HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Sado Island Gold Mine
A historical epic featuring the largest gold mine in Japan
Niigata Prefecture
Sado Kinzan Gold Mine is a historic site that tells the 400-year story of Sado Island’s gold and silver mines. The preserved remains of the gold mine are a popular location for history enthusiasts, and there are several routes that you can explore.
On the Sodayu Mine Edo Kinzan Picture Scroll Course, full-size dolls and robots provide accurate presentations of the workings of the mine in the past. The Doyu Mine Meiji Government Mine Course retains the vestiges of its modernization and industrialization. There is also a guided tour course that includes features such as “The Best Gold Processing Plant in Asia" and “Japan's First Western-Style Vertical Tunnel," which will cause you to marvel at the impressive scale of the mine.
Kirarium Sado, the Sado Gold and Silver Mine Information Center, is only 10 minutes by car from the gold mine. Other historic sites related to the mine include the Kitazawa Flotation Plant and the Sado Bugyosho (Sado Commissioner's Office) Site.
You’ll find that exploring Sado Island is a great way to get to know the history of the gold mine and the surrounding region.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station (about 2 hours). Then take a taxi or bus to Niigata Port (about 15 minutes) and board the ferry (about 2 hours 30 minutes) or jetfoil (about 1 hour) for Ryotsu Port. Sado Kinzan Gold Mine is 1 hour 15 minutes by bus from Ryotsu.
1305 Shimoaikawa, Sado-shi, Niigata-ken
