Letʼs start from “Kirarium Sado” (Sado Gold and Silver Mines Information Facility)
for a tour of “Sado Island Gold Mines”!
As the gateway to the Sado Island Gold Mines, the facility introduces
the property and provides information about visiting the sites.
The facility's exhibition rooms provide easy-to-understandexplanations of the value and appeal of the property through large
videos, models, and graphics. There is also a tourist information
center in the facility to provide bicycle rental services, information for
guided tours and apps for site visits.

Inside the exhibition room

〈Transport Access〉■From Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port
(Sado Steam Ship Co,. Ltd.)■When using a route bus

About 55 min. ride on the “Hon-sen (main) Line” from Ryotsu Port

2 hr. and 30 min. by car ferry

About 80 min. ride on the “Ogi Line” from Ogi Port

67 min. by jetfoil(Transfer at Sawada Bus Center)■From Naoetsu Port to Ogi Port

Near to “Kirarium Sado” bus stop

2 hr. and 40 min. by car ferry

Futatsugame“Kirarium Sado”■When using a private car or rental car

Washizaki

AikawaAbout 50 min. from Ryotsu Port
About 75 min. from Ogi Port

Nishimikawa
Placer Gold MineOgi Port

Please use the free parking lot ofKirarium Sado if you come by car.

Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine
Ryotsu Port

SawataMano
Himezaki
Akadomari＊1

To Hutatsugame“Kirarium Sado”

Free parking lot
Hokuriku
Expressway

Convenience store

Main Line

Hokuhoku Line

Echigo-Yuzawa

To Nagano
To Sawata

To Takasaki

kuEchigo Tokimeki Railway

GS
Hotel

Joetsu ShinkansenenShinetsu

ns

Joetsu Myoko

4-1 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata 950-8570 Japan
Tel: +81-25-280-5726 Fax: +81-25-280-5764(Culture Division, Department of Tourism,
Culture and Sports, Niigata Prefecture)

World Heritage Promotion Division,
Tourism Promotion Department, Sado City

https://www.sado-goldmine.jp/en/

Email: k-goldmine@city.sado.niigata.jp

Koriyama

To Omiya“Sado Island Gold Mines” website

Email: ngt150030@pref.niigata.lg.jp

Tel: +81-259-63-5136 Fax: +81-259-63-6130

Sendai
Fukushima＊1: From Niigata Station to Niigata Port Approx.2.7km＊2: From Naoetsu Station to Naoetsu Port Approx.1.8km＊3: From Niigata Airport to Niigata Station (South Exit) Approx.9km (Airport Limousine Bus)World Heritage Inscription Promotion Office,Culture Division, Department of Tourism,
Culture and Sports, Niigata Prefecture

232 Chigusa, Sado-shi, Niigata 952-1292 JapanTo Shin-Aomorika

To Kanazawa

Hokuriku Shinkansen

To Kasugazaki

Ban-etsu West Line

Naoetsu Port
Nagaoka＊2
NaoetsuinBus stop“Kirarium Sado”

Sea

Niigata-chuo IC

Sh“Kirarium Sado”＊3
Niigata

Echigo Tokimeki Railway

Toha

Capacity: 157 cars,
3 large-size cars

Niigata
AirportNiigata Port

“Sado, for World Heritage” website(Sado City Office)https://www.city.sado.niigata.jp/site/mine/e!

Sado Island Gold Mines

Exterior of Kirarium Sado

18-1 Aikawa Sanchome Hamamachi Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
TEL +81-259-74-2215
FAX +81-259-74-2223
Opening Hours: 8:30 a.m.‒5:00 p.m. (Last entry at 4:30 p.m.)
Holidays: Dec. 29‒Jan. 3
Admission Fee: Free (Paid entry only for viewing the exhibition room)
Individual Entry: Adults ¥300, Elementary/Junior high school students ¥150
Group Entry (Groups of 15 or more people): Adults ¥250, Elementary/Juniorhigh school students ¥100

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World Heritage Preview Guide

Aiming to Inscribe Sado Island Gold Mines

Two

Areas of
Sado Island Gold Mines

In the “Sado Island Gold Mines”, a production organization suited to the characteristics of the mines in the two areas wasestablished and was developed into a large-scale social system of traditional unmechanized technology under the
management of the Tokugawa Shogunate＊. Furthermore, a unique mining culture was nurtured by the people whogathered to the mine from all over Japan under the Shogunateʼ s policy.

Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine
In Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine, various technicaland social systems were established to obtain "invisible"
gold in the hard gold ore.

Gold Ore＊The Tokugawa Shogunate was the final feudal government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The reign of the Tokugawa
Shogunate brought 250 years of peace and prosperity.
Sado Island

Niigata
Prefecture

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine
Placer Gold

This mine has been known as the oldest mine in Sado. The
unique mining method "Onagashi (great flow)" was carried out
to obtain "visible" placer gold effectively.

Four

3

A testimony to the strategic management by the Tokugawa Shogunate
and to the social system integrated on a large scale［Criterion（ⅲ）］

Remains related to management of the mines and remains of settlements show the situation at the time.
Settlement

Nishimikawa
Placer Gold Mine

(Two residential districts)

Nishimikawa Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine

Characteristics of
Sado Island Gold Mines

Placer gold mine (Mine)

Nishimikawa-gawa River

Reservoir

Mining workerʼs dwelling(Sasagawa Residential District)）

Traditional unmechanized mining technologies
improved adapting to the characteristics of deposits

Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine
Mines

Tsurushi area

［Criterion（ⅳ）］

PortalOyamazumi-jinja Shrine【Sediment placer gold deposit:
placer gold mining method Onagashi[great ﬂow]】

Settlement in thevicinity of mining
tunnels

Aikawa area

Large-scale surface mining

Aikawa area

Reservoir

Tsurushi area

Tunnel mining(mabu)

Pile ofwaste stones

Drainage tunnel＊See pages 3-4 for detailed information on mining technology.

Tail race2

Smelting workshop◎ It is clear that under the management of local magistrates, systematic production
was commenced and a division of labor was established.

Chase mining

Race

Mining workerʼs dwelling

Settlement (Tsurushi-Aramachi District)Long deep tunnel mining (mabu)

Surface mining

Local Magistrateʼs
OfficeA series of production processes that enabled
high-purity gold production［Criterion
（ⅳ）
］

4

Residential area
(Kami-Aikawa District)

PortalPortalOre-dressing workshop

Nishi-Ikari-michi and
Tsurushi-michi Pass

Headrace

Mining site

Smelting workshop【Hard-rock lode deposits [ore]: from Tsurushi to Aikawa, large-scale mining
and technical improvement】

Mines

Sasagawa River

Ore-dressing workshop

Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine

Waterway

Mining Site

Introduction and development of technologies suited to the characterics of the mines in the two areas can be seen.

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine

◎ Two residential districts formed in the early 17th century on
the mining sites retain the settlement structure without any
regularity on the layout and forms of the site.

Nishimikawa Mine Administration Office(Kinzan Residential District)

The “Sado Island Gold Mines” has four characteristics: characteristics 1 & 2 on the technical system of gold production andcharacteristics 3 & 4 on the social system of gold production. In the nomination document submitted to UNESCO in
January, 2023, each characteristic is described as equivalent to criteria (iii) and (iv) for world cultural heritage inscription.

1

as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site

Settlement zone

From the town where production related
facilities are scattered to the town where
they are concentrated in the
Magistrate's Office(mid 18th century)

Ore-dressing andsmelting plant(“Yoseseriba” and“Yosedokoya”)(Kami-Teramachi District)
Temples and graveyards

Settlement(Aikawa-Kamimachi Town)
Sado Magistrateʼs Office

Stonewall
Street◎ In the early 17th century, when the town was established, the living places were
distributed by the occupation and people worked and lived in the same location,
dotted with production facilities such as ore dressing and smelting. However, after
the middle of the 18th century, ore dressing and smelting plants were concentrated
in a production facility within the magistrate's office for efficiency and was shifted into
the town where the people with various occupation lived next door each other.

Mining culture nurtured in the mining community［Criterion（ⅲ）］

The cultures and traditions brought in by the people gathered from across Japan were developed into a unique mining culture.

The established division of labor has increased the specialization and technical precision of the workers in each process.

