Celebrating the decision to register the "Gold Mine on Sado Island" as a World Heritage Site! Introducing recommended spots on Sado Island!

  • Niigata
  • Sightseeing
Sado Gold Mine, a World Heritage Site
Sado Island, the largest island in the Sea of Japan, can be reached from Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port in 2 hours and 30 minutes by car ferry or 1 hour and 7 minutes by jetfoil.
The gold mines on Sado Island were recently registered as a World Cultural Heritage site by the World Heritage Committee in July 2024!
In this issue, we will introduce some of the recommended spots on Sado Island that are full of attractions!

First, let's learn about the Sado Gold and Silver Mine! Kirariumu Sado

You can take a commemorative photo in front of a model of a giant koban (gold coin) that has a great impact.
Before visiting the Sado Gold Mine, you should stop by the "Sado Gold and Silver Mine Guidance Facility Kirariumu Sado"!
A visit here will give you an overview of the Sadogin Ginzan and make your field trip more enjoyable!
Inside the facility, the attraction and value of the Sado Kin-Ginzan are introduced in an easy-to-understand manner using a variety of visual techniques and materials.

Historic Site Sado Gold Mine

Historic Site Sado Gold Mine will change its business content and hours from December 2025 due to renovation work on the main building. For details, please visit the official website.

Click here for the official website of Historic Site Sado Kinzan
The Sado Gold and Silver Mine is a historical site that tells the 400-year history of the Sado Gold and Silver Mine. During the Edo period, the mine was the largest gold and silver mine in Japan and one of the world's largest producers, supporting the finances of the shogunate. Many people from all over Japan came to Sado for the gold and silver mines, creating the mining city of Aikawa, where about 50,000 people lived at its peak.
Sado is said to be the only mine in Japan that conducted everything from mining to koban production!

There are various sightseeing courses and tours to enjoy such a Sado gold mine.
The Sodayukou Edo Gold Mine Picture Scroll Course, which is also the basic course, faithfully recreates the mining operations of the time using dolls.
The Doyukoukou Meiji Government Mine Course preserves and exhibits the tunnels, trolleys, and machinery that were used for approximately 100 years from the Meiji period until the mine ceased operations in 1989.
The "Island Mine" course, a walk-through attraction that allows visitors to experience the mine while walking through the mine, is also recommended for children!
Sotayu Kogen Edo Kinzan Picture Scroll Course
You can see the mining operations of the time up close!
Click here for the official website of Historic Site Sado Kinzan

Ruins of Kitazawa Floating ore dressing plant

The symbol of modern heritage, "the largest floating ore dressing plant in the East
The Kitazawa area of Aikawa is home to a cluster of facilities (national historic sites) that contributed to the modernization of mining, including a power plant and thickener (a facility for separating muddy ore and water). The flotation beneficiation method, which was originally used in the copper production process, was applied to the extraction of gold and silver, and was the first practical application of this technology in Japan. The plant was the first of its kind in Japan, and was praised as "the best in the East" because it could process more than 50,000 tons of ore in a single month.

At night, the island is colorfully illuminated with LED lights!

Lighting up the leaves

You can enjoy a fantastic sight different from that of the daytime.
Please visit both daytime and nighttime!


◆Period: Friday, April 19, 2024 - Sunday, January 5, 2025
　　　　　　From 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (April to September)
　　　　　　From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (October to January)
◆ Location: Kitazawa Floating ore dressing plant site
◆ Admission: Free

Tarai Boat Experience (Yajima Experience Exchange Center)

At the Yajima Experience Center, built at the end of a cove overlooking Yajima and Sutra Island, visitors can board a tarai-bune amidst the postcard-perfect scenery of the Sado Geopark and the Sado Yahiko Yoneyama National Park! You can spend a relaxing and healing time with the folk song "Sado Okesa" that represents Japan.

Not only can you board the boat, but you can also experience rowing a tub boat! Why don't you try it for yourself?

Sushi Guest House Nagahamaso, Fish Dojo

The volume is so large that it almost spills off your plate!
The guest house on the way to Ogi along the sea from the Mano district is popular for its varied meals featuring fish harvested from the day's fishing. The attached restaurant, which has a large fish tank filled with abalone, turban shells, and flatfish, can be used for lunch alone! We invite you to try our kaisendon, a bowl of rice topped with a wide variety of seafood, along with the magnificent location with Mano Bay in the background.

Hotel Familio Sado Aikawa

Hotel Famigliao Sado Aikawa exterior
All ocean-side rooms overlooking the Sea of Japan are available. On a fine day, you can watch the sunset over the Sea of Japan from your room! It is very beautiful and relaxing!

The "Island Buffet" is a buffet dinner that uses only the finest ingredients from Sado Island, and is sure to satisfy everyone from adults to children. The buffet menu has been extensively renewed, with nigiri-zushi and handmade roast beef for dinner featuring fish caught in the waters around Sado, and for breakfast, you can make your own seafood bowl to your liking.
*Some meals may be served individually depending on the number of guests.
How was it?
There are many more recommended spots on Sado Island that we have not been able to cover in this article! Please come and visit Sado Island, which is full of attractions! We are looking forward to seeing you all!
JR East Travel Service Center Niigata staff visited Sado Island!

Travel to "Sado Island" on a weekday!

Why don't you travel on weekdays and enjoy your trip more?
Since the gold mines on Sado Island have been registered as a World Heritage Site and are likely to attract even more attention in the future, we would like to take a relaxing trip to Sado Island to avoid the crowds. If it is a weekday, you may be able to travel smoothly and enjoy the scenery and food to the fullest!

Let's combine your favorite train and lodging to save money!

You can make your own original trip!

JR East View Dynamic Rail Package is a variable-price individual travel product available only on the web, which allows you to choose your train and accommodation at your leisure and make a reservation at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your reservation, you may be able to get a discount! This product is recommended not only for travel, but also for business trips and vacations. We also offer one-day trip plans! Enjoy your own unique trip according to your schedule and purpose.

Click here for details

For reservations of train + accommodation "Sado Area", please contact 【 JR East Japan Biu Dynamic Rail Pack 】
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