2 Days Exploring the Sado Gold Mines on Sado Island

*This article was sponsored by Niigata Prefecture.

How to Get to Sado Island

Sado Island can be easily reached by ferry from Niigata Port in Niigata City or Naoetsu Port in Joetsu City. Ferries from Niigata Port run to Ryotsu Port on the eastern side of Sado Island, while Naoetsu Port connects to Ogi Port in the island’s south.

Niigata Port has two ferries to Ryotsu Port:
・Car Ferry (2.5 hours): A large slow ship with space for cars.
・Jetfoil (67 minutes): A small fast ship with no space for cars.

Naoetsu Port has only the Car Ferry, which takes 2 hours and 40 minutes to Ogi Port.

Niigata Port is a 10-minute taxi ride from Niigata Station, which is reachable from Tokyo Station in approximately 2 hours on the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train. Naoetsu Port is a 5-minute taxi ride from Naoetsu Station, which is 15 minutes by train from Joetsumyoko Station. Joetsumyoko Station is also a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train, letting you continue your journey along the Sea of Japan to Kanazawa, Fukui, and other destinations.

Getting Around Sado Island

Sado Island has no trains, and local buses can be limited. To get around Sado Island, we recommend renting a car. Traffic is light and the roads are easy to navigate, so even first-time drivers in Japan shouldn’t have difficulty. If a car isn’t an option, there are rental bicycles available at places like Kirarium Sado, as well as the free Aikawa Sightseeing Bus that covers many of the Sado Gold Mine sites in the Aikawa area. Our itinerary will include both car and bus routes, but you may need to adjust it based on the latest timetables.

From Exile to Affluence: A Brief History of Sado Island

As far back as the Nara Period (710-784), Sado was an island of exile for enemies of the state. Over time, however, Sado’s vast gold and silver reserves began to attract prospectors hoping to strike it rich.

By the beginning of the Edo Period (1603-1868), mining on Sado was generating so much wealth that it was put under direct rule of the shogunate, who used its assets to help fund the Japanese economy. Miners, carpenters, farmers, merchants, fishermen, and other tradespeople flocked to Sado Island from all over Japan, ballooning to a population of around 50,000 at its peak.

There were three main mining centers on Sado Island: the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine, the Tsurushi Silver Mine, and the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine. Discovered in 1601, the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine was the last major mine to open on Sado Island, and its colossal reserves became the base of operations until closing in 1989. All in all, 78 tons of gold and 2,330 tons of silver were unearthed here, making it the largest of its kind in Japan.

In July 2024, the mines of Sado Island were collectively registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site under the banner of the Sado Gold Mines. UNESCO recognized historical significance in its innovative premodern mining techniques, extensive operations spanning extraction to minting, and remarkably well-preserved ruins. Much of the Sado Gold Mines are open to the public, and traces of its golden age are scattered all throughout the island.

Day 1: The Sado Gold Mines and Ruins of Aikawa

After disembarking at Ryotsu Port or Ogi Port, pick up your rental car or take a bus to the Aikawa area on the western shore of Sado Island. Aikawa, home to Sado Island's largest gold and silver mines, is the epicenter of Sado Gold Mines sightseeing.

Kirarium Sado

Access:
・Car: Approx. 40-minute drive from Ryotsu Port or 50-minute drive from Ogi Port.
・Public transport:
- Ryotsu Port: Take the Honsen Line bus from the Ryotsuko Sado Kisen bus stop, and get off at Kirarium Sado (approx. 55 mins).
- Ogi Port: Take the Ogi Line bus from the Ogiko Sado Kisen bus stop, and get off at Kawaharada Suwamachi (approx. 1 hour). Transfer to the Honsen Line bus and get off at Kirarium Sado (approx. 17 mins).

While it’s tempting to jump headfirst into the Sado Gold Mines themselves, we recommend starting your itinerary at Kirarium Sado for a quick but detailed overview of Sado’s mining history.

