IKUNO SILVER MINE
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The history of the Ikuno silver mine goes back more than 1,200 years. Discovered in 807, its exploitation began in 1542. The miners continued to use hammers and chisels until the Meiji revolution and the arrival of French engineers. Arriving in Japan in 1868, Jean-Francisque Coignet modernized it. He mechanized part of the work, significantly increasing the output. This mine served as a model for all of Japan and many Japanese engineers came to train there to transmit these new techniques throughout the Archipelago. The mine was sold to the Mitsubishi company in 1896 and continued to operate until its closure in 1973. It has been listed as part of Japan's industrial heritage since April 2017. The mine is open to the public for a little more than 1 km. There are scenes reproducing the work of the miners, as well as tools. There are also small cellars where wine and sake from local shops are stored, as the temperature in the mine remains stable (13°C) throughout the year. In the visitors' centre, don't miss the video clip of the Ginzan Boyz, the miners' boys' band, who will welcome you with a song. A French version of this is also available. After visiting the mine, don't miss the stroll through the town of Ikuno, where former engineer's residences and miners' houses, some of which can be visited, live side by side. The most famous is the birth house of the Japanese actor Takeshi Shimura whose father was a miner.
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