[Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture] The in-house silver mine supported the Akita clan's finances. The coal mining town was filled with 15,000 people.

The Akita domain (Kubota domain) was a domain owned by the Satake clan, which covered almost all of Akita prefecture, and the original koku (koku) was about 200,000 koku, but later increased to about 390,000 koku. This is a good contrast to the Yamagata domain in Dewa Province (Yamagata Prefecture), which initially had around 600,000 koku, but after the fall of the first lord, the Mogami clan, its territory was divided and the domain was reduced to 200,000 koku at the end of the Edo period.

Due to the extremely cold region of Tohoku, the harvest of agricultural products varied from year to year, and there were times when the company suffered financially, but the foundation was supported by the mines that produced silver and copper. is.

Domains that had powerful influence in the Tohoku region concentrated their efforts on mining development, and famous ones include the Kosaka Mine (Osaka Town, Akita Prefecture) of the Nanbu Domain (Iwate Prefecture), and the Tamayama Gold Mine, Shikaori Gold Mine, and Hosokura Mine of the Date Domain. In addition, countless small mines were developed, and it is said that there were as many as 120 mines in Yamagata Prefecture.

The Akita domain had dozens of mines, but Ginzan , in particular, had one of the highest outputs in Japan and supported the domain's finances.

The in-house silver mine was developed by the Akita clan. Mining to approximately 200m underground

The Innai Silver Mine was discovered in 1606 (some say in 1596) and is one of the largest silver mines that continued for approximately 350 years until it was closed in 1954 (Showa 29). For a long time after its discovery, it was privately managed, but in 1817 it came under the direct control of the Akita clan, and production increased dramatically. It reached its peak during the Tenpo era (1830-1843), when more than 1,000 kan (approximately 3,750 kg) were sold. This greatly enriched the domain's finances, and it is said that as many as 15,000 people lived in Ginzan Town, more than in Kubota Castle. The state of the Edo period is preserved in several illustrations, which give a good idea of ​​the scale of the area.

There are more than 20 known mine entrances, and the tunnels were intricately constructed like a maze, with mining reaching 205 meters underground from the entrance called Daiichiyama City.

Since the Meiji era, mines have been under the direct control of the government. Invite German engineers as soon as possible

In the Meiji era, the Innai Silver Mine was temporarily transferred from domain management to private ownership, but from 1875 (Meiji 8), it became a mine under direct government control. At that time, the amount of mining had fallen considerably compared to its peak in the Edo period. As a way out, they invited mining engineers from Germany and introduced modern technology to dig tunnels to 410 meters underground. They succeeded in developing new ore veins, and in the 1890s and 1980s, production began. The amount reached 10,000 to 14,000 kg per year.

However, this did not last long, and the mine declined due to coal mining accidents and the transition from a silver standard to a gold standard, and after the Taisho period, the mine was repeatedly closed and reopened, until finally it was completely closed in 1954 (Showa 29). It will become.

Exhibits materials from the in-house silver mine. The building is the ``Ginzan Ijinkan'' modeled after the residence of a German engineer.

The Innai Ginzan Ijinkan is a museum attached to JR Innai Station, which is the starting point for touring the former Innai Ginzan Silver Mine. Inside the museum, there are exhibits such as mining tools used in the in-house silver mine and a model of the bustling Ginzan town. The brick-style building is a replica of the Western-style residences built for engineers invited from Germany in the early Meiji period.

The building that became the basis for the Ijinkan in the Hospital's Silver Mine was located within the premises of the hospital's silver mine, and was built for five German engineers. was given special treatment by the locals, an Ijinkan At the end of the Taisho era, when the silver mines declined, it was sold to the private sector and then demolished due to its age, and only the stone walls remain on the site today.

In-hospital Ginzan Ijinkan＜Information＞

• Facility name: In-hospital Ginzan Ijinkan
• Location: 115 Ozawa, Senouai, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0183-52-5143
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
• Admission fee: 320 yen for adults, 210 yen for junior high school students and younger
• Closed: Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays
• URL: In-hospital Ginzan Ijinkan
• access:
  • Public transportation/Just a short walk from Innai Station on the JR Ou Main Line
  • Car: About 5 minutes from Yuzawa Yokote Road Ogatsu Komachi IC

Google Map

Remains of the in-house silver mine

Miyuki resistance

Miyuki Pit (Miyuki Pit) was once called the Fifth Pit and was the only entrance through which miners could enter and exit. During the Edo period, a government office (Yamagata Government Office) was located in the square in front of the mine entrance to check on the miners. When Emperor Meiji inspected the in-house silver mine, he entered through this gate, and it was later named ``Miyuki Gate.''

