Spring air, quiet hills, and a mine that felt pulled from a treasure-hunting dream, that’s how our Iwami Ginzan family travel story began. During our spring visit to Iwami Ginzan with our kids, we biked through the peaceful village road, past stone walls and shrines, until the forest closed in around the entrance to the old silver mine. From a kid’s perspective, exploring the Iwami Ginzan trails and stepping into the silver mine felt like entering a real-life storybook. Exploring the silver tunnels of Japan’s historic mine alongside children turned each shadowy corner into a moment of wonder and discovery. What began as a simple outing through Iwami Ginzan quickly turned into a historical journey, an adventure full of surprises, perfect for curious families.
This post is part of our ongoing Luca & Nico’s Travel Journal series, inspired by our actual adventures, interactions, and discoveries in Japan with kids.
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To give you a real sense of what it’s like to experience our Iwami Ginzan Silver Mines family travel story through young eyes, here’s what Luca and Nico had to say about our visit.
Luca’s Journal Entry
Dear Journal,
We rented bikes and rode through a quiet road with houses and mossy walls, all the way toward the silver mine. Nico rode on Mama’s bike and I was with Papa, and I could smell the trees the whole time. When we got close to the mine, we had to park the bikes and walk the rest of the way in. That’s when we saw it, the mine entrance. It looked like a cave where the mountain had a secret. They gave us helmets and I felt like a real explorer. Inside, the tunnel was cool and damp, with lights showing the way. Papa told us people used to work here a long time ago, carrying heavy things. That sounded really hard. But also kind of brave. Later, we climbed stone steps into the forest and found a little shrine called Sahimeyama. I asked if I could look around on my own, and Papa said yes. Behind the shrine, I found a tiny space under the wood beams, and people had left coins there, maybe as a gift or a wish. It felt like the forest was still listening. Like it remembered everyone who had been here before.
~ Luca
Nico’s Journal Entry
Dear Journal,
First of all, WE WORE HELMETS. Because we were going into a REAL MINE. I told everyone, “Don’t worry! If I find gold, I’ll share!” and Mama said, “It’s silver,” but I was already pretending I had a pickax and a torch. The tunnel was dark and had shiny rocks, but also no actual treasure I could take. I kept asking, “Was this GOLD? Was THIS GOLD?” and then tried to make echo noises just to test the cave. After the mine, we climbed a trail up to a shrine in the forest. Luca went all ninja-quiet and explored it, but I was pretending the shrine was a treasure chest. I made a wish but didn’t tell anyone. Then I had to go to the toilet, so Mama and I raced back to the bikes and she quickly took me to the bathrooms. We zoomed past everything like emergency explorers! Afterward, we met up with Luca and Papa again, they had kept exploring while we were gone.
~ Nico
Luca & Nico’s Challenge
Can you spot the strangest shape inside the mine tunnel? Is it a rock, a root, or maybe a hidden treasure? Bonus points if you can make up your own miner nickname and invent what your job would’ve been if you worked deep underground!
Parent Insight
Some places speak louder through silence than signs. At Iwami Ginzan, history isn’t always found in the facts, it’s felt in the quiet trails, the cool air inside the mine, and the freedom to explore without a script. When kids move through spaces on their own terms, they don’t just learn about the past, they experience it.
Did You Know? Fun Facts About Iwami Ginzan
- Iwami Ginzan was one of Japan’s most important silver mines during the Edo period, helping fuel international trade.
- The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its cultural and natural significance.
- Cars aren’t allowed past a certain point, most visitors walk or bike up the peaceful village road.
- Shrines and smelter ruins dot the forest trails, showing how spiritual life and mining life once overlapped.
Until Next Time…
We came looking for treasure, and while we didn’t take any silver home, we found something even better: a mountain filled with stories, a secret behind a shrine, and a ride through time we won’t forget.
Stay curious, stay adventurous, and keep dreaming!
~ The LuNi Travels Family ~
