Sado Gold Mine

With a lifetime spanning nearly 400 years from the beginning of gold mining in 1601 until it closed in 1989, this gold mine contributed so much to Japanese industry. Following the discovery of a gold-rich vein of quartz stretching 3,000 meters from east to west and 600 meters from north to south, and down to 800 meters deep, miners extracted 78 tons of gold and 2,330 tons of silver from this mine. It’s claimed that the overall length of the tunnels is close to 400 km.
The exhibition room displays dioramas and models showing what the Sado Gold Mine was like in the Edo Period. What’s more, you can touch a real bar of pure gold!
Two tunnel tours are available, with the Edo (Sohdayu Tunnel) Course the most popular. The tunnels faithfully reproduce mining scenes depicted in Edo-Period scroll paintings with lifelike figures, transporting you back in time.
The other option is the Meiji (Dohyu Tunnel) Course, showing the tunnels, trolleys and machinery that had actually been used since the Meiji Period until the mine was closed. You can also enjoy a close look at the Dohyu no Warito, which is the remains of mining from the Edo Period and the symbol of the Sado Gold Mine. Other guided tours are also available by reservation.