Sado mine


The Sado mine is the remains of a once flourishing large gold and silver mine on the island of Sado in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The mine was worked from 1601 until 1974, and closed in 1989.
While the Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu led the development of Japan during the Edo era, it is believed that the Sado Mine had a major role in financing the Edo government for 300 years because of the rich amounts of gold and silver mined there. Currently, it is not operational anymore but has been preserved for its industrial heritage.

Tour

There are several tour courses to choose from. The Dōyūkō and Sōdayūkō courses cost 900 yen for adults and 450 yen for children. The Yamashi course with a guide costs 1400 yen for adults and 700 yen for children, but it only operates between April and November and requires advance reservation.