[Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture] "Gintani Hinamatsuri" Hina-meeting and Ikuno Town Walking Tour

• Table of Contents
• About Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture
• Access to Ikuno
• Ginya's Doll Festival
• Hinamatsuri
• Walking around Ikuno
• Nearby sightseeing

About Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture

Asago city is located in the northern part of Hyogo prefecture. The area is dotted with valuable historical and cultural heritage from ancient times to modern times, such as the historic Ikuno Silver Mine, the ruins of Takeda Castle, one of Japan's 100 most famous castles, and industrial heritage sites such as the Chasuriyama Kofun, the largest circular burial mound in the Kinki region. The entire area is like a museum.

access

Please see here for information on how to access Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Access to Ikuno

By car

Take the Chugoku Expressway (Fukusaki IC) → Bantan Link Road (Ikuno Ramp)

About 1 hour and 30 minutes from Osaka

About 1 hour 20 minutes from Kobe About 2 hours from Kyoto

If you use JR, get off at Ikuno Station on the Bantan Line.

Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes by express train from Osaka (via JR Kobe Line)

Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by express train from Kobe (via JR Kobe Line)

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by express train from Kyoto (via JR Sanin Main Line)

Ginya's Doll Festival

Please come and join us at the Ginya Doll Festival in Ikuno, which is held to coincide with the Girls' Festival.

Hinamatsuri

Ikuno has been the gateway to Tajima since ancient times, boasting a history of 1200 years and being known as the "gold of Sado, the silver of Ikuno." Even today, the unique atmosphere of a mining town remains. From the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras to the Heisei and Reiwa eras, the Hina dolls have changed with the times. Please enjoy meeting various Hina dolls.

Date and Time

Date and time: Thursday, February 27, 2025 - Monday, March 3, 2025

Open to the public 9:00am - 4:00pm

place

Location: From the JR Ikuno Station area to the historic site and Ikuno Silver Mine area

The Ginya Doll's Festival is held with the cooperation of the residents of Ikuno. Look for the pink flags.

Fee

Admission fee: Free

Contact Us

Ikuno Town Development Workshop Izutsuya Management Committee

Ikuno Town Development Workshop Izutsuya TEL 079-679-4448

Asago City Tourist Information Center TEL 079-679-2222

Walking around Ikuno

Ikuno, which is located on the border with Banshu and surrounds the guardhouse and magistrate's office, has many narrow, winding alleys. Wherever you go, you will encounter traditional Japanese-style buildings with elaborate designs, such as latticework, clay walls, and plaster. Furthermore, the reddish Ikuno tile roofs and black karami stone also exude a unique atmosphere of Ikuno. Please take your time to stroll through the streets with the various Hina dolls.

After obtaining information and maps about the Hinamatsuri tour at the Asago City Tourist Information Center inside Ikuno Station, we headed to the town of Ikuno.

JR Ikuno Station

Ikuno Station is an eye-catching retro-style building with its restored Ikuno roofing tiles.

Asago City Tourist Information Center

The Ginya Doll Festival begins here. This is the tourist information center located at the west exit of JR Ikuno Station.

Please drop by to get advice and information on how to efficiently visit the "Gintani Hina Matsuri" and other attractive spots scattered around the mining town of Ikuno. We also sell Ikuno's specialty products and offer bicycle rentals.

2024 Hina dolls displayed at the Tourist Information Center

We recommend renting a bicycle to get around the town of Ikuno! Easy♪♫ Electrically assisted bicycles are also available. They are available for rent at the Ikuno Tourist Information Center. (

If you want to know more about Ikuno, check out Ikuno Navi here

Ikuno Museum Ikuno Shoin

This local museum has a dignified appearance that still retains the atmosphere of an old house. It preserves and exhibits valuable materials that convey the history of Ikuno, such as old documents, maps of Ikuno town, and records of the silver mine.

For more information on Ikuno Shoin, please click here.

Remains of the trolley tracks

The high stone walls were stacked slowly to form an arch. The remains of the railroad tracks that once carried trolleys carrying ore from the Ikuno Silver Mine to the Ikuno Shoin area can still be seen.

