Iwami Ginzan Museum (Former Magistrate's Office Site)

Overview

The Iwami Ginzan Museum, located on the site of the former Omori Daikan-sho (magistrate's office), a component of the World Heritage site "Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape," is a museum where you can delve deep into the history and culture of the silver mine. The flourishing Iwami Ginzan silver mine in the Edo period was a crucial element of Japan's economy, its prosperity built on the hard work and ingenuity of many. The museum showcases the mining techniques, lifestyles, and the relationship between the mine and its people of that era. You can experience the atmosphere of the mine through precious mineral samples and models recreating the work in the mine shafts. Of particular note is the exhibit on the "Imo Daikan" (Potato Magistrate), Ido Heizaemon. During the mid-Edo period, Ido Heizaemon served as the magistrate of Iwami Ginzan and, to save his people from starvation, promoted the cultivation of sweet potatoes. His achievements earned him the title "Imo Daikan," a name still remembered today. At the museum, you can learn about Ido Heizaemon's life and how sweet potato cultivation transformed the lives of the people. The museum building itself is the former Nima-gun Office building constructed during the Meiji era, offering a palpable sense of history. Preserving its atmosphere, it serves as an exhibition hall, allowing visitors to experience the history and culture of Iwami Ginzan with all five senses. The Iwami Ginzan Museum is a place where you can deeply understand and rediscover the charm of the Iwami Ginzan's history and culture. Come and experience the Edo-era silver mine, the lives of its people, and the story of the "Imo Daikan".