお得感がいっぱいです。　他には丼ものもあります。 龍源寺間歩までの3.1kmを歩く前の腹ごしらえに是非寄って食事をしましょう。

(Translated by Google) I used it for lunch. We ate Daikan soba noodles in a restaurant with a retro atmosphere. Both the soba and tempura had great flavor. My companion enjoyed the limited quantity of kakiage soba with asparagus, shrimp, and onions. (Original) ランチで利用させていただきました。レトロな雰囲気満載の店内で代官蕎麦をいただきました。蕎麦、天ぷらともに素晴らしい味わいでした。連れは数量限定のアスパラと海老と玉ねぎのかき揚げ蕎麦を堪能しました。

(Translated by Google) I went on Saturday, March 22nd, On this day, only soba noodles were served. I wanted to eat katsudon too, but... I ordered the Daikan Soba set. Smaller than I expected I felt that the quantity was not enough. The taste was delicious! ! The tempura was also very delicious! (Original) 3月22日土曜日に、行きましたが、 この日は、蕎麦のみの提供。 カツ丼も食べたかったが、、 代官蕎麦セットを注文しました。 思ってたよりも、小さく 量に物足りなさを感じましたが 味は美味しかったです！！ 天麩羅もとても美味しかったです！

(Translated by Google) I received Daikan Soba. It's not like it's a good deal with warm soba and cold soba, and it's not bad, but I feel like there's something missing... (Original) 代官そばを頂きました。 暖かい蕎麦と冷たい蕎麦でお得って訳でもなく、不味くはないが何か物足りないかなぁ⋯

(Translated by Google) Tempura is small and cold It's not Izumo soba, which is bitter and soft, but warm, soft, and tasteless. The sashimi is At least 3 servings of hard squid sashimi. The rice was delicious. I feel sorry for the people who say that the soba here is delicious. A disappointing restaurant from a disappointing world ◯ Places I'll never go again and places I'll never eat again Best 1 (Original) 天ぷら小さくて冷めてる 蕎麦喉越しわるくてやわやわ、出雲蕎麦でなく、温かいやわやわ、まずい蕎麦。 お刺身は 硬いイカのお刺身だけ、せめて３点盛りにして。 お米は、美味かった。 ここの蕎麦旨いてゆーてる人、、かわいそう。 がっかり世界◯産に、がっかりお食事処 ２度と行かない場所と２度と食べない所 ベスト1

(Translated by Google) We walked around the Ginzan Silver Mine. We walked about 10km and were hungry so we went into Omoriya. My son and I ordered Daikan Soba. It was just as delicious as we expected. The lady at the restaurant was also very friendly. (Original) 歩いて銀山巡り 10キロ程歩いたかと 腹も空いたので　おおもり屋さんに入店 息子と2人で代官そばを注文 普通に美味しかったよ。 お店のおばさんの対応もよかったよ。

I like the location (except someone comes in smoking). Tried the Kimchi Ramen today, which has a good taste, but with Japanese style spicyness (not spicy at all compared to Korean kimchi). It's possible to have it as set with rice and other additions. Was good and plenty.

the restaurant is abandoned

(Translated by Google) I got tired of the restaurants around Ota City, so I looked for a restaurant a little (20 minutes) away! There are many menus here, and the famous Nakisuna Ramen is exquisite. 🤤The fried chicken was also plump and juicy. 🤤 (Original) 太田市の周辺の飲食店に飽きたので少し（20分）離れた飲食店を探してみた！ ここはメニューも多く、名物の鳴き砂ラーメンは絶品だ。🤤鶏の唐揚げもプリプリでジューシーでした～。🤤

