Sado Gold Mine

Niigata

Castles & Historic Sites

Gardens & Nature

# Mine

# Scenic View

# World Heritage

The dark, overgrown entrance to the Otokiri Kō mining tunnel at Sado Gold Mine, marked by a wooden signpost under leafy trees.

Diorama depicting Edo-period miners resting in a narrow, dimly lit mine shaft at Sado Gold Mine, showing their difficult working conditions.

Diorama showing Edo-period workers at Sado Gold Mine loading sacks onto cows for transport, with more sacks labeled with Japanese kana lying on the ground.

A large, distinctive split mountain peak known as Doyu-no-warito on Sado Island, viewed from a grassy field with a rustic wooden sign in the foreground.

Key Points

Japan’s largest gold and silver mine, which was mined for nearly 400 years and, during the Edo period it supported the finances of the shogunate
Directly controlled by the Edo shogunate, supporting Edo’s economy
Explore Edo era tunnels, exhibitions, and hands-on gold leaf activities
A UNESCO World Heritage site preserving Edo-period mining culture

The Sado Gold Mine, located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, was once Japan’s largest producer of gold and silver. Opening in 1601, it quickly became a crucial financial base for the Edo shogunate, producing gold coins and vast amounts of precious metals that sustained the Edo period economy for centuries.
Today, visitors can take a variety of guided tours through the preserved tunnels of the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine, the largest of the mines here, and experience first-hand what mining was like during this period. The detailed exhibitions in the mine museum showcase Edo period tools and models, while interactive experiences give you the chance to lift a heavy gold bar or try applying delicate gold leaf to a keepsake. The outside of the mine still holds visible reminders of the mining era of the early Edo period. This past is embodied by the Dōyū no Warito, the striking image of the mountain cleaved in half. The dynamic landscape is reminiscent of the American Gold Rush.
Recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sado Island Gold Mines, the site preserves not only a remarkable industrial achievement but also the unique mining culture that flourished under the shogunate’s rule.

Information

Spot information including address, access, and website
Address	1305 Shimoaikawa, Sado City, Niigata
Access from Tokyo	(1) From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka to Joetsumyoko Station (approx. 1 hr 55 min). (2) From Joetsumyoko Station, walk to the Joetsumyoko Eki-mae (East Exit) bus stop (approx. 2 minutes). (3) From Joetsumyoko Eki-mae (East Exit) bus stop, take the Sado Kisen Shuttle Bus (bound for Naoetsu Port to Naoetsu Port (approx. 32 min). (4) At Naoetsu Port, transfer to the ferry (bound for Ogi Port) to Ogi Port (approx. 2 hr 40 min). (5) From Ogi Port, walk to Ogiko Sado Kisen bus stop (approx. 1 minute). (6) From Ogiko Sado Kisen, take the Ogi Line bus (bound for Sawata Bus Station) to Kawaharada Suwamachi (approx. 58 min). (7) At Kawaharada Suwamachi, transfer to the Main Line bus (bound for Aikawa) to Aikawa (approx. 26 min). (8) From Aikawa, walk to the Sado Gold Mine (approx. 33 minutes). Show route from Tokyo Station
Website	https://www.sado-kinzan.com/en/
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