Nishimikawa
Placer Gold Mine

Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine

SourceNishimikawa Placer Gold Mine: "Nishimikawa sakinzan kasegikata no zu”(Property of Niigata Prefectural Museum of History)
Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine: “Sado no kuni kanahori no maki”(Property of Aikawa Folk Museum)

MiningDressing

Scrape the deposit on themountain side and conduct“Onagashi” (great ﬂow)

Obtain placer gold from thebottom of the waterway
using gravity concentration

Placer gold from Nishimikawa is transported
to the magistrateʼs office in Aikawa

MiningDressing

Smelting

Excavate ore

Crush and grind ore toobtain gold and silver

Add lead to extract
gold and silver(cupellation)

Refining

Add salt and heat topurify gold
(cementation with salt)

MintingRoughly-cut coins areshaped into oval “koban”
coins by hammering

Various faiths of the people
who gatheredfrom across Japan〈Variety ofdenominations gathered〉(Nishimikawa Oyamazumi-jinja
Shrine and Noh play stage,
Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine）(Temple remains,
Kami-Teramachi District,
Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine)The Shinto ritual
performing art ( Yawaragi )related to mining(Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine)

A festival held ina mining town
（Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine）【Physical【Physical evidence
evidence illustrating
illustrating signiﬁcantsigniﬁcant stages
stages inin gold
gold production
production technologies】
technologies】【A【A testimony
testimony toto thethe prominence
prominence ofof socialsocial system】
system】

The “Sado Island Gold Mines” is a physical evidence of the technological peak period that produced high-quality gold byimproving traditional unmechanized mining, while technology and knowledge from abroad were limited.

The “Sado Island Gold Mines” bears exceptional testimony to the mining operation system which accomplished remarkabledevelopment based on traditional unmechanized mining technology and which was sustained for 250 years. This ensured
the emergence and development of its own exceptional mining culture.

＊Criterion＊Criterion (iv)(iv) forfor worldworld cultural
cultural heritage
heritage1

A shrine which enshrines
a deity of mines anda rich culture basedon the prosperityof the placer gold mine

＊Criterion＊Criterion (iii)(iii) forfor worldworld cultural
cultural heritage
heritage2

Aiming to Inscribe Sado Island Gold Mines

Two

Areas of
Sado Island Gold Mines

In the “Sado Island Gold Mines”, a production organization suited to the characteristics of the mines in the two areas wasestablished and was developed into a large-scale social system of traditional unmechanized technology under the
management of the Tokugawa Shogunate＊. Furthermore, a unique mining culture was nurtured by the people whogathered to the mine from all over Japan under the Shogunateʼ s policy.

Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine
In Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine, various technicaland social systems were established to obtain "invisible"
gold in the hard gold ore.

Gold Ore＊The Tokugawa Shogunate was the final feudal government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The reign of the Tokugawa
Shogunate brought 250 years of peace and prosperity.
Sado Island

Niigata
Prefecture

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine
Placer Gold

This mine has been known as the oldest mine in Sado. The
unique mining method "Onagashi (great flow)" was carried out
to obtain "visible" placer gold effectively.

Four

3

A testimony to the strategic management by the Tokugawa Shogunate
and to the social system integrated on a large scale［Criterion（ⅲ）］

Remains related to management of the mines and remains of settlements show the situation at the time.
Settlement

Nishimikawa
Placer Gold Mine

(Two residential districts)

Nishimikawa Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine

Characteristics of
Sado Island Gold Mines

Placer gold mine (Mine)

Nishimikawa-gawa River

Reservoir

Mining workerʼs dwelling(Sasagawa Residential District)）

Traditional unmechanized mining technologies
improved adapting to the characteristics of deposits

Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine
Mines

Tsurushi area

［Criterion（ⅳ）］

PortalOyamazumi-jinja Shrine【Sediment placer gold deposit:
placer gold mining method Onagashi[great ﬂow]】

Settlement in thevicinity of mining
tunnels

Aikawa area

Large-scale surface mining

Aikawa area

Reservoir

Tsurushi area

Tunnel mining(mabu)

Pile ofwaste stones

Drainage tunnel＊See pages 3-4 for detailed information on mining technology.

Tail race2

Smelting workshop◎ It is clear that under the management of local magistrates, systematic production
was commenced and a division of labor was established.

Chase mining

Race

Mining workerʼs dwelling

Settlement (Tsurushi-Aramachi District)Long deep tunnel mining (mabu)

Surface mining

Local Magistrateʼs
OfficeA series of production processes that enabled
high-purity gold production［Criterion
（ⅳ）
］

4

Residential area
(Kami-Aikawa District)

PortalPortalOre-dressing workshop

Nishi-Ikari-michi and
Tsurushi-michi Pass

Headrace

Mining site

Smelting workshop【Hard-rock lode deposits [ore]: from Tsurushi to Aikawa, large-scale mining
and technical improvement】

Mines

Sasagawa River

Ore-dressing workshop

Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine

Waterway

Mining Site

Introduction and development of technologies suited to the characterics of the mines in the two areas can be seen.

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine

◎ Two residential districts formed in the early 17th century on
the mining sites retain the settlement structure without any
regularity on the layout and forms of the site.

Nishimikawa Mine Administration Office(Kinzan Residential District)

The “Sado Island Gold Mines” has four characteristics: characteristics 1 & 2 on the technical system of gold production andcharacteristics 3 & 4 on the social system of gold production. In the nomination document submitted to UNESCO in
January, 2023, each characteristic is described as equivalent to criteria (iii) and (iv) for world cultural heritage inscription.

1

as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site

Settlement zone

From the town where production related
facilities are scattered to the town where
they are concentrated in the
Magistrate's Office(mid 18th century)

Ore-dressing andsmelting plant(“Yoseseriba” and“Yosedokoya”)(Kami-Teramachi District)
Temples and graveyards

Settlement(Aikawa-Kamimachi Town)
Sado Magistrateʼs Office

Stonewall
Street◎ In the early 17th century, when the town was established, the living places were
distributed by the occupation and people worked and lived in the same location,
dotted with production facilities such as ore dressing and smelting. However, after
the middle of the 18th century, ore dressing and smelting plants were concentrated
in a production facility within the magistrate's office for efficiency and was shifted into
the town where the people with various occupation lived next door each other.

Mining culture nurtured in the mining community［Criterion（ⅲ）］

The cultures and traditions brought in by the people gathered from across Japan were developed into a unique mining culture.

The established division of labor has increased the specialization and technical precision of the workers in each process.

Nishimikawa
Placer Gold Mine

Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine

SourceNishimikawa Placer Gold Mine: "Nishimikawa sakinzan kasegikata no zu”(Property of Niigata Prefectural Museum of History)
Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine: “Sado no kuni kanahori no maki”(Property of Aikawa Folk Museum)

MiningDressing

Scrape the deposit on themountain side and conduct“Onagashi” (great ﬂow)

Obtain placer gold from thebottom of the waterway
using gravity concentration

Placer gold from Nishimikawa is transported
to the magistrateʼs office in Aikawa

MiningDressing

Smelting

Excavate ore

Crush and grind ore toobtain gold and silver

Add lead to extract
gold and silver(cupellation)

Refining

Add salt and heat topurify gold
(cementation with salt)

MintingRoughly-cut coins areshaped into oval “koban”
coins by hammering

Various faiths of the people
who gatheredfrom across Japan〈Variety ofdenominations gathered〉(Nishimikawa Oyamazumi-jinja
Shrine and Noh play stage,
Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine）(Temple remains,
Kami-Teramachi District,
Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine)The Shinto ritual
performing art ( Yawaragi )related to mining(Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine)

A festival held ina mining town
（Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine）【Physical【Physical evidence
evidence illustrating
illustrating signiﬁcantsigniﬁcant stages
stages inin gold
gold production
production technologies】
technologies】【A【A testimony
testimony toto thethe prominence
prominence ofof socialsocial system】
system】

The “Sado Island Gold Mines” is a physical evidence of the technological peak period that produced high-quality gold byimproving traditional unmechanized mining, while technology and knowledge from abroad were limited.

The “Sado Island Gold Mines” bears exceptional testimony to the mining operation system which accomplished remarkabledevelopment based on traditional unmechanized mining technology and which was sustained for 250 years. This ensured
the emergence and development of its own exceptional mining culture.

＊Criterion＊Criterion (iv)(iv) forfor worldworld cultural
cultural heritage
heritage1

A shrine which enshrines
a deity of mines anda rich culture basedon the prosperityof the placer gold mine

＊Criterion＊Criterion (iii)(iii) forfor worldworld cultural
cultural heritage
heritage

2

The value of Sado Island Gold Mines as World Heritage site
From the late 16th to the mid-19th century, a socio-technical system of gold production was developed on Sado
Island, which is rich in gold mines. This system was a different type of system from Europe and the areas that are
influenced by Europe, as technological exchange with other countries was limited due to the Tokugawa
Shogunateʼ s national seclusion policy. The “Sado Island Gold Mines” is an exceptional industrial heritage showing
gold production system developed to achieve its world class quality and quantity (10% of world production, as pure
as up to 99.54%) of gold production based on the traditional unmechanized mining, and it was sustained on a large
scale over 250 years.