Cinematic videos and English-language exhibits provide an in-depth look at each gold mine's intriguing development. You’ll witness the Sado Gold Mines’ evolution from disorganized digging to modern industry, the grueling process of turning ore into coin, the shogunate’s administration of the island, and other fascinating tidbits. Armed with this knowledge, your visit to the Sado Gold Mines will be even more enriching.

Kirarium Sado also has a helpful list of Sado Gold Mine sightseeing spots to fill up your itinerary. Plus, an information center with English speakers and bike rentals make exploring Aikawa all the more easy.

Sado Gold Mine (Sado Kinzan)

Access:
・Car: Approx. 7-minute drive from Kirarium Sado.
・Public transport: Take the Aikawa Sightseeing Bus from Kirarium Sado to the Sado Gold Mine (approx. 13 mins).

Now that you’ve read up on the history of the Sado Gold Mine, venture underground to see it all for yourself!

The Sado Gold Mine (Sado Kinzan) is the name of the remains of the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine. It spans an enormous plot littered with tunnels, tools, machinery, railway tracks, and more from multiple generations of mining, granting an unfiltered look at its development over the ages. Dominating the scene is the extraordinary Doyu no Warito, a mountain split in two by relentless digging. Beneath this earth is a labyrinth of tunnels that would span the distance between Sado and Tokyo if lined up.

After gazing in awe at Doyu no Warito, head further up to the Odachi Pit, where you’ll spot the Mitsubishi logo on an enormous steel mining tower and elevator, built to modernize the mine in 1938. Nearby are old railroad tracks and a scattering of ruins and tunnel entrances, all adding to the poignant atmosphere.

Once you’ve explored the surface, head underground into the Sodayu Mine, which was dug by hand from the beginning of the Edo Period to unearth Sado’s largest gold vein. The Sodayu Mine is lined with animatronic dioramas depicting the laborious digging, water removal, measuring techniques, and other scenes of a tough life in the mines.

Next, contrast the primitive Sodayu Mine with the sleek and streamlined Doyu Mine, opened in 1899 at the height of Japan’s rush to modernization. Its smooth tunnels were dug by machine, and the ground above is strewn with discarded mining carts and antique machinery. Best of all, the Doyu Mine route also gives you the chance to see the Doyu no Warito open-cut mine up close.

The Sado Gold Mine also hosts a bunch of other experiences suiting all kinds of travelers, including bookable walks and the ISLAND MIRRORGE augmented reality tour. More adventurous visitors can also don a helmet and flashlight and head into the depths of the untouched Mumyoi Mine for a glimpse at how the mines really looked before they became a tourist attraction!

After exploring the tunnels, the Sado Gold Mine Museum provides further context through miniature dioramas of scenes in and around the mines. It also displays a real coin minted in Sado, recognizable by the embossed “佐” character denoting the “Sa” in Sado, along with ancient picture strolls, and a cross section model of the mine’s gold veins. You can also test your strength by lifting a real gold bullion, worth almost a million dollars!

Sado Magistrate's Office

Access:
・Car: Approx. 5-minute drive from Sado Gold Mine.
・Public transport: Take the Aikawa Sightseeing Bus from Sado Gold Mine to the Sado Magistrate's Office (approx. 3 mins). Or walk for 25 minutes.

Near the Sado Gold Mine is the Sado Magistrate's Office, whose stately architecture bespeaks its position at the apex of local politics. The office was opened in 1603 to govern Sado Island on behalf of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and it included an on-site ore processing plant to consolidate the island's primary industries.

While little of the structure survives, the office and plant were rebuilt to showcase their original appearance. Alongside admiring the traditional architecture, visitors can try their hand at grinding and washing ore, and there are preserved relics on display. Perched on a hill, it also presents a fantastic lookout over the historical port and mining ruins below.

