World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is in Oda city of Shimane Prefecture. The site features routes used to transport silver ore to the coast, and port towns from where it was shipped to Korea and China. The mines contributed substantially to the overall economic development of Japan and south-east Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries, prompting the mass production of silver and gold in Japan. It reached its peak production in the early 17th century of approximately 38 tons of silver a year which was then a third of world production.

The mining area is now heavily wooded. Included in the site are fortresses, shrines, parts of Kaido transport routes to the coast, and three port towns, Tomogaura, Okidomari and Yunotsu, from where the ore was shipped. It was added to the World Heritage List in 2007.