Gold from Sado supported the financeof the Tokugawa Shogunate◎The Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine is the mine in which the gold and silver in the hard rocks (ore)called lode deposits were extracted. In the Tsurushi area, mining commenced in the mid-16th century, andthe full-scale mining began in the latter half of the 16th century like the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine.
◎In the Tsurushi area, we can see the transition of mining methods: from “surface mining”, mining an
outcropping of veins on the surface, and “chase mining”, digging for narrow veins on the ground surface; to“tunnel mining”, digging for multiple veins. The remains of “ore-dressing”, crushing and sorting the excavatedore; and “smelting”, extracting metals with chemical treatment (“cupellation”, using lead) are left, showing the
introduction of the mining technology and the period of establishment of the processes of gold production.
We can see the situation in the early mining settlements, when production began with an organized divisionof labor.
◎In the Aikawa area, which was discovered by some miners from the Tsurushi area, the full-scale mining began at
the beginning of the 17th century. The mine had one of the largest and deepest concentrations of deep
underground veins in the country. Therefore, it soon became the center of the development and mining
operations covered an extensive area.

~Mining town of unprecedented development~
Koban coin minting was carried out using the gold produced in
Sado. This is the only case in the mines in Japan. Koban coins
were carried to Edo, current Tokyo, and supported the financeof the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The Shogunate put a great importance on the “Sado Island
Gold Mines”. Therefore, the Shogunate invested and developed
the working environment in order to continue the gold
production efficiently for a long time.
Particularly, the town of Aikawa, a small fishing village before
the discovery of gold, became the center of the minemanagement and was developed into a large-scale town withsystematic land plots and streets, growing into one of the
major towns in the nation at the time with a population of up
to 50,000 people.

Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine; Lode Deposit, Mining Hard Rock◎The veins in the Aikawa area were electrum, which contain much silver in gold. Therefore, complex processes
to separate silver from gold in the ore-dressing, smelting and refining were developed. In order to produce
high quality gold (as pure as up to 99.54%) in the only mine in Japan where koban coin minting was
permitted, the Shogunate continued the investment to improve the technology and working environment.

“Sado koban coin” extant in the Netherlands
Property of Dutch National Numismatic Collection,
Amsterdam
The koban coins minted in Sado were carried toEdo. In the 17th century, a large amount ofkoban coins had been brought out, and somewere even transported as far as Europe.

◎The Sado Magistrateʼs Office was established in the Aikawa area, which was the center of the managementof Sado Island Gold Mines by the Tokugawa Shogunate. A large-scale mining town was also establishedalong the main street connecting the mine and the magistrateʼs office.
◎Sado Island is rich in its unique mining cultures, such as Oyamazumi-jinjya Shrine Site, which enshrined themining deity, temple sites of various denominations, rituals in the mine and festivals held in the mining town.
These revitalized the local people and strengthened the human bond in the organization as the place ofemotional support, playing an important role to support for continuing the production organizations for a long
period.

Overview of Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mineand Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine
Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine; Placer Gold Deposit, “Onagashi” (great flow)◎Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine is a mine described on a record “Tales of Times Now Past” compiled in the
12th century as the oldest gold mine on Sado. Large-scale mining began at the end of the 16th century. In theearly 17th century, when the mine came under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate, villagers minedplacer gold as a joint work under the control of the Sado Magistrateʼs Office.
◎A distinctive mining technology called the “Onagashi” (great flow) method, in which the mountain stratum
containing placer gold was scraped to have the placer gold collected by hydraulic power, was carried out.
The remains demonstrating the whole image of the “Onagashi” operation such as headraces, reservoirs,
races, mining sites and tail races still remain in good condition.
◎Two residential districts were established on the flat lands of mining sites formed after the “Onagashi”
operation. The features of the settlements are the layout and the forms of the houses and lands were
irregular and didnʼt change significantly throughout the Edo period.

Distant view of Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine (From the southwest)◎In the settlement, there remain the Mine Officialʼs Residence Site related to management and the residence of
Kaneko Kanzaburo Family who managed the mining operation as the village head, as well as the Nishimikawa
Oyamazui-jinja Shrine which enshrined the deity of mining and Noh play theater. You can feel the atmosphereof a mining village in the period of mining operation.

Townscape of Aikawa-Kamimachi Town (foreground)and mountains where mines are located (background)◎The placer gold mine was closed in 1872. However, the people stayed here without being discrete andshifted their occupation from mining to agriculture and forestry. The descendants are still residing here.

Tunnel mining site
(Ogiriyama-mabu Tunnel Site, Aikawa area)

Distant view of Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine

3

Placer gold mining sites and mining settlement

Sado Magistrate s Office Site
(The base for management of the Tokugawa Shogunate)4The value of Sado Island Gold Mines as World Heritage site
From the late 16th to the mid-19th century, a socio-technical system of gold production was developed on Sado
Island, which is rich in gold mines. This system was a different type of system from Europe and the areas that are
influenced by Europe, as technological exchange with other countries was limited due to the Tokugawa
Shogunateʼ s national seclusion policy. The “Sado Island Gold Mines” is an exceptional industrial heritage showing
gold production system developed to achieve its world class quality and quantity (10% of world production, as pure
as up to 99.54%) of gold production based on the traditional unmechanized mining, and it was sustained on a large
scale over 250 years.

Gold from Sado supported the financeof the Tokugawa Shogunate◎The Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine is the mine in which the gold and silver in the hard rocks (ore)called lode deposits were extracted. In the Tsurushi area, mining commenced in the mid-16th century, andthe full-scale mining began in the latter half of the 16th century like the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine.
◎In the Tsurushi area, we can see the transition of mining methods: from “surface mining”, mining an
outcropping of veins on the surface, and “chase mining”, digging for narrow veins on the ground surface; to“tunnel mining”, digging for multiple veins. The remains of “ore-dressing”, crushing and sorting the excavatedore; and “smelting”, extracting metals with chemical treatment (“cupellation”, using lead) are left, showing the
introduction of the mining technology and the period of establishment of the processes of gold production.
We can see the situation in the early mining settlements, when production began with an organized divisionof labor.
◎In the Aikawa area, which was discovered by some miners from the Tsurushi area, the full-scale mining began at
the beginning of the 17th century. The mine had one of the largest and deepest concentrations of deep
underground veins in the country. Therefore, it soon became the center of the development and mining
operations covered an extensive area.

~Mining town of unprecedented development~
Koban coin minting was carried out using the gold produced in
Sado. This is the only case in the mines in Japan. Koban coins
were carried to Edo, current Tokyo, and supported the financeof the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The Shogunate put a great importance on the “Sado Island
Gold Mines”. Therefore, the Shogunate invested and developed
the working environment in order to continue the gold
production efficiently for a long time.
Particularly, the town of Aikawa, a small fishing village before
the discovery of gold, became the center of the minemanagement and was developed into a large-scale town withsystematic land plots and streets, growing into one of the
major towns in the nation at the time with a population of up
to 50,000 people.

Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine; Lode Deposit, Mining Hard Rock◎The veins in the Aikawa area were electrum, which contain much silver in gold. Therefore, complex processes
to separate silver from gold in the ore-dressing, smelting and refining were developed. In order to produce
high quality gold (as pure as up to 99.54%) in the only mine in Japan where koban coin minting was
permitted, the Shogunate continued the investment to improve the technology and working environment.

“Sado koban coin” extant in the Netherlands
Property of Dutch National Numismatic Collection,
Amsterdam
The koban coins minted in Sado were carried toEdo. In the 17th century, a large amount ofkoban coins had been brought out, and somewere even transported as far as Europe.

◎The Sado Magistrateʼs Office was established in the Aikawa area, which was the center of the managementof Sado Island Gold Mines by the Tokugawa Shogunate. A large-scale mining town was also establishedalong the main street connecting the mine and the magistrateʼs office.
◎Sado Island is rich in its unique mining cultures, such as Oyamazumi-jinjya Shrine Site, which enshrined themining deity, temple sites of various denominations, rituals in the mine and festivals held in the mining town.
These revitalized the local people and strengthened the human bond in the organization as the place ofemotional support, playing an important role to support for continuing the production organizations for a long
period.

Overview of Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mineand Aikawa-Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine
Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine; Placer Gold Deposit, “Onagashi” (great flow)◎Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine is a mine described on a record “Tales of Times Now Past” compiled in the
12th century as the oldest gold mine on Sado. Large-scale mining began at the end of the 16th century. In theearly 17th century, when the mine came under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate, villagers minedplacer gold as a joint work under the control of the Sado Magistrateʼs Office.
◎A distinctive mining technology called the “Onagashi” (great flow) method, in which the mountain stratum
containing placer gold was scraped to have the placer gold collected by hydraulic power, was carried out.
The remains demonstrating the whole image of the “Onagashi” operation such as headraces, reservoirs,
races, mining sites and tail races still remain in good condition.
◎Two residential districts were established on the flat lands of mining sites formed after the “Onagashi”
operation. The features of the settlements are the layout and the forms of the houses and lands were
irregular and didnʼt change significantly throughout the Edo period.