The Kitazawa Flotation Plant

Access:
・Car: Approx. 2-minute drive from the Sado Magistrate's Office.
・Public transport: Approx. 5-minute walk from the Sado Magistrate's Office.

At the base of the Sado Magistrate’s Office lies a cluster of ruins that once processed ore from the Sado Gold Mine. The Kitazawa Flotation Plant, a striking remnant of Sado's prosperous past, dominates the site. It was built in 1938 as a cutting-edge facility capable of processing over 50,000 tons of ore a month, but is now a jungle-engulfed relic reminiscent of an Indiana Jones set.

Adjacent to the flotation plant stands a crumbling brick warehouse storing the leftovers of a power plant. Opposite this are the ruins of a circular thickener, which separated water and mud from ore, along with the skeletal frames of small factories that made tools for the mine. With so much history packed into one location, it's like an open-air museum chronicling Sado's gold mining heritage.

Also on the grounds is the Aikawa History Museum, housed in the rustic Sado Imperial Office Branch built in 1889; and the Aikawa Traditional Skills Museum, which showcases local pottery and weaving crafts. Plus, you can purchase Mumyoi ware, Sado’s own form of traditional pottery, from the nearby Kitazawa-gama Pottery.

Oma Port Ruins

Access:
・Car: Approx. 3-minute drive from the Kitazawa Flotation Plant.
・Public transport: Approx. 10-minute walk from the Kitazawa Flotation Plant.

Following the mining tunnels, administration offices, and processing plants, our tour of Aikawa naturally concludes with the shipment of Sado’s bounties to the rest of Japan. Oma Port was constructed in the middle of the Meiji Period (1868-1912) as the Sado Gold Mine’s own port to ship out ore and bring in coal. Like the Kitazawa Flotation Plant, it has been left to ruin, allowing you to step into Sado’s past unspoiled.

Remains at Oma Port include an old boathouseーstill used by locals todayーalong with a rusted steel truss bridge and three loader bridges to haul in boats. A weathered red brick warehouse stands nearby, ramping up the nostalgic atmosphere. The grounds are strewn with artifacts from the port’s prime, sure to ignite your explorer's spirit.

Following Oma Port, we suggest a stroll down the charming Historic Kyomachi Street up to the Old Aikawa Prison to wrap up your day immersed in Aikawa’s history.

Recommended Hotel in Sado: Hotel Oosado

Hotel Oosado is a luxurious “ryokan” hotel on the outskirts of Aikawa. It treats guests to hot springs drawn directly from beneath the earth and meals centered around fresh Sado ingredients. Perched on a cape, Hotel Oosado flaunts sweeping coastal views that stretch out as far as the Doyu no Warito split mountain. There are several guestroom types available, including top-floor suites designed to resemble deluxe apartments.

Recommended Hotel in Sado: NIPPONIA Sado

Wade even deeper into Sado's past by staying at one of Aikawa’s historical buildings. NIPPONIA Sado is a collection of four old residences tastefully renovated to preserve their original qualities while adding modern comforts. Each has a unique flair echoing the building’s history, like exposed wooden beams, dirt storehouses, and even a table made from an old kiln. You’ll be right in the heart of the Aikawa township, letting you feel like a local as you hop around neighborhood restaurants, bars, and shops.

Day 2: Gold Mining and Historic Port Towns in Southern Sado

After staying in the Aikawa area, day two on Sado Island will take you down to its southern tip to uncover gold mining sites with a unique twist, alongside rustic port towns, and more.

Obata Shuzo Sake Brewery

Access:
・Car: Approx. 30-minute drive from Hotel Oosado
・Public transport: From Hotel Oosado, walk 3 minutes to the Kasugazaki bus stop and board the Nanaura Kaigan Line bus. Get off at the Sawata Bus Station (approx. 30 mins), take the Ogi Line bus, and get off at Shimmachi Shuraku Center Mae (approx. 15 mins).

