Ikuno Ginzan Silver Mine
About This Destination
The mine's own story starts with silver found here in 807, but the reliable record begins in 1542, when the Tajima lord Yamana Suketoyo started digging in earnest. Oda Nobunaga and then Toyotomi Hideyoshi put their own magistrates in charge, and from 1600 the Tokugawa shogunate ran it as a direct holding that helped pay its bills. In 1868 it became Japan's first government-run mine, and the French engineer Jean-Francisque Coignet was hired to modernise it; his arched stone entrance to the Kanagase tunnel is still the way in. Mitsubishi bought the mine in 1896 and worked it until 1973. Underground, the passages run to more than 350 km and 880 m deep. The tour covers about a kilometre and takes roughly 40 minutes, past Edo-era hand-cut stopes with mannequin miners, then a lift shaft and a huge winding drum. It is about 13°C inside year-round, so bring a long-sleeved layer even in August. The route is flat and works for wheelchairs and strollers. Takeda Castle Ruins, also in Asago, is two stops north on the Bantan Line.
Location
Prefecture: Hyogo
Address: Asago, Hyogo, Japan
Nearest Station: Ikuno Station
Closed: Tuesdays from December to February only (the next day if the Tuesday is a national holiday), and the year-end and New Year holidays. Open every day the rest of the year.
Hours note: Hours change with the season: 9:10 to 17:20 from April to October (last tunnel entry 16:40), 9:10 to 16:50 in November (last entry 16:10), 9:40 to 16:20 from December to February (last entry 15:40) and 9:40 to 16:50 in March (last entry 16:10). Admission is 1,200 yen for adults and 600 yen for elementary to high school students; preschool children are free.
Best time to visit: Any time of year; the tunnel holds about 13°C, so it is cool in summer. From December to February it closes on Tuesdays and opens later.
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Unknown
Access
Hyogo, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
How much does Ikuno Ginzan cost and what does the ticket include?
Adults pay 1,200 yen and elementary to high school students 600 yen; preschool children are free. The ticket covers the tour tunnel, the outdoor course, the Mine Museum, the Fukiya Museum and the Ikuno Mineral Pavilion (Ikuno Ginzan Culture Museum).
How cold is it inside the tunnel?
About 13°C all year round. In summer that feels cold after the car park, so bring a thin long-sleeved top.
How long does a visit take?
The tour tunnel takes about 40 minutes. Allow longer for the museums. The last tunnel entry is 40 minutes before closing, which means 15:40 in winter.
Can I get to Ikuno Ginzan without a car?
Yes, but plan it. From JR Ikuno Station it is about 4 km, so take a taxi or Asago City's on-demand shared bus, which must be booked in advance and does not run on Sundays or national holidays.
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