Distant view of Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine (From the southwest)◎In the settlement, there remain the Mine Officialʼs Residence Site related to management and the residence of
Kaneko Kanzaburo Family who managed the mining operation as the village head, as well as the Nishimikawa
Oyamazui-jinja Shrine which enshrined the deity of mining and Noh play theater. You can feel the atmosphereof a mining village in the period of mining operation.

Townscape of Aikawa-Kamimachi Town (foreground)and mountains where mines are located (background)◎The placer gold mine was closed in 1872. However, the people stayed here without being discrete andshifted their occupation from mining to agriculture and forestry. The descendants are still residing here.

Tunnel mining site
(Ogiriyama-mabu Tunnel Site, Aikawa area)

Distant view of Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine

3

Placer gold mining sites and mining settlement

Sado Magistrate s Office Site
(The base for management of the Tokugawa Shogunate)4

Leading to Mano/Sawata*Sign of
“Toki no sato Golf Club”

Map of Nishimikawa
Placer Gold Mine

Enlarged map of Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine(around Sasagawa Settlement)

Goshaya-yama Site

Enlarged Map⇒p6●
Toki no sato Golf Club

350

N

N

ish

im

ik

aw

a-

ga

w

a

Ri

ve

i
ish

m

ik

aw

g
a-

aw

a

R

(See p7.3)

rive*Guided Tours Only

●Nariyoshi-yama Siter

Sightseeing spot

Nishimikawa Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine/Noh play stage

拡大マップ⇒P00(See p8.6)

Kaneko Kanzaburo House (See p7.4)

Mining Site

Mine Administration Oﬃce Site (presumed)●

Remains of Waterway

Mine Oﬃcialʼs Residence Site

Settlement Site

(See p7.5)

佐渡奉行所跡
Site related●
to administration

Viewpoint

Tatenokoshi-yama Site

Sasagawa River(See p7.2)

Exhibition●Togezaka-yama Site

No Entry

Walking Route(Cars prohibited)*The road is so narrow that it isdifficult for cars to pass each other350●
Sankyo-yama Site

Jugo

432

0

500m

1km

相川上町地区

Nishimikawa-gawa●River
Nishimikawa Gold Park

wa Rivban-gaer

きらりうむ佐渡●*Viewpoint of Toramaru-yama Site

Leading to Ogi

Nishimikawa Area (Sasagawa Settlement) is the place
where the local residents still live and work mainly for
agriculture. Unlike the general sightseeing spots, facility
for tourists are not installed except for the signs andinterpretive signboards.
Since it is diﬃcult to secure a safe route to the mining
sites in the mountains, please refrain from entering thesites for the time being.

Former Sasagawa Branch Schoolof Nishimikawa Elementary School●
Sugihira-yama
Site

春日崎
（相川金銀山とまちなみのビューポイント）
●

Sa

sa

ga

R
wa

ive

r

Toramaru-yama Site

(See p7.1)

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine

Sasagawa River*Please stay away fromthe foothills due to thedanger of rockfalls, etc.

●Utoge-yama Site

Nishimikawa-gawa River

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine seenfrom the river mouth of the Nishimikawa-gawa River

5

0

500m

1km

6

Leading to Mano/Sawata*Sign of
“Toki no sato Golf Club”

Map of Nishimikawa
Placer Gold Mine

Enlarged map of Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine(around Sasagawa Settlement)

Goshaya-yama Site

Enlarged Map⇒p6●
Toki no sato Golf Club

350

N

N

ish

im

ik

aw

a-

ga

w

a

Ri

ve

i
ish

m

ik

aw

g
a-

aw

a

R

(See p7.3)

rive*Guided Tours Only

●Nariyoshi-yama Siter

Sightseeing spot

Nishimikawa Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine/Noh play stage

拡大マップ⇒P00(See p8.6)

Kaneko Kanzaburo House (See p7.4)

Mining Site

Mine Administration Oﬃce Site (presumed)●

Remains of Waterway

Mine Oﬃcialʼs Residence Site

Settlement Site

(See p7.5)

佐渡奉行所跡
Site related●
to administration

Viewpoint

Tatenokoshi-yama Site

Sasagawa River(See p7.2)

Exhibition●Togezaka-yama Site

No Entry

Walking Route(Cars prohibited)*The road is so narrow that it isdifficult for cars to pass each other350●
Sankyo-yama Site

Jugo

432

0

500m

1km

相川上町地区

Nishimikawa-gawa●River
Nishimikawa Gold Park

wa Rivban-gaer

きらりうむ佐渡●*Viewpoint of Toramaru-yama Site

Leading to Ogi

Nishimikawa Area (Sasagawa Settlement) is the place
where the local residents still live and work mainly for
agriculture. Unlike the general sightseeing spots, facility
for tourists are not installed except for the signs andinterpretive signboards.
Since it is diﬃcult to secure a safe route to the mining
sites in the mountains, please refrain from entering thesites for the time being.

Former Sasagawa Branch Schoolof Nishimikawa Elementary School●
Sugihira-yama
Site

春日崎
（相川金銀山とまちなみのビューポイント）
●

Sa

sa

ga

R
wa

ive

r

Toramaru-yama Site

(See p7.1)

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine

Sasagawa River*Please stay away fromthe foothills due to thedanger of rockfalls, etc.

●Utoge-yama Site

Nishimikawa-gawa River

Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine seenfrom the river mouth of the Nishimikawa-gawa River

5

0

500m

1km

6

"Sado Island Gold Mines" Introduction of main spots
in the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine
１. Toramaru-yama Siteto the risk of rockfall and other hazards at the base《open to the public※》 ※Dueof the mountain, please have a look from the viewpoint.

６. Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine and Noh play stage 《open to the public》

This is the largest mining site in the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine. This isalso a symbolic site at which the reddish mined outcrop can still be seen
formed by scraping the mountainside from the “Onagashi” operation. A
picture map shows that mining was carried out up and down themountain.

This shrine was enshrined in 1593, wishing for the prosperity of the placer
gold mine and for the safety of the mining operations. The main buildingof the shrine and its related facilities have been rebuilt over time. The
present shrine building was reconstructed in 1928. It is said that the
precinct of the shrine was dug down and lowered by placer gold mining.
In the precinct, located is Noh play stage that was constructed in the late
1800s.

©NISHIYAMA Hoichi

２. Tatenokoshi-yama Site 《open to the public》

this is the living area for residents.
７. Sasagawa Settlement (Kinzan and Sasagawa) 《open to the public 》 ※Currently
Please refrain from entering private property.
※

This is one of the placer gold mining sites. On the steep slopes and at thefoot of the mountain you can see the remains of large waterways thatwere formed by scraping the mountainsides from both sides of themountain.
You can also see the remains of piled-up stone waterways and reservoirs
that supplied water to the mining sites.

３. Goshaya-yama Site 《limited public access》 ※Open for guided-tours only.
The Goshaya-yama Site is a place where placer gold mining was carriedout throughout the Edo period. Remains showing a series of the entire
processes of placer gold mining by the “Onagashi” method, such as thesites of headraces, reservoir, race, mining sites, and piled-up stone
structures, are concentrated in a small area.

This is the settlement run by the people involved in placer gold mining
and it is still the living and working area for their descendants. It was
originally two residential districts called Sasagawa and Kinzan, and started
to be called the "Sasagawa-juhachimai-mura Village" around the end of
16th century and came to function as one settlement. It is located in themountains surrounded by placer gold mining sites. The residents changed
their occupation to agriculture after the closure of the mine, but it stillretains traces of the mining settlement of those days without alteration to
the land plotting and form of life from the Edo period.

Onagashi Placer Gold Mining Method "Pictures of Gold and Silver Mines in Sado"in the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine (Property of Niigata Prefectural Museum of History)
The Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine had a sedimentary placer gold deposit containing placer gold in thesediment layer of the mountain, so it was essential to scrape the sediment layer and get rid of unwanted
gravels to obtain gold. Therefore, the "Onagashi" mining method was carried out in this area by scraping thelayers of the mountainsides by hand and washing away the gravels with gravity concentration using the force ofaccumulated water from a distant water source. "Onagashi" was conducted every month, and all the gold
collected there was taken to Aikawa for refining.

conservation and repair work is being carried out
４. Kaneko Kanzaburo House 《open to the public 》 ※Currently
and entry is not allowed.
※

This is the residence of the Kaneko family who acted as the village headof the gold mine from the late Edo period until 1872. They served asintermediaries between the officials from the magistrateʼs office and thesettlements with responsibility for assembling the mine workers andmanaging the work of the “Onagashi” method. It is comprised of thewooden main building, storehouse, shed and cow barn, all of which wereconstructed around the 19th century. You can understand how they
managed the operation of the “Onagashi” as well as the process ofoccupational change from mining to agriculture and forestry after the
closure of the placer gold mine.

