Iwami Kagura Mask Painting

Through this activity, you can experience painting a mask for Iwami kagura (Traditional dance performance).
You will be given a white plain mask made in the traditional way, using locally-made Japanese paper called Sekishu Washi (UNESCO Important Intangible Cultural Herritage) and paint it to make your very own Kagura mask.

It takes about an hour and half and you can take your mask home with you afterwards.
Place it at the entrance door or hang it on the wall and it will bring your household safety and good luck or ward off any evils, depending on the design of the masks.

You can choose your mask from 4 options (two are Gods and two are demons).
You can book online via the official website.

Designated as a Prefectural Cultural Intangible Properties, Kigami Shrine is very famous for its "Howling Dragon" painting on the ceiling. When you clap your hands directly below the dragon, you will hear your clap echo as if the dragon is howling. The main deity of the Shrine is Okuninushi-no-mikoto (the God of matchmaking) and the architectual style is "Irimoya-zukuri Kawara-buki" that's modeled after Kameido Tenmangu Shrine in Edo(Tokyo).

An old Japanese house located in a tranquil hotspring town of Yunotsu.
Enjoy your stay at the traditional Japanese house.

【What this place offers】
-Kitchen
-Onsen

Located on the side of a rocky mountain, this shrine overlooks the onsen town of Yunotsu in Oda city. Behind the shrine is a giant rock that looks like a dragon opening its jaws and is said to be originally worshipped as the place where the Gods descend upon.

Iwami Kagura performances are held at this shrine every Saturday night from 8pm to 9pm.
Visit their website below for more information.

Every year in September, held on a special stage built on Fukumitsu beach, they hold a special performance of Iwami Kagura. Performances which are usually contained within the walls of local shrines are brought outside and put on display in the nature of the Iwami region. During sunset hour, you can watch dancers perform as the sun melts into the horizon behind them. A spectacular collaboration between Iwami Kagura and mother nature.

*For event dates and reservations, visit their website using the link below.

Located in the Onsen town of Oda city called Yunotsu, Kobayshi Kobo is a Iwami Kagura masks atelier. The artisan, Mr Kobayashi, hand-makes and hand-repairs Iwami Kagura masks, which are used in the traditional performance ritual held in the Iwami region and dedicated to Japanese Shinto Gods. Not only are the masks used for performing, but can be used as decoration on a wall or be gifted as a lucky charm. All masks are made of Sekishu Washi, which is a locally produced Japanese washi paper that has a history of over 1,300-years in the Iwami region.

With advanced bookings, you can participate in a workshop that includes painting your own Kagura mask.

Kagura mask is, as the words imply, the mask worn by performers when performing Kagura.
The masks used in Iwami Kagura are made of Sekishu Washi (traditional Japanese washi paper).
There are various kinds of kagura masks used in Kagura performances. Some have features of old men, while others depict women, demons, funny faces, and animals such as monkeys and foxes.

A really special sight in the Iwami Ginzan area is Omori Town. Today this town has a population of around 450 people and stretches 1.5 km long between the mountains. There are many preserved old houses, samurai residences, shops, shrines, temples and many other sights, which are all worth a visit. It is possible to rent bicycles and explore this quiet place on your own. It is really impressive to walk through the ancient streets along the river and experience the feeling of the old Japan during the silver rush. But not only the town itself is a sight, you should also explore the wild nature around Omori. There are many nice paths, which are mostly easy to walk. What makes the surrounding nature so unique is the existence of many ruins of ancient castles, temples, shrines and settlements in the middle of the forest. They are covered with moss and you can really see how the nature tries to regain its space. There are also many hidden mine shafts and places with an amazing view in the beautiful nature scenery. These things create a mysterious and ancient atmosphere, which let you feel like in a dream. So it is really worth it to visit this secret place in the mountains, if you want to experience this unique sight of Japanese history.

The place was once the estate of Tokugawa Shogunate mine administrators. This museum houses many historical materials ranging from the valuable materials of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, mining and smelting tools which were actually used in the mine, materials representing life and worship of samurai and Tokugawa Shogunate mine administrators, to various ores from various mines across Japan. The current building was built in 1902 as the Nima District Office, but remains being used as a museum today.

The Kawashima family, who had become a head of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine officials, built this house in the beginning of 1800. The characteristics of a samurai residence such as placements and room arrangements are well preserved. It enables visitors to get a glimpse of the daily life of a samurai. Visitors can also enjoy the display of how things were stored and a recreated scene of dinner time for a samurai family.

Around 4,000 years ago Mt. Sanbe erupted covering the surrounding lands and forests in volcanic ash. In the exhibition hall of Sanbe-Azukihara Buried Forest Park you can view the long trunks of giant trees, that were once buried during the Jomon period (14,000~300 BCE), and were said to have once towered over the surrounding areas. You can understand the threat the volcano posed over the surrounding area and feel the richness of the forest in those days.

