basic information

How to travel between Iwami Ginzan and Tokyo

Iwami Ginzan is most easily accessed from nearby Izumo City:

By daytime trains to Izumo:

Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama and transfer to the JR Yakumo limited express to Izumo (Izumo-shi Station). The one way journey, using a nozomi train along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, takes about seven hours, while an additional hour is required when using a hikari train.

The regular one way fare for the journey is slightly under 20,000 yen. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on hikari, but not on nozomi trains.

By nighttime train to Izumo:

The "Sunrise Izumo" night train operates daily between Tokyo and Izumo. One way fares including berth fee, start around 21,000 yen.

Japan Rail Pass holders have to pay around 9500 yen additionally for using a berth, except when using so called "nobi nobi" compartments, which can be used for free with the pass. Nobi nobi compartments are small spaces of carpeted floor to lie down. They are popular and often book out in advance.

By air to Izumo:

JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Izumo Airport (flight time 90 minutes). The regular one way fare is about 29,000 Yen, but by using a discount offer, you can usually fly for between 15,000 and 25,000 yen. Air passes for foreign visitors are even cheaper.

Airport buses connect Izumo Airport with the city center in 25 minutes and for 700 yen (one way).

By bus to Izumo:

The one way journey between Tokyo and Izumo by overnight bus takes roughly 12 hours and costs 12,070 Yen. The buses are operated by Ichibata Bus and JR Chugoku Bus.

From Izumo to Iwami Ginzan:

Take a local train from Izumo (JR Izumo-shi Station) to Oda-shi Station (40 minutes, 570 yen) and transfer to a bus to Iwami Ginzan (25 minutes, 560 yen).

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
 

Orientation

The attractions of Iwami Ginzan are concentrated around Omori Town and the nearby former mining area and are best explored on foot and by bus.

The transportation hub is "Omori Daikansho" bus stop at the northern end of Omori Town (Daikansho refers to the nearby Former Government Office). From here, buses depart to Oda-shi Station (about 18 round trips per day), Nima Station (about 5 round trips per day) and other destinations.

Two bus lines, the purple line and the green line, provide transportation inside the Iwami Ginzan area. A one day pass for unlimited use of both lines is available for 500 yen:

• Purple Line: Omori Daikansho to Ryugenji Mabu Mine Shaft
  Travel duration about 8 minutes; departures every 15-30 minutes

• Green Line: Omori Daikansho to Iwami Ginzan Parking Area
  Travel duration about 7 minutes; departures every 20-30 minutes

Good walkers do not need to rely on the buses, as the distances between the attractions are walkable. The distance from the northern to the southern end of Omori Town is about one kilometers, from where it is another two kilometers to the Ryugenji Mabu Mine Shaft at the southern end of the former mining area.

Cars

Private cars are banned from Omori Town and the former mining area.

Travelers visiting Iwami Ginzan by car, need to use the Iwami Ginzan parking area, which is located a 5 minute bus ride (green line) or 20-30 minute walk outside of the town center. On busy days, the Iwami Ginzan parking area can fill up, in which case more remote parking lots have to be used.

Access from Omori to Yunotsu

Take a bus to Nima or Oda-shi Station and transfer to the JR Sanin Line to Yunotsu. With a good connection, the journey takes about 45 minutes via Nima Station or about one hour via Oda-shi Station, but note that the train and bus service in the region is rather infrequent. By car, it takes less than 30 minutes.

It is also possible to reach Yunotsu from the mining area by walking along the 12 kilometer long Yunotsu-Okidomari hiking trail, which used to be the main route to transport the silver to Okidomari Port.

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