1） Scrape oﬀ the gravels containing placer
gold toward the race built at the foot of themountain.

2）Dam up the stones in a row in the raceand release the water from the reservoir to
ﬂush out the unwanted dirt. Heavy placer
gold remains at the bottom of the race.

3） Remove the stones which the watercannot wash away.

4） Gather the sand collected at thebottom of the race on Nekoda mat, awoven straw mat, and collect the minutesand by sifting through the mesh of the
Nekoda mat.

5） Put the collected sand on the Yuriita
panning board and catch placer gold in thewater with gravity concentration. It is tallied
and sealed.

6） On the last day of each month, the sealed
placer gold is opened at the Mine OﬃcialʼsOﬃce, and the share for the magistrateʼs oﬃce
and the mine workers is determined. (Payment
to the workers is made in silver and all thegold is carried to the magistrateʼs oﬃce).

５. Mine Official's Residence Site 《open to the public》
The Mine Administration Office was established at the Nishimikawa Placer
Gold Mine and two officials were dispatched for management of the minefrom the Sado Magistrateʼs Office. The Mine Officialʼs Residence Site is a
residence site for the officials dispatched to the Mine Administration
Office. A terrace surrounded by the stone walls remains in the exact place
depicted in the picture maps of the Edo period, and the field across fromthe Residence Site is presumed to have been the Mine Administration
Office Site.

78

"Sado Island Gold Mines" Introduction of main spots
in the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine
１. Toramaru-yama Siteto the risk of rockfall and other hazards at the base《open to the public※》 ※Dueof the mountain, please have a look from the viewpoint.

６. Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine and Noh play stage 《open to the public》

This is the largest mining site in the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine. This isalso a symbolic site at which the reddish mined outcrop can still be seen
formed by scraping the mountainside from the “Onagashi” operation. A
picture map shows that mining was carried out up and down themountain.

This shrine was enshrined in 1593, wishing for the prosperity of the placer
gold mine and for the safety of the mining operations. The main buildingof the shrine and its related facilities have been rebuilt over time. The
present shrine building was reconstructed in 1928. It is said that the
precinct of the shrine was dug down and lowered by placer gold mining.
In the precinct, located is Noh play stage that was constructed in the late
1800s.

©NISHIYAMA Hoichi

２. Tatenokoshi-yama Site 《open to the public》

this is the living area for residents.
７. Sasagawa Settlement (Kinzan and Sasagawa) 《open to the public 》 ※Currently
Please refrain from entering private property.
※

This is one of the placer gold mining sites. On the steep slopes and at thefoot of the mountain you can see the remains of large waterways thatwere formed by scraping the mountainsides from both sides of themountain.
You can also see the remains of piled-up stone waterways and reservoirs
that supplied water to the mining sites.

３. Goshaya-yama Site 《limited public access》 ※Open for guided-tours only.
The Goshaya-yama Site is a place where placer gold mining was carriedout throughout the Edo period. Remains showing a series of the entire
processes of placer gold mining by the “Onagashi” method, such as thesites of headraces, reservoir, race, mining sites, and piled-up stone
structures, are concentrated in a small area.

This is the settlement run by the people involved in placer gold mining
and it is still the living and working area for their descendants. It was
originally two residential districts called Sasagawa and Kinzan, and started
to be called the "Sasagawa-juhachimai-mura Village" around the end of
16th century and came to function as one settlement. It is located in themountains surrounded by placer gold mining sites. The residents changed
their occupation to agriculture after the closure of the mine, but it stillretains traces of the mining settlement of those days without alteration to
the land plotting and form of life from the Edo period.

Onagashi Placer Gold Mining Method "Pictures of Gold and Silver Mines in Sado"in the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine (Property of Niigata Prefectural Museum of History)
The Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine had a sedimentary placer gold deposit containing placer gold in thesediment layer of the mountain, so it was essential to scrape the sediment layer and get rid of unwanted
gravels to obtain gold. Therefore, the "Onagashi" mining method was carried out in this area by scraping thelayers of the mountainsides by hand and washing away the gravels with gravity concentration using the force ofaccumulated water from a distant water source. "Onagashi" was conducted every month, and all the gold
collected there was taken to Aikawa for refining.

conservation and repair work is being carried out
４. Kaneko Kanzaburo House 《open to the public 》 ※Currently
and entry is not allowed.
※

This is the residence of the Kaneko family who acted as the village headof the gold mine from the late Edo period until 1872. They served asintermediaries between the officials from the magistrateʼs office and thesettlements with responsibility for assembling the mine workers andmanaging the work of the “Onagashi” method. It is comprised of thewooden main building, storehouse, shed and cow barn, all of which wereconstructed around the 19th century. You can understand how they
managed the operation of the “Onagashi” as well as the process ofoccupational change from mining to agriculture and forestry after the
closure of the placer gold mine.

1） Scrape oﬀ the gravels containing placer
gold toward the race built at the foot of themountain.

2）Dam up the stones in a row in the raceand release the water from the reservoir to
ﬂush out the unwanted dirt. Heavy placer
gold remains at the bottom of the race.

3） Remove the stones which the watercannot wash away.

4） Gather the sand collected at thebottom of the race on Nekoda mat, awoven straw mat, and collect the minutesand by sifting through the mesh of the
Nekoda mat.

5） Put the collected sand on the Yuriita
panning board and catch placer gold in thewater with gravity concentration. It is tallied
and sealed.

6） On the last day of each month, the sealed
placer gold is opened at the Mine OﬃcialʼsOﬃce, and the share for the magistrateʼs oﬃce
and the mine workers is determined. (Payment
to the workers is made in silver and all thegold is carried to the magistrateʼs oﬃce).

５. Mine Official's Residence Site 《open to the public》
The Mine Administration Office was established at the Nishimikawa Placer
Gold Mine and two officials were dispatched for management of the minefrom the Sado Magistrateʼs Office. The Mine Officialʼs Residence Site is a
residence site for the officials dispatched to the Mine Administration
Office. A terrace surrounded by the stone walls remains in the exact place
depicted in the picture maps of the Edo period, and the field across fromthe Residence Site is presumed to have been the Mine Administration
Office Site.

78Map of Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine
463

Enlarged Map①⇒p11
拡大マップ⇒P00
拡大マップ⇒P00

45

Aikawa area

相川金銀山
相川金銀山

Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine Mining Zone●

ゴールデン佐渡"Historic Site, Sado Gold Mine"(Golden Sado)●●● 道遊の割戸● 道遊の割戸● Doyu-no warito
Opencut Site

Enlarged拡大マップ⇒P00
Map②⇒p11
拡大マップ⇒P00

Aikawa area

上相川地区上相川地区
Kami-Aikawa District

Sado Magistrate's
Oﬃce佐渡奉行所跡
Site
佐渡奉行所跡●●●463

Kami-Teramachi District(See p14.6)●

Nishi-Ikari-michi and
Tsurushi-michi Pass

Otaki Mining Zone※

Aikawa-Kamimachi
相川上町地区
Town 相川上町地区
西五十里道・鶴子道
西五十里道・鶴子道

Tsurushi area

31

Kirarium Sado
きらりうむ佐渡
きらりうむ佐渡●●●

拡大マップ⇒P00
拡大マップ⇒P00
Enlarged Map③⇒p12

Shidekisawa Mining Zone※

Byobusawa Mining Zone※

Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone
31
Ni
●

iP
ich
s
as

s

Local Magistrateʼs Office Site

ak
a
ay
tu

鶴子公園Tsurushi Park ●鶴子公園（本口間歩跡）（本口間歩跡）(Honguchi-mabu Tunnel Site)

el

s

ai-m

kum

●

i Pas

Hya

●

mich
ushi-

nn

Tsur

a
m

45

Tsurushi-Aramachi District

鶴子荒町遺跡鶴子荒町遺跡
t ro
●
ad
鶴子代官屋敷跡
鶴子代官屋敷跡
Tsurushi Silver Mine ●N

Aikawa area seen from Kasuga-zaki

Pas

Nor
t
Kun hern lin
inakea re of the
gion
al fo
res

Kasuga-zaki
春日崎
春日崎（相川金銀山とまちなみのビューポイン
（相川金銀山とまちなみのビューポイン
(Viewpoint of ト）
Aikawa areaト）and townscape)
●
●
●

chi
-mi

aka
●

i-m
ar
i-Ik

Tan

sh

45

Higashi-no-michi Pass

※Since it is difficult tosecure a safe route
to Byobusawa,
Shidekisawa andOtaki Mining Zones,
where mining sites
are concentrated,
please refrain fromentering the sites forthe time being.

