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Ikuno Silver Mine
Cultural Museum■ Access (times shown are approximate)(2F of the Ikuno Mineral Pavilion)

Ban-Tan Expressway* A separate fee required for admission.

from Himeji/Fukusaki, exit by Ikuno Ramp
and drive along access road (10 min).
from Toyooka/Wadayama, exit by Ikuno
North Ramp 1 and drive along access road(10 min).

The exhibits are captivating interms of both number and kind:those themed on the history andculture of the Ikuno Silver Mine andon the science of mining; valuableore samples (more than 800 items),
headed by Ikunolite and Sakuraiite(yields from the mine); and full-size
models of the Edo-era tunnel.

JRfrom Ikuno station, take a bus (8 min) to theIkunoginzanguchi stop and walk (10 min).
Cupeled silver

Historic Site

Ikuno Silver Mine

■ Business Hours
April through October: 9:00 A.M. to 5:30
P.M.
November: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
December through February: 9:30 A.M. to4:30 P.M.
March: 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
* Visitors are requested to enter the tour tunnel at least
40 minutes before the closing time.
■ Days Closed
Tuesdays (only for the three months ofDecember through February; if a Tuesday
coincides with a national holiday, closed onthe next day)Year-end and New Year holidays

Super idol of the undergrounTd!
DEBU“GINZAN BOYZ” now
Who aretheGINZAN
BOYZ?

See the website now!

http://www.ikuno-ginzan.co.jp/ginzan-boys/
Look for your favorite BOYZ andexplore the underground!

Silver Ikuno Corporation

33-5, Ikunocho Kono, Asago-shi, Hyogo 679-3324
TEL.079-679-2010／FAX.079-679-2755
http：//www.ikuno-ginzan.co.jp

With its discovery reportedly going as far back as the year 807, the Ikuno Silver Minewould see the start of full-scale mining activities by 1542 during the reign of Suketoyo
Yamana. Its operations launched in the Muromachi era would remain active through thereigns of both Oda and Toyotomi families to reach their height in the Edo era.
In 1868, the mine would be placed under the direct control of the government and rendered
the services of a government-appointed French engineer in the person of Jean Francisque
Coignet, who, upon arrival, would implement a series of forward-thinking programs to help
modernize the mine dramatically.
The title to the mine would be transferred to the Bureau of Imperial Estates of the Imperial
Household Ministry in 1889, thus making it the property of the Imperial court. It would thenbe vouchsafed to Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha (limited partnership) in 1896 to operate as oneof Japan s leading mines until its closure in 1973.
The tunnel bored in the course of its life measures, at least, an astounding 350 km in total
length and 880 m in depth. The ore collected from the mine varies widely in type and canaccount for more than 70 categories.

The Tour Tunnel
The modern-era tunnel known as Kanagase-ko is
made open to the public to serve as a lastingvestige of the golden days of the historical mine.
The elevator-equipped shaft which the miners
pinned their lives on as they delved into thedepths of the earth as well as the massive winch
drum is simply a sight to see and is deﬁnitely
worth your while. Go along the properly
maintained tunnel and view the veins and thestill-vivid scars in the walls left by the chisels of
those who crawled through the tunnel whilecherry-picking likely areas to mine during theEdo era.

Exhibits of Mineral Samples

Chronology of the Ikuno Silver MineYearEvent807

A silver mine is found. (The mine s discovery has traditionally been dated
to the year 807.)
Silver stones are spotted on the south face of mount Kojozan (according tothe Ginzan chronicles) to be followed by copious yields of silver.
Nobunaga Oda appoints a magistrate to preside over Ikuno.
The Honnoji incident occurs. Hideyoshi Toyotomi appoints a magistrate topreside over Ikuno.
Ieyasu Tokugawa comes into power and installs a magistrate s oﬃce inIkuno.
The mine is placed under the supervision of the Meiji government.
Modernization of its management starts under the direction of the Frenchengineer Jean Francisque Coignet.
The mine becomes the property of the Imperial court.
The mine is vouchsafed to Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha (limited partnership).
Haulage from inside the tunnel is suspended primarily because of thedepletion of the ore. The Mining department ceases its operations.
The area is opened to the public as the historic site Ikuno Silver Mine.
The mine is designated as Heritage of Industrial Modernization.
The mine is selected as Important Cultural Landscape.
The mine receives one star in Michelin Green Guide Hyogo WEB version.
The mine is designated as Japan Heritage. (the Remains of Ikuno Mine)

1542
1578
1582
1600
1868
1889
1896
1973
1974
2007
2014
2016
2017

Cultural Property

Cultural Property(designated by the City of Asago)(designated by the City of Asago)

Gate Posts Bearing the Imperial Crestof the Chrysanthemum(Japan Heritage Configuration Assets)

Remains of the Former
Kanagase Mine(cluster of outcrops)

The posts were installed in 1876 as part ofthe main entrance to the Ikuno works.

Go up the steps found to the sideof the tunnel entrance to viewthe remains of a strip mine. Anoutcrop is a part of a geologicalstratum exposed above theground surface; in the days of old,people burrowed their way into
the ground upon its discovery.
Shown in the photo is what
remains of an area of strip-mining
known for its sweeping expanseof outcrops (Keijuhi).

Gate to the Magistrate s Office

Ikuno Mineral Pavilion
Entrance
Rest House/(gate posts bearing
Souvenir Pavilion
the imperial crest ofthe chrysanthemum)

One-yen Train

P

Parking Lot #2
Parking Lot #3

Mineral Mine Museum

Vestige of
Shrinkage MiningOperations

Kannon Iwa(rock of Kannon
the Deity of Mercy)

600ｍ

Modern-era
Mining Zone

(approx.)

30 min(round-trip, approx.)

To the Former Kanagase Mine(cluster of outcrops)
Entrance to the Strip Mine(remains)
Entrance to the Tour Tunnel

GinzanRestaurantP

Ticket Booth

Parking Lot #1
Rest Area

Koei Shaft Cage (elevator)
Scene of Modern-day Mining Operations

1,000 ｍ(approx.)

Fukiya Museum
Ootanigawa

40 minWinch/Elevator Zone

(round-trip, approx.)

Exit fromthe Tour Tunnel

Ikuno Silver Mine GuideMap

Entrance tothe Tour Tunnel
Edo-eraMining Zone

Edo-era Surveyor
Taking Measurements
Inside the Tunnel

Exit fromthe Tour Tunnel
Transport Vehicle (for workmen)

Entrance to the Kanagase Mine(Japan Heritage Configuration Assets)
The arched French-style stonework entrance of the tunnel
designed by Jean-François Coignet is yet another enduring
relic of the days when the tunnel was first being opened.

Edo-era Mining(cherry-picking operation)