This silver mine was operational from 807 to 1973. When it was mined, huge quantities of silver but also over 70 types of ore (gold, lead, copper, etc.) were extracted from 350km/217mi of tunnels. An underground museum (in English) charts the different techniques used to mine the rock in chronological order from pick axes to explosives in the 19C. The mine has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese authorities.