Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape

Lore & Background

The mine was discovered and developed in 1526 by the Japanese merchant Kamiya Jutei, who later introduced a Korean-style silver mining method known as the Haifukiho Method. It reached peak production in the early 1600s, yielding about 38 tons of silver annually, at a time when Japan produced roughly 200 tons per year—one third of the world's silver. The mine was fiercely contested by warlords until the Tokugawa Shogunate secured control in 1600 following the Battle of Sekigahara, after which it was fortified with fences, barricaded by pine trees, and protected by Yamabuki Castle built at the center of the complex.

Reader's Guide

The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, despite an initial evaluation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) that found no 'outstanding universal value' but recommended deferral for further research. The site was ultimately recognized for its sustainable logging practices, which resulted in less deforestation and erosion compared to other large silver mines, as well as reduced soil and water pollution. The World Heritage Site includes approximately six hundred pits and mine shafts, processing and administrative sites, three 16th-century castles, three service ports, and connecting transportation routes. Fourteen components were assessed by ICOMOS, including the mining area of Ginzan Sakunouchi, the settlement of Ōmori Ginzan, the House of the Kumagai Family, and the temple Rakan-ji Gohyakurakan. The site also features the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center and the Iwami Silver Mine Museum. It was declared one of the 100 greatest geological sites of Japan in 2007.

Did You Know?

• The mine was discovered in 1526 by merchant Kamiya Jutei, who later introduced the Haifukiho Method from Korea.
• At its peak in the early 1600s, the mine produced about 38 tons of silver annually, contributing to Japan's output of 200 tons—one third of global production.
• Silver from the mine was known as 'Soma Silver' and was given the highest trading credit in East Asia.
• The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, partly due to its sustainable logging practices that minimized deforestation.