Kumagai House (Iwami Ginzan)

The Kumagai House in Omori was the base of the wealthiest family in the Iwami Ginzan silver mining area for centuries. The family controlled the official kakeya role from at least 1718, responsible for testing silver purity and collecting payments from miners who fell short of quality standards, a critical part of shogunate taxation. The head of the Kumagai family also sat on the local council of elders, which often met in this house. Rebuilt in 1801 after a fire and restored to its 1868 appearance, the two-story mansion has most of its rooms open to visitors, including formal reception chambers designed for hosting government officials.