Moopon

Omori Town is a one and a half kilometer long stretch of houses, shops, temples, and shrines that runs along the river valley to the north of the mines. It used to house magistrates, merchants, and craftsmen who benefited from the nearby mines.
It also has a world cultural heritage site; the Iwami Ginzan.

Today there are many historical sites interspersed among the homes of the town's current residents. Among them are the Former Government Office which has been restored as the Iwami Ginzan Museum, and numerous historical residences.

The largest and most spectacular of these is the Kumagai Family Residence near the Tourist Center in the north of town. Once the home of the leading merchant and town official, it has been restored to be an excellent example of a period household.

Some of the shrines and temples in the area are particularly interesting. Kigami Shrine at the north end of town has a dragon painting on its ceiling that echoes like the roar of the dragon when you clap your hands under it. Shogenji Temple looks fairly ordinary from the outside but inside houses a beautifully painted main hall and altar, and also has a small museum.

Gohyakurakan are 500 stone statues of Buddha's disciples housed in a series of man-made caves. Their postures and facial expressions run the entire gamut of emotions and are very interesting to see.

The central bus stop, Omori Daikansho (Omori Former Government Office), is served by all buses, providing connections along Omori Town and to the parking lot at the Sekaiisan Center (every 15 minutes), to Oda-shi Station (1-2 buses per hour), Nima Station (about 5 buses per day) and Hiroshima (2 buses per day).

Omori Town can also be reached on foot from the parking lot: It takes about 20-30 minutes to walk to the town's southern end around the Gohyakurakan via a nature trail shortcut and an additional 15-20 minutes (without stops) to reach the town's northern end around the Former Government Office.


Former Government Office (Iwami Ginzan Museum)
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: December 29 to January 4, irregularly around special exhibitions
Admission: 500 yen (former government office only)
1000 yen (also includes Kumagai Residence, Kawashima Residence and Sekaiisan Center)
Kumagai Residence
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: Last Tuesday of every month (or the next day if Tuesday is a holiday), Dec 29 to Jan 3
Admission: 500 yen (residence only)
1000 yen (also includes Former Goverment Office, Kawashima Residence and Sekaiisan Center)

Kawashima Residence
Hours: 9:00 to 16:30
Closed: New Year holidays
Admission: 200 yen (residence only)
1000 yen (also includes Former Goverment Office, Kumagai Residence and Sekaiisan Center)

Gohyakurakan
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: Irregular closing days
Admission: 500 yen

Shogenji Temple
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (December to February until 16:00)
Closed: Wednesdays and temporary closures
Admission: 400 yen

Kigami Shrine
Hours: Always open
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free