ss

i Pa

ich

31

0

9

0 0

500m 500m
500m

1km

1km
1km

10

●

Map of Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine
463

Enlarged Map①⇒p11
拡大マップ⇒P00
拡大マップ⇒P00

45

Aikawa area

相川金銀山
相川金銀山

Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine Mining Zone●

ゴールデン佐渡"Historic Site, Sado Gold Mine"(Golden Sado)●●● 道遊の割戸● 道遊の割戸● Doyu-no warito
Opencut Site

Enlarged拡大マップ⇒P00
Map②⇒p11
拡大マップ⇒P00

Aikawa area

上相川地区上相川地区
Kami-Aikawa District

Sado Magistrate's
Oﬃce佐渡奉行所跡
Site
佐渡奉行所跡●●●463

Kami-Teramachi District(See p14.6)●

Nishi-Ikari-michi and
Tsurushi-michi Pass

Otaki Mining Zone※

Aikawa-Kamimachi
相川上町地区
Town 相川上町地区
西五十里道・鶴子道
西五十里道・鶴子道

Tsurushi area

31

Kirarium Sado
きらりうむ佐渡
きらりうむ佐渡●●●

拡大マップ⇒P00
拡大マップ⇒P00
Enlarged Map③⇒p12

Shidekisawa Mining Zone※

Byobusawa Mining Zone※

Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone
31
Ni
●

iP
ich
s
as

s

Local Magistrateʼs Office Site

ak
a
ay
tu

鶴子公園Tsurushi Park ●鶴子公園（本口間歩跡）（本口間歩跡）(Honguchi-mabu Tunnel Site)

el

s

ai-m

kum

●

i Pas

Hya

●

mich
ushi-

nn

Tsur

a
m

45

Tsurushi-Aramachi District

鶴子荒町遺跡鶴子荒町遺跡
t ro
●
ad
鶴子代官屋敷跡
鶴子代官屋敷跡
Tsurushi Silver Mine ●N

Aikawa area seen from Kasuga-zaki

Pas

Nor
t
Kun hern lin
inakea re of the
gion
al fo
res

Kasuga-zaki
春日崎
春日崎（相川金銀山とまちなみのビューポイン
（相川金銀山とまちなみのビューポイン
(Viewpoint of ト）
Aikawa areaト）and townscape)
●
●
●

chi
-mi

aka
●

i-m
ar
i-Ik

Tan

sh

45

Higashi-no-michi Pass

※Since it is difficult tosecure a safe route
to Byobusawa,
Shidekisawa andOtaki Mining Zones,
where mining sites
are concentrated,
please refrain fromentering the sites forthe time being.

ss

i Pa

ich

31

0

9

0 0

500m 500m
500m

1km

1km
1km

10

●

Go
Str zaemea
m on-sawa① Enlarged map of Aikawa area
-sa

wa
Str
ea
m

(Kami-Aikawa District)P

Ogiriyama-mabu Tunnel Site

B

③ Enlarged map

Leading to B in Map①

Sightseeing spotof Tsurushi area

(See p13.4)*Tour application required at Golden Sado
(fee required).

Mining Site

*Viewpoint of Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

Na
k

ao

P

Settlement Site

Sodayu-mabu Tunnel Site

Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone

(See p13.3)"Historic Site, Sado GoldMine"(Golden Sado)

Doyu-no-warito(See p14.10)(See p13.2)

P ParkingHid(N arisigo awrik a
aw Riva R erive
r)WC*Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site
can be seen closely.

●Takato-jinja Shrine

i

aR

aw

gis

●Surface mining Site in Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone0

iwa litatsu

Yazaemon-machi Ward(ore-dressing site)

Hishaku-machi Ward/
Nara-machi Ward

Leading to Sado Magistrate Oﬃce Site

100m

Tokoya-machi Ward(ore-dressing andsmelting site)!

Viewpoint*The road is narrow and diﬃcult
to pass each other.

*Guided tours are recommended
from this point forward. Trekking
equipments are required.

Leading to Sawata

Leading to Aikawa

Walking Route(Cars prohibited)

Kami-Aikawa District (See p13.5)

Nishi-Ikari-michi and
Tsurushi-michi Pass!

*Guided tours are recommended from this point
forward. Trekking equipments are required.

B
Leading to B' in Map③

Tsurushi-Aramachi District(See p14.9)② Enlarged map of Aikawa-Kamimachi Town

Tsurushi Silver Mine
Local Magistrateʼs Office Site

●Kitazawa Park
Leading to Aikawa

Sado Magistrate's Oﬃce Site (See p13.1)

0

Aimono-machi Ward
Komeya-machi Ward

●Daijingu Shrine

WC*Viewpoint of
Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

Daiku-machi
Ward
Kamikyo-machi Ward
Shingoro-machi Ward
Nakakyo-machi Ward
Shimokyo-machi WardSamon-machi Ward
Aizu-machi Ward〶□□ The features of Aikawa-Kamimachi Town □□Kirarium Sado

0

11

100m

200m

100m

(See p14.8)

Northernline of the Kunina
regionalka
forest road

200m

Tsurushi ParkP

Request to All the Visitors: Rules and Manners for Tours
Please mind your manners so as not to disturb residents or other visitors.

・Terraced lands are spread out by building stone walls sothat more people can live in this district.

There are dangerous areas in mining sites and other places. Please do not enter no entry areas.

・The wards for settlement were assigned by types ofoccupation in this town. The ward for the officers of theMagistrate's Office(Hiroma-machi), the wards for the
proprietor and the miners (Shingoro-machi, Daiku-machi,etc.), the wards for the merchants (Komeya-machi,
Misoya-machi, etc.), whose names still remain as theward names.

Please take litter with you.

・The town street and land allotment made in the early Edo
period (the early 17th century), when the town wasformed, remain in good condition without major alteration.

P WC

A Leading to A in Map①

Hiroma-machi Ward

Yaoya-machi Ward

No Entry

Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine Site

A
Leading to A' in Map②

Misoya-machi●Bell Tower
Ward

Exhibition

Kaji-machi Ward

200m

WC

Rest area

City*Viewpoint of Doyu-no-warito
Opencut Site
Ta
m
ba
-s
aw
a
Ri
ve
r

*Viewpoint of Doyu-no-warito
Opencut Site

P
WC

*Fork road sign

road
Fu

*Viewpoint of
Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

WC Toilet
Restaurant

ne

Mi

ver

●Migisawa water puriﬁcation plant

Takato Park

Site related
to administration

・It was maintained as a mining town after the Edo period,so many buildings have been rebuilt, giving it theatmosphere of a mining town to the present day.

Damaging ruins or buildings, or taking any excavated artifacts, soil, stones, animals or plants
are prohibited.

Fire is strictly prohibited at the tour sites. Smoke in designated smoking areas only.
Please follow traffic rules on a tour of the sites.
(Please refrain from parking on the street or on private land.)
Please refrain from driving into the Walking Route area on the map.

12

Go
Str zaemea
m on-sawa① Enlarged map of Aikawa area
-sa

wa
Str
ea
m

(Kami-Aikawa District)P

Ogiriyama-mabu Tunnel Site

B

③ Enlarged map

Leading to B in Map①

Sightseeing spotof Tsurushi area

(See p13.4)*Tour application required at Golden Sado
(fee required).

Mining Site

*Viewpoint of Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

Na
k

ao

P

Settlement Site

Sodayu-mabu Tunnel Site

Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone

(See p13.3)"Historic Site, Sado GoldMine"(Golden Sado)

Doyu-no-warito(See p14.10)(See p13.2)

P ParkingHid(N arisigo awrik a
aw Riva R erive
r)WC*Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site
can be seen closely.

●Takato-jinja Shrine

i

aR

aw

gis

●Surface mining Site in Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone0

iwa litatsu

Yazaemon-machi Ward(ore-dressing site)

Hishaku-machi Ward/
Nara-machi Ward

Leading to Sado Magistrate Oﬃce Site

100m

Tokoya-machi Ward(ore-dressing andsmelting site)!

Viewpoint*The road is narrow and diﬃcult
to pass each other.

*Guided tours are recommended
from this point forward. Trekking
equipments are required.

Leading to Sawata

Leading to Aikawa

Walking Route(Cars prohibited)

Kami-Aikawa District (See p13.5)

Nishi-Ikari-michi and
Tsurushi-michi Pass!

*Guided tours are recommended from this point
forward. Trekking equipments are required.