This temple was founded in 1764 for the repose of the souls of the people who had worked at the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. There are caves across the river in front of the temple. Enshrined inside the caves carved into the rocky mountain are Buddhist statues with 500 handcarved stone arhat figures that were made over the course of about 25 years. Each is engraved with different expression and it is said that you can surely find an arhat figure which looks similar to a lost loved one. Everything, the three stone bridges, small stream, etc., survives today unchanged.

Kotoga Beach is a bow-shaped, white sand beach with a total length of 2 km. It is famous as one of Japan’s foremost beaches with “singing sand,” which makes a squeaking sound resembling the sound of a harp when you walk on it. The squeaking of the singing sand has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 soundscapes, and the beautiful shoreline has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 beaches also. Kotaga Beach was also the setting for Sunadokei (The Sand Chronicles), a manga that was also made into a movie. The beach bustles with beachgoers in summer, and it attracts greater numbers during the Obon period in August in particular, when the Kotoga Beach Bon Odori dance, an intangible folk-cultural property of Oda City, is held.

The Kumagai family was the largest merchant in Omori. The family was involved in the management of the silver mine and became a purveyor under the Tokugawa government patronage. Running such finance businesses, sake breweries, and etc., they enjoyed prosperity, as the ruling merchant in the 19th century. It is worth seeing not only the historic architecture and historical associations with the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine but also its furniture, garments and other household articles that change with each season. ‘Kamado-no-hi’ (Cooking Stove Day), a unique opportunity to experience the old Japanese lifestyle, is held every second Sunday of the month.

Serving as the introductory entrance of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine districts, this museum features exhibits and simple dioramas that clearly provide an overall perspective about Iwami Ginzan to the visitors. A fun short play by museum staff introducing the life of miner families in the Iwami Ginzan in the Edo period is held from time to time. Visitors can join workshop of making Chogin, one of the silver coins used during 16th to 19th century in Japan, using an alloy of tin and bismuth. (Reservation is required to join workshops)

Yunotsu Hot Spring constitutes one part of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site. The hot spring district has a history of thriving as a shipping port in ancient times. The well-known hot springs, which gush forth abundantly, once soothed the silver mine’s workers. The district is lined with buildings from various eras, starting from around the 19th century, and people continue to live in the area even today. It genuinely resembles a museum where time has stopped. It is the only hot spring district in Japan to be designated a Historic Streetscape Preservation District. Yunotsu is a hot spring paradise where you can nourish your mind and body while experiencing its charm and history.

Sand’, ‘Time’ and ‘Environment’ are the three main concepts of this sand museum. The museum, designed by Shin Takamatsu who is a world famous architect who was born and raised in the of Nima, consists of six large and small pyramids. The magnificent hourglass set in the middle of the largest pyramid measures the duration of a year and has been recognized as the world’s largest hourglass by the Guinness World Records in 2015. Visitors can enjoy participating in various glass workshops in the neighbouring Fureai Koryu-kan.

Located at Mt. Sanbe associated with the Daisen-Oki National Park, this museum provides knowledge and understanding of the surrounding environment, environment of Shimane, the formation of the Japan Sea, and etc. which can then be applied to its outdoor workshops. With a full-scale astronomical observatory complete with a planetarium with a theater and a museum for children, this museum is sure to make a whole day of fun for the whole family.

Mt. Sanbe, in central Shimane, is a range of six separate peaks reaching up to 1,126m above sea level. On its broad grassy slopes you can find something to enjoy in every season: skiing, camping, onsen, and of course hiking. Visit the nearby Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe SAHIMEL and also see the ancient giant trees buried by the eruption of 4,000 years ago at the Sanbe-Azukihara Buried Forest Park.

During the middle of Edo period, silver was massively produced in the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. These mine shafts are known as ‘mabu’ and there are over 700 of them in various sizes in this area. Ryugenji Mabu was operated under the direct management of the magistrate’s office. Visitors can walk inside of the tunnel and the rough chisel marks made by miners in the Edo period can still be seen clearly on the walls. We recommend taking a relaxing 40 min walk along the beautiful stream in the forest as you go between the mining shaft and Omori.

Since it was first discovered in 1527, Iwami Ginzan prospered as one of the top silver mines in the world for 400 years. During the age of exploration, the silver mine was known by the name “Ginzan” in Europe, and Iwami Ginzan was the major provider of silver during Japan’s golden age, when it was producing a third of the world’s silver. In 2007, the remains of the mines were registered as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Asia. It has been highly praised for preserving the surrounding transportation routes, ports, hot springs, and other facilities, and for the fact that the site coexists with the surrounding nature.