(Translated by Google) It had a slightly Showa-era feel to it, but the restaurant was spacious and the food was delicious. The stir-fried vegetable set meal was not too strong, had plenty of vegetables and was good value for money, and I would like to try other dishes again. The only thing I found disappointing was that the plants in the pots in front of the restaurant and at the entrance seemed unkempt. (Original) 少し昭和感のある食堂という感じでしたが、広々とした店内で食事も美味しかったです。 野菜炒め定食は味付けも濃くなく、野菜たっぷりでコスパも良かったし、又違うメニューも食べたいと思いました。 残念だなーと思ったのが、店先と玄関入った植木鉢の植物が手入れされてない感があった事です。

(Translated by Google) I'd been interested in this restaurant for a while. I ordered their specialty, Nakisuna Ramen, and a half portion of fried rice. These dishes were a bargain at 600 yen each. Half a portion of fried rice was 350 yen. The pork bone soup with just the right amount of garlic goes well with fried rice, so I decided to drink the soup while eating it. The noodles were quite soft. I entered the restaurant at 11:15. There were no other customers, but after 11:30, one or two groups of customers came in...it seemed like there were many regulars, and they were ordering the usual. I sat by the window and the view of the sky was lovely. Thank you for the meal. (Original) 以前から気になっていたお店。 名物の鳴き砂ラーメンと半チャーハンを注文。 単品だと６００円の安さ。 半チャーハンは３５０円。 豚骨味に程よくニンニクがきいているスープは、チャーハンにも合う…とチャーハン食べなら、スープを飲みました。 麺はかなり柔らかめでした。 １１時１５分に入店。他にお客さんはいませんでしたが、１１時半を過ぎると、お客さんが一組、二組…常連さんも多いようで、いつもの…と言って注文されていました。 窓際の席に座って、眺めた空がいい感じでした。 ご馳走さまでした。

(Translated by Google) We are Taiwanese tourists traveling independently. We had ramen for two days. The taste of today's ramen was the best. It was not too salty. The mixed noodles and rice were also served, and the portion was more than enough. (Original) 我們是自由行的台灣遊客，兩天吃的拉麵，今天口味最棒了，不會太鹹，什錦麵還有飯，份量好足夠。

(Translated by Google) I've been here for about ten years now. I thought it was a ramen restaurant, but there were many set meals, alcohol, and snacks in addition to ramen. I ordered Nakisuna ramen and champon. My companion finished the Nakisuna ramen, saying it was delicious. The champon was super hot and made me sweat. It was light, whether it was pork bone or paitan, and not heavy, and you could drink the broth easily. The staff were also very friendly. It was a shame that the floor was greasy. Thank you for the meal🙏 Revisited in April 2025 My companion ordered soy sauce ramen, and I ordered salt champon. The salt champon was served with vinegar. I poured it on in the middle to change the flavor, and it was very refreshing and delicious. Revisited in May 2025 My companion ordered fried rice, and I ordered Nakisuna ramen. There were several families visiting, so it was crowded. Watching them, I could tell from the way they ate that their parents were giving social education at home. The ramen tasted like a mix of pork bone and plain soup. Thank you for the meal 🙏 (Original) 十年ぶりかなぁ?再訪。ラーメン食堂かと思ってましたが、ラーメン以外に定食類やアルコールとアテ類が多かったです。鳴き砂ラーメンとちゃんぽんをオーダー。連れは鳴き砂ラーメンを美味い美味いと完食。ちゃんぽんは超熱々で汗が出て来ます。豚骨なのかパイタンなのかあっさり系していてくどく無く汁もごくごく飲めます。スタッフさんも愛想が良いですね。床がギトギトしていたのが残念。ごちそうさま🙏 2025年4月再訪 同行者はしょうゆラーメン、私は塩ちゃんぽん。塩ちゃんぽんはお酢が備え付けられて配膳されました。途中でかけて味変したら大変サッパリしてぶち美味しくいただけました。 2025年5月再訪 同行者は焼き飯、私は鳴き砂ラーメン。家族連れが複数組訪れていて混んでました。見ていると食べ方一つで親御様の自宅での社会教育が分かる家庭もありました。 ラーメンは豚骨と白湯をミックスしたような感じでした。 ごちそうさま🙏