B
Leading to B' in Map③

Tsurushi-Aramachi District(See p14.9)② Enlarged map of Aikawa-Kamimachi Town

Tsurushi Silver Mine
Local Magistrateʼs Office Site

●Kitazawa Park
Leading to Aikawa

Sado Magistrate's Oﬃce Site (See p13.1)

0

Aimono-machi Ward
Komeya-machi Ward

●Daijingu Shrine

WC*Viewpoint of
Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

Daiku-machi
Ward
Kamikyo-machi Ward
Shingoro-machi Ward
Nakakyo-machi Ward
Shimokyo-machi WardSamon-machi Ward
Aizu-machi Ward〶□□ The features of Aikawa-Kamimachi Town □□Kirarium Sado

0

11

100m

200m

100m

(See p14.8)

Northernline of the Kunina
regionalka
forest road

200m

Tsurushi ParkP

Request to All the Visitors: Rules and Manners for Tours
Please mind your manners so as not to disturb residents or other visitors.

・Terraced lands are spread out by building stone walls sothat more people can live in this district.

There are dangerous areas in mining sites and other places. Please do not enter no entry areas.

・The wards for settlement were assigned by types ofoccupation in this town. The ward for the officers of theMagistrate's Office(Hiroma-machi), the wards for the
proprietor and the miners (Shingoro-machi, Daiku-machi,etc.), the wards for the merchants (Komeya-machi,
Misoya-machi, etc.), whose names still remain as theward names.

Please take litter with you.

・The town street and land allotment made in the early Edo
period (the early 17th century), when the town wasformed, remain in good condition without major alteration.

P WC

A Leading to A in Map①

Hiroma-machi Ward

Yaoya-machi Ward

No Entry

Oyamazumi-jinja Shrine Site

A
Leading to A' in Map②

Misoya-machi●Bell Tower
Ward

Exhibition

Kaji-machi Ward

200m

WC

Rest area

City*Viewpoint of Doyu-no-warito
Opencut Site
Ta
m
ba
-s
aw
a
Ri
ve
r

*Viewpoint of Doyu-no-warito
Opencut Site

P
WC

*Fork road sign

road
Fu

*Viewpoint of
Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

WC Toilet
Restaurant

ne

Mi

ver

●Migisawa water puriﬁcation plant

Takato Park

Site related
to administration

・It was maintained as a mining town after the Edo period,so many buildings have been rebuilt, giving it theatmosphere of a mining town to the present day.

Damaging ruins or buildings, or taking any excavated artifacts, soil, stones, animals or plants
are prohibited.

Fire is strictly prohibited at the tour sites. Smoke in designated smoking areas only.
Please follow traffic rules on a tour of the sites.
(Please refrain from parking on the street or on private land.)
Please refrain from driving into the Walking Route area on the map.

12

"Sado Island Gold Mines" Introduction of main spots
in the Aikawa ‑ Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine
１. Sado Magistrate s Office Site 《open to the public/fee required》
The Tokugawa Shogunate dispatched their officials as magistrates to Sado
Island to manage the mines, as well as to manage the entire island under
its direct control. The office was established in 1603 for the base of the
management. In addition to facilities related to administration, the site
also housed a plant to produce gold and silver, including ore-dressing,
smelting and refining. Five fires destroyed the building, and it wasreconstructed each time. The present building is a reconstruction of themagistrate's office at the end of the Edo period.

２. Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

This is a district where temples were built side by side along the steeply
graded land of a mountain. The temples are said to have been built by
priests and people who migrated to Sado Island from all over Japan. In
addition to being religious facilities, they are said to have functioned ascommunity shared places for people to gather. By comparing the site withdrawings and records, we have identified the location and ruins of six
temples in addition to the existing Mansho-ji Temple, including thefoundations of the temple buildings, stone walls, and stone steps, as wellas numerous gravestones.

※

３. Sodayu-mabu Tunnel Site 《open to the public/fee required》
This is a representative example of the large, inclined mining tunnels of
the early Edo period. The tunnel was excavated with a gentle inclination
at the shortest distance and at the most efficient slope for ore transportand drainage operations. You can see traces of excavation by hand withchisels left within the tunnel. Tanuki-bori (small tunnels to explore veins)and mining tunnels branching out at many points and so on help
understand the procedures of exploitation in those days.
“Historic Site, Sado Gold Mine”(Golden Sado Inc.) makes use of thetunnels from those days to faithfully recreate the workings with moving
robots and open them to the public today.

《limited public access/fee required》

It is said that work on the tunnel began in 1634, finally reaching a vein 14
years later. The main feature of this tunnel is that another ventilation
tunnel was excavated in parallel with the main tunnel where people workand pass through. The two were connected by connection vents toimprove air circulation within the tunnel.
“Historic Site, Sado Gold Mine” provides limited public access to thetunnel through a guided tour course.

５. Kami-Aikawa District 《open to the public 》 ※Guided tours and other activities are available.
※

The district was a mining settlement developed on a slope of 800 metersfrom east to west, 300 meters from north to south, and with a height
difference of approximately 100 meters between east and west, withstreets and terraces systematically laid out. The district was at its peakfrom the end of the 16th century to the 17th century, when the Aikawa
Gold and Silver Mine was in the early stages of development. Afterwards,
it declined until it was abandoned after the Edo period.
Remains and artifacts related to ore-dressing and smelting can be foundthroughout the district. They indicate that it was a mining town whereengineers and workers led by mine proprietors (mining engineers andmanagers) worked and lived together.

13※is the living area for residents.
７. Aikawa-Kamimachi Town 《open to the public 》 ※This
Please refrain from entering private property.

This is the largest surface mining site in Japan (120 meters long, 10-30
meters wide, and 74 meters deep). The central part of the mountain is cut
into a V-shape because only the part of veins was dug out by hand. The
chasm appears to literally slice the mountain in two also in 18th-century
picture scrolls. The peculiar landscape of the Doyu-no-warito Opencut
Site is a symbol of the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine that can be seen fromvarious places in Aikawa.

４. Ogiriyama-mabu Tunnel Site

６. Kami-Teramachi District 《partially open to the public 》 ※Please check public information at Kirarium Sado.

This is a mining town established on a ridge to the south of the Aikawa
Gold and Silver Mine. In the early 17th century, Okubo Nagayasu, a Sado
magistrate, established a magistrate's office in Aikawa. Also, he promoted
the development of a town with a highly standardized and planned land
allotment along a main road connecting the magistrate's office and mining
sites. Then, the town was divided into wards for different occupations,such as management, production, and commerce, and people werearranged to live in these wards. There still remain the streets and land
allotment that show the vestiges of these establishment days, and ward
names that indicate occupations and people related to the mines. They
convey the atmosphere of the mining town.

８. Tsurushi Silver Mine Local Magistrate s Office Site 《open to the public》
The office was established at the end of the 16th century for the
management of the silver mine by the local magistrate in accordance withthe rule of the daimyo warlord Uesugi clan over Sado Island. When the
Tokugawa Shogunate took over in 1603, the management functions weretransferred to Aikawa. However, it is believed that the office continued toserve as a local agency of the magistrate's office in Aikawa until the
mid-17th century. An excavation survey has revealed that the office site
consists of three areas with different functions (upper: ore-dressing
workshop, middle: smelting workshop, and lower: management facility).

９. Tsurushi-Aramachi District 《open to the public》
The district is the site of a mining settlement adjacent to the east side of
the Tsurushi Silver Mine Local Magistrateʼs Office Site. Irregularly shaped
terraces in various sizes were created on gentle slopes along themountain ridge without significant change to the slopes. This shows the
rapid establishment and expansion of the settlement as the number ofmine workers increased in the late 16th century, when operations
expanded. It is thought that the district has been abandoned in the
mid-17th century with the decline of the silver mine, and many people
have moved to the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine.

guided tour is recommended. Equipment
10. Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone 《open to the public 》 ※A
for trekking is required.
※

In the Tsurushi Silver Mine, the distribution survey revealed 556 surface
mining sites, four chase mining sites, and 108 tunnel mining sites (mabutunnel sites). Among them, the Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone is a
representative mining site that is thought to be the earliest to be
developed in the Tsurushi Silver Mine. Large surface mining sites in theearly stages of mining are concentrated around the ridge called
Hyakumaidaira.

14

"Sado Island Gold Mines" Introduction of main spots
in the Aikawa ‑ Tsurushi Gold and Silver Mine
１. Sado Magistrate s Office Site 《open to the public/fee required》
The Tokugawa Shogunate dispatched their officials as magistrates to Sado
Island to manage the mines, as well as to manage the entire island under
its direct control. The office was established in 1603 for the base of the
management. In addition to facilities related to administration, the site
also housed a plant to produce gold and silver, including ore-dressing,
smelting and refining. Five fires destroyed the building, and it wasreconstructed each time. The present building is a reconstruction of themagistrate's office at the end of the Edo period.

２. Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site

This is a district where temples were built side by side along the steeply
graded land of a mountain. The temples are said to have been built by
priests and people who migrated to Sado Island from all over Japan. In
addition to being religious facilities, they are said to have functioned ascommunity shared places for people to gather. By comparing the site withdrawings and records, we have identified the location and ruins of six
temples in addition to the existing Mansho-ji Temple, including thefoundations of the temple buildings, stone walls, and stone steps, as wellas numerous gravestones.

※

３. Sodayu-mabu Tunnel Site 《open to the public/fee required》
This is a representative example of the large, inclined mining tunnels of
the early Edo period. The tunnel was excavated with a gentle inclination
at the shortest distance and at the most efficient slope for ore transportand drainage operations. You can see traces of excavation by hand withchisels left within the tunnel. Tanuki-bori (small tunnels to explore veins)and mining tunnels branching out at many points and so on help
understand the procedures of exploitation in those days.
“Historic Site, Sado Gold Mine”(Golden Sado Inc.) makes use of thetunnels from those days to faithfully recreate the workings with moving
robots and open them to the public today.

《limited public access/fee required》

It is said that work on the tunnel began in 1634, finally reaching a vein 14
years later. The main feature of this tunnel is that another ventilation
tunnel was excavated in parallel with the main tunnel where people workand pass through. The two were connected by connection vents toimprove air circulation within the tunnel.
“Historic Site, Sado Gold Mine” provides limited public access to thetunnel through a guided tour course.

５. Kami-Aikawa District 《open to the public 》 ※Guided tours and other activities are available.
※

The district was a mining settlement developed on a slope of 800 metersfrom east to west, 300 meters from north to south, and with a height
difference of approximately 100 meters between east and west, withstreets and terraces systematically laid out. The district was at its peakfrom the end of the 16th century to the 17th century, when the Aikawa
Gold and Silver Mine was in the early stages of development. Afterwards,
it declined until it was abandoned after the Edo period.
Remains and artifacts related to ore-dressing and smelting can be foundthroughout the district. They indicate that it was a mining town whereengineers and workers led by mine proprietors (mining engineers andmanagers) worked and lived together.

13※is the living area for residents.
７. Aikawa-Kamimachi Town 《open to the public 》 ※This
Please refrain from entering private property.

This is the largest surface mining site in Japan (120 meters long, 10-30
meters wide, and 74 meters deep). The central part of the mountain is cut
into a V-shape because only the part of veins was dug out by hand. The
chasm appears to literally slice the mountain in two also in 18th-century
picture scrolls. The peculiar landscape of the Doyu-no-warito Opencut
Site is a symbol of the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine that can be seen fromvarious places in Aikawa.

４. Ogiriyama-mabu Tunnel Site

６. Kami-Teramachi District 《partially open to the public 》 ※Please check public information at Kirarium Sado.

This is a mining town established on a ridge to the south of the Aikawa
Gold and Silver Mine. In the early 17th century, Okubo Nagayasu, a Sado
magistrate, established a magistrate's office in Aikawa. Also, he promoted
the development of a town with a highly standardized and planned land
allotment along a main road connecting the magistrate's office and mining
sites. Then, the town was divided into wards for different occupations,such as management, production, and commerce, and people werearranged to live in these wards. There still remain the streets and land
allotment that show the vestiges of these establishment days, and ward
names that indicate occupations and people related to the mines. They
convey the atmosphere of the mining town.

８. Tsurushi Silver Mine Local Magistrate s Office Site 《open to the public》
The office was established at the end of the 16th century for the
management of the silver mine by the local magistrate in accordance withthe rule of the daimyo warlord Uesugi clan over Sado Island. When the
Tokugawa Shogunate took over in 1603, the management functions weretransferred to Aikawa. However, it is believed that the office continued toserve as a local agency of the magistrate's office in Aikawa until the
mid-17th century. An excavation survey has revealed that the office site
consists of three areas with different functions (upper: ore-dressing
workshop, middle: smelting workshop, and lower: management facility).

９. Tsurushi-Aramachi District 《open to the public》
The district is the site of a mining settlement adjacent to the east side of
the Tsurushi Silver Mine Local Magistrateʼs Office Site. Irregularly shaped
terraces in various sizes were created on gentle slopes along themountain ridge without significant change to the slopes. This shows the
rapid establishment and expansion of the settlement as the number ofmine workers increased in the late 16th century, when operations
expanded. It is thought that the district has been abandoned in the
mid-17th century with the decline of the silver mine, and many people
have moved to the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine.

guided tour is recommended. Equipment
10. Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone 《open to the public 》 ※A
for trekking is required.
※

In the Tsurushi Silver Mine, the distribution survey revealed 556 surface
mining sites, four chase mining sites, and 108 tunnel mining sites (mabutunnel sites). Among them, the Hyakumaidaira Mining Zone is a
representative mining site that is thought to be the earliest to be
developed in the Tsurushi Silver Mine. Large surface mining sites in theearly stages of mining are concentrated around the ridge called
Hyakumaidaira.

14

Letʼs start from “Kirarium Sado” (Sado Gold and Silver Mines Information Facility)
for a tour of “Sado Island Gold Mines”!
As the gateway to the Sado Island Gold Mines, the facility introduces
the property and provides information about visiting the sites.
The facility's exhibition rooms provide easy-to-understandexplanations of the value and appeal of the property through large
videos, models, and graphics. There is also a tourist information
center in the facility to provide bicycle rental services, information for
guided tours and apps for site visits.

Inside the exhibition room

〈Transport Access〉■From Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port
(Sado Steam Ship Co,. Ltd.)■When using a route bus

About 55 min. ride on the “Hon-sen (main) Line” from Ryotsu Port

2 hr. and 30 min. by car ferry

About 80 min. ride on the “Ogi Line” from Ogi Port

67 min. by jetfoil(Transfer at Sawada Bus Center)■From Naoetsu Port to Ogi Port

Near to “Kirarium Sado” bus stop

2 hr. and 40 min. by car ferry

Futatsugame“Kirarium Sado”■When using a private car or rental car

Washizaki

AikawaAbout 50 min. from Ryotsu Port
About 75 min. from Ogi Port

Nishimikawa
Placer Gold MineOgi Port

Please use the free parking lot ofKirarium Sado if you come by car.

Aikawa-Tsurushi
Gold and Silver Mine
Ryotsu Port

SawataMano
Himezaki
Akadomari＊1

To Hutatsugame“Kirarium Sado”

Free parking lot
Hokuriku
Expressway

Convenience store

Main Line

Hokuhoku Line

Echigo-Yuzawa

To Nagano
To Sawata

To Takasaki

kuEchigo Tokimeki Railway

GS
Hotel

Joetsu ShinkansenenShinetsu

ns

Joetsu Myoko

4-1 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata 950-8570 Japan
Tel: +81-25-280-5726 Fax: +81-25-280-5764(Culture Division, Department of Tourism,
Culture and Sports, Niigata Prefecture)

World Heritage Promotion Division,
Tourism Promotion Department, Sado City

https://www.sado-goldmine.jp/en/

Email: k-goldmine@city.sado.niigata.jp

Koriyama

To Omiya“Sado Island Gold Mines” website

Email: ngt150030@pref.niigata.lg.jp

Tel: +81-259-63-5136 Fax: +81-259-63-6130

Sendai
Fukushima＊1: From Niigata Station to Niigata Port Approx.2.7km＊2: From Naoetsu Station to Naoetsu Port Approx.1.8km＊3: From Niigata Airport to Niigata Station (South Exit) Approx.9km (Airport Limousine Bus)World Heritage Inscription Promotion Office,Culture Division, Department of Tourism,
Culture and Sports, Niigata Prefecture

232 Chigusa, Sado-shi, Niigata 952-1292 JapanTo Shin-Aomorika

To Kanazawa

Hokuriku Shinkansen

To Kasugazaki

Ban-etsu West Line

Naoetsu Port
Nagaoka＊2
NaoetsuinBus stop“Kirarium Sado”

Sea

Niigata-chuo IC

Sh“Kirarium Sado”＊3
Niigata

Echigo Tokimeki Railway

Toha

Capacity: 157 cars,
3 large-size cars

Niigata
AirportNiigata Port

“Sado, for World Heritage” website(Sado City Office)https://www.city.sado.niigata.jp/site/mine/e!

Sado Island Gold Mines

Exterior of Kirarium Sado

18-1 Aikawa Sanchome Hamamachi Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
TEL +81-259-74-2215
FAX +81-259-74-2223
Opening Hours: 8:30 a.m.‒5:00 p.m. (Last entry at 4:30 p.m.)
Holidays: Dec. 29‒Jan. 3
Admission Fee: Free (Paid entry only for viewing the exhibition room)
Individual Entry: Adults ¥300, Elementary/Junior high school students ¥150
Group Entry (Groups of 15 or more people): Adults ¥250, Elementary/Juniorhigh school students ¥100

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World Heritage Preview Guide