Ikuno Town Development Workshop Izutsuya (former Yoshikawa residence)

Godomari was an inn that was used by people who needed lodging when they visited the Ikuno Daikansho on official business during the Edo period. Records remain of important people, such as Edo inspectors, staying there. Currently, it is used not only as a gallery and a place for local residents to interact, but also as a place for tourists to relax, with valuable items such as old historical documents and toys on display. You can also enjoy free tea cookies, buy handmade accessories, and experience grinding matcha with a stone. This is a spot you should definitely visit if you come to Ikuno.

For more information on Ikuno Town Development Workshop Izutsuya, please click here.

Kuchiganeya Ginzanmachi Museum Center (former Asada residence)

This rental facility is made from an old house. In the elegant Shoin-style building, you can see a rare gabled roof with a gently sloping shape.

Kuchiganaya Ginzan Town Museum Center

679-3301 619-2 Kuchigintani, Ikuno-cho, Asago-shi, Hyogo Prefecture

The former residence can be used as an event space or a traditional Japanese cafe The former residence was built in 1932 by the Asada family, who were local officials since the Edo period and contributed to the modernization of Japan. The main building (former Asada residence) is a stately two-story wooden building. It has a rare style for a traditional house remaining in Ikuno. The annex (former Yoshikawa residence) is a two-story building with lacquer. The gabled roof is made of Ikuno tiles. The main house's sleeve wall and the box staircase in the living room are distinctive features. In the main building, you can enjoy a handmade hospitality cafe and souvenirs, and a gallery exhibition in the storehouse. The two-story annex can also be used as a rental space.

Former Ikuno Mine Staff Dormitory (Company Housing Type A)

This is a Japanese-style government residence built for Japanese government officials who worked at the government-run Ikuno Mine. After that, it was sold to the Mitsubishi Limited Partnership Company and used as company housing for mine employees. It was built in 1875. It is also home to the former home of the famous actor Shimura Takashi, who appeared in many Kurosawa films and whose acting was described as "silver-like." The former home is now the Shimura Takashi Memorial Museum, where valuable materials and artifacts are on display.

Former Ikuno Mine Staff Dormitory (Company Housing Type A) Shimur...

679-3301 697-1, Kuchinonaya, Ikuno-cho, Asago-shi, Hyogo Prefecture

Built in the Meiji era, this is one of the oldest remaining mining dormitory and company housing in Japan. Built after 1876 (Meiji 9), this is one of the oldest remaining mining dormitory and company housing in Japan. You can see the changes in lifestyle, such as baths, hearths, and fixtures, from the Meiji era to the Taisho and Showa eras. The famous actor Shimura Takashi, known for his work in Akira Kurosawa's films, was born in the former Ikuno town, and his childhood home was one of the "Company Housing Class A" buildings. Class A 7 has been restored to the Taisho era furnishings in which he spent his childhood, and the Shimura Takashi Memorial Museum displays items related to him.

Nearby sightseeing

Historic Site: Ikuno Silver Mine (Mine)

Ikuno Silver Mine

679-3324 33-5 Ono, Ikuno-cho, Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture

The temperature inside the mine is about 13 degrees all year round! This is a valuable historical site where you can experience both the current mine tunnels and those from the Edo period at the same time. The tourist tunnels convey the history of the prosperity of the silver mine to the present day. In the tourist tunnels, which are about 1,000m long out of the total tunnel length of over 350km, you can see the elevator shafts and huge winding chambers that were once used by the many mine workers, as well as chisel marks from the Edo period.

Kurokawa Hot Springs

Kurokawa Onsen　 Beauty Baths

679-3341 457-1 Kurokawa, Ikuno-cho, Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture

A hidden hot spring surrounded by nature on a mountain at an altitude of about 500 meters. A day-trip hot spring facility where you can enjoy the skin-friendly "beauty water" that springs from the flower garden of the neighboring Daimyo-ji Temple. You can also enjoy local delicacies such as Hayashi rice, a B-grade gourmet dish that represents Ikuno, and Dam Hayashi, inspired by Kurokawa Dam.

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