For a quick break from your intensive Sado Gold Mines tour, stop by Obata Shuzo. Here, in an old-fashioned Japanese sake brewery, you can enjoy free and paid sake tasting courses and stock up on local brews and merchandise.

Despite its size, Sado Island boasts five sake breweries. Obata Shuzo is one of the most well known, having operated in the coastal Mano district since 1892.

The influence of the Sado Gold Mines can be felt here, too. One of their sake brews contains drinkable gold flakes, while others are matured in the mines, which have a temperature, darkness, and humidity perfectly suited for sake. Obata Shuzo also brews with sustainably-farmed rice and water from Sado, providing yet another way to relish the island’s bounties.

Sado Nishimikawa Gold Park

Access:
・Car: Approx. 15-minute drive from Obata Shuzo Sake Brewery.
・Public transport: Take the Ogi Line bus from Shimmachi Shuraku Center Mae, get off at Gold Park (approx. 15 mins), and walk 7 minutes.

While Aikawa takes centerstage, the first gold on Sado was actually mined further south in the Nishimikawa area. Texts from the Heian Period (794-1185) herald the discovery of gold in Nishimikawa, and large-scale mining ramped up from the 16th century.

Unlike the deep tunnels of Aikawa, prospectors in Nishimikawa panned the surface for gold dust. To do this, mountainsides were excavated and pushed into valleys for canals to flush away dirt, leaving behind gold-bearing sediment.

While Nishimikawa is now quiet farmland, its rugged landscape speaks of its past. Evidence of its innovative mining culture can be seen on the steep dug-up slopes of Mt. Tatenokoshi and Mt. Toramaru (pictured) and the ruins of the Ishizumi Canal. The Residence of Kaneko Kanzaburo embellishes the historical scene with the preserved home of a local mine-owning family from the late Edo Period.

Visitors to Nishimikawa can also experience gold panning at Sado Nishimikawa Gold Park, built on a local gold dust site. The staff will show you how to properly pan, and any gold that you find can be put into your choice of key holder, necklace, or strap. While it’s not as authentic as hiking through Nishimikawa yourself, it’ll give you a more complete picture of how gold mining in the area looked.

Shukunegi

Access:
・Car: Approx. 25-minute drive from Sado Nishimikawa Gold Park.
・Public transport: Take the Ogi Line bus from Gold Park, get off at Shukunegi (approx. 40 mins), and walk for 15 minutes.

Further down the coast at the southern tip of Sado Island is the scenic village of Shukunegi. Originally a small seafaring settlement, Shukunegi underwent a dramatic transformation as the Sado gold rush brought an influx of people requiring food and other commodities to be shipped in. Many shipbuilders also took up residence in Shukunegi, and their exceptional woodworking can be seen in the seamless jointing of local homes still standing today.

Shukunegi is a dense maze packed with over 100 rustic wooden buildings. Most iconic is the Sankakuya, the former shop of a salt merchant, whose curved triangle walls fit the tight street corner to a tee. Other key structures include the Former Post Office, built in 1921 in a bold Western design; Seikuro’s Residence, the home of a wealthy ship owner from the mid-1800s; and the ethereal Shokoji Temple, whose double-door gate has one side built by a regular carpenter and the other by a shipbuilder to prove the stark difference in talent.

On the shore of Shukunegi is also the departure point for “tarai-bune” boat rides, which are traditional wooden tubs used to find seafood and seaweed in the narrow and rocky reefs. After a tarai-bune ride, walk through the small cave at the opposite end of the cove to admire the volcanic rock formations of the Ogi Coast.

Explore the Legacy of the Sado Gold Mines!

This 2-day itinerary takes you through all the must-see spots on Sado Island relating to the illustrious Sado Gold Mines. With its new designation as a World Heritage Site, the Sado Gold Mines are bound to become a must-visit for travelers to Japan. Of course, the Sado Gold Mines are just the beginning of what Sado has to offer, so read our complete Sado Island guide to pepper your Sado itinerary with local culture, food, and experiences.