Kyuuan

Jewelry workshop in Omori, the historic core of the Iwami Ginzan silver mining district in Shimane, where visitors can spend about 90 minutes making their own silver ring under guidance. The process involves cutting, shaping, and polishing a silver strip into a finished band, using tools in a small workshop space. The setting in the old mining town adds context, since Iwami Ginzan was one of the most productive silver mines in the world during the 16th and 17th centuries and its ore helped fund Japan's trade with Asia. The surrounding streets of Omori, with preserved merchant houses and a handful of cafes, make for a good half-day combined with the workshop.