Onan Town

116 steps up, but no train arrives.

Uzui Station, former Sanko Line

Photo by Mitsuki-2368 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

01 ／ Kuki-Ōbayashi Silver Mine Ruins

More than 1,500 mining and smelting tracesremain around Iwaya, Ōbayashi, and Kuki.

The mine is thought to have been developed on a large scale by Mōri Motonari in the mid-16th century. It thrived as shogunate-controlled land in the Edo period, and was redeveloped in the Meiji era by the Hori family of Tsuwano. In October 2021 it became Onan's first National Historic Site.

Over 1,500 mining and smelting remains
National Historic Site since Oct. 2021 (Onan's first)
The 10th mining-related National Historic Site in Japan

02 ／ Dangyokei Gorge

Even ayu fish can't swim past the fallsthat gave this gorge its name.

A roughly 4km gorge along the Nigori River, a tributary of the Gōno River. It was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1935. Senjōjiki, Yomegafuchi, and other spots make up the "24 Views of Dangyokei." Part of the walking trail is currently closed, with a temporary detour in use.

National Place of Scenic Beauty since 1935
About 4km gorge with 24 scenic spots
Trail partly closed (temporary detour in use)

03 ／ Mizuho Hanzake Nature Center

Locally called "hanzake":the town runs a center just to display it.

The Mizuho Hanzake Nature Center is run by Onan Town (its Board of Education). It displays the Japanese giant salamander, a National Special Natural Monument that local people affectionately call "hanzake." Large tanks let visitors observe it up close.

Japanese giant salamander, a National Special Natural Monument
Known locally as "hanzake"
A town-run (Board of Education) exhibition facility

Living here

A town of basins among the mountains.

about 10,000 people
Rural district town

Onan lies near the center of Shimane Prefecture, opening into basins within the Chugoku Mountains. Most of the town sits between 100m and 600m in elevation, with steep 1,000m-class peaks to the south and west. It was formed on October 1, 2004, from the merger of Hasumi Village, Mizuho Town, and Iwami Town. With no train station, the town-run Onan Bus is how residents get around.

People living here: 10,163people
Area: 419.29km²
Households: 3,994households
Rent (average for rentals): —
Healthcare: 1 hospital ／ 18 clinics

Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Children waiting for childcare: —9 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy: —
Average annual temperature: —

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

Shape

Borders 7 municipalities across 1 prefectures.

Onan Town in Japan34.894°N 132.438°E

Territory of Onan Town

Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (N03)

North to south

20.9km

Shimane Prefecture: 江津市, 浜田市, 川本町, 美郷町
Hiroshima Prefecture: 安芸高田市, 北広島町, 三次市

Travel times per leg are not published by the municipality, so they are not shown.

Onan Town isthis kind of town.

01Onan is a town that preserves the platform of the old Uzui Station, once on the JR Sanko Line, as a park. A staircase of 116 steps still climbs to the platform, 20 meters above the ground.
02The Kuki-Ōbayashi Silver Mine Ruins, thought to have been developed in Mōri Motonari's time, hold more than 1,500 mining and smelting traces; in 2021 they became Onan's first National Historic Site.
03The town is also home to Dangyokei, a National Place of Scenic Beauty (part of its trail is currently closed), and the Mizuho Hanzake Nature Center, where the Japanese giant salamander — known locally as "hanzake" — is on display.

See the town as it is now.

Facebooktown.ohnan.kitemichansai ↗

Source: Wikidata (P2002, P2003, P2013, P2397)

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Onan Town official site ↗Wikipedia ↗