Okubo Iwami no Kami Grave

This is the gravesite of Okubo Nagayasu, the first magistrate of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. The grave, built in 1613, lies at the end of a 10-minute walk through bamboo forest along the Ginzan river, starting at the old Omori magistrate office. Nagayasu took up his post here in 1601, and was tasked with surveying the silver mine territory, as well as building roads and the town. As such, he was integral in building the mine shafts, or mabu, that led to huge increases in silver productivity here. The Okubo Mabu shaft was named after him is the largest shaft in the mine. In 1794, his successes were recognized with a monument and five-tiered gravestone, but these were lost along with Daian-ji temple, the family temple.