In 1906 (Meiji 39), an underground fire occurred that killed more than 100 people, which is said to be a factor in the decline of the silver mine. The cause was that when a fire broke out in the mine due to mismanagement of a bonfire, the mine authorities closed the iron door at the entrance to cut off the air, even though there were people inside the mine.

early atrial anti

Hayabusako is a mine shaft that was developed during the Kanei era (1624-1643) and is the oldest existing mine shaft. This is a valuable tunnel that tells us about the excavation methods of the Edo period, which were used to dig through extremely hard rock.

Kanayama Shrine

Kanayama Shrine has been the guardian shrine of the silver mine ever since it was discovered. It was very well protected by the Akita clan, and successive feudal lords have dedicated gold lanterns, calligraphy, and paintings to it. The current shrine building was built in 1830. The Kanayama Shrine annual festival is held every year on September 21st, which is Mine Day. It is a designated historic site in Akita Prefecture.

Gozen water

If you go 1.3 km southwest from the entrance of the Innai Ginzan Historic Site (National Route 108), you will arrive at the gate of Kanayama Shrine. From there, turn into a dogleg and go up about 400 meters upstream to find Gozensui

It is called ``Gozensui'' because it was used to present tea to Emperor Meiji when he inspected the silver mine in the hospital in 1881 (Meiji 14). Currently, it is located in a place surrounded by cedar forests, and cold spring water gushes out.

In-hospital silver mine historic site <Information>

• Facility name: In-hospital silver mine historic site Miyuki-ken/Sayabo-ken/Kanayama Shrine/Gozensui
• Location: Shimoyu-cho, Innai Ginzan-cho, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, Uehon-cho, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0183-55-8195 (Yuzawa City Tourism and Geopark Promotion Division)
• Free tour
• access:
  • Approximately 13 minutes by car from Railway/JR Innai Station
  • Car: About 15 minutes from Yuzawa Yokote Road Ogatsu Komachi IC

Google Map

``Innai guardhouse ruins'' where security for the Innai silver mine and toll tax was collected

The Innai Guardsho Ruins is the site of a checkpoint (guard station) established by the Akita Clan on the Ushu Highway, and the guardhouse was used to control Ronin and guard the Innai Silver Mine. Furthermore, it is said that a toll tax was collected from those passing through the guardhouse, and about 10% of the ore transaction price at the silver mine was collected and paid to the domain.

In-hospital guardhouse <Information>

• Facility name: Inner checkpoint/Inner guard post ruins
• Location: Aramachi, Senjouchi, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0183-55-8193 (Yuzawa City Lifelong Learning Division Cultural Properties Protection Office)
• Free tour
• access:
  • About 15 minutes on foot from Railway/JR Innai Station
  • Car: About 15 minutes from Yuzawa Yokote Road Ogatsu Komachi IC

Google Map

Building of Meiji era architecture "Former Inner High School"

The former Innai High School (former Innai Elementary School building ) was founded in 1874 (Meiji 7), and the building that remains today was rebuilt in 1906 (Meiji 39). It was used as an elementary school during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, and was closed in 1979, but is now open to the public as an in-house district center.

Former Hospital General High School <Information>

• Facility name: Former hospital high school elementary school
• Location: 60-1 Tayoubashi, House of Representatives, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0183-55-8193 (Yuzawa City Lifelong Learning Division Cultural Properties Protection Office)
• Cultural property: Yuzawa City designated cultural property
• access
  • Approximately 5 minutes walk from Railway/JR Innai Station
  • Car: About 15 minutes from Yuzawa Yokote Road Ogatsu Komachi IC

Google Map

It still generates electricity. "Kabayama Hydroelectric Power Plant" built for the in-house silver mine

The Kabayama Hydroelectric Power Plant was built in 1900 (Meiji 33) to supply electricity to the hospital's silver mine. The building was constructed of stone, using stone quarried from the hospital mine. The power plant is still in operation today as the Tohoku Electric Power Kabayama Power Plant, and although some of the buildings have been renovated, they are still in use as they were when they were first built. There are very few stone buildings in Akita Prefecture, making this a valuable building.

Kabayama Hydroelectric Power Plant <Information>

• Facility name: Kabayama Hydroelectric Power Plant
• Location: 154 Akinomiya Kakuyama, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: Navi dial 0570-550-220
• Owned by: Tohoku Electric Power
• access:
  • Public transportation: Approximately 9 minutes by car from Innai Station on the JR Ou Main Line
  • Car: Approximately 9 minutes from Yuzawa Yokote Road Ogatsu Komachi IC via National Route 108
• URL: Kabayama Hydroelectric Power Plant

Google Map

Link: Japan Geopark Network | Yuzawa Geopark