Sado Kinzan

Niigata Prefecture


You'll have to venture up a steep mountain to access this gold mine, which produced large quantities of gold and silver until its demise in 1989. Descend into the chilly depths, where you'll encounter robots that dramatise the tough existence of former miners. Three hundred metres up the mountain is Dōyū-no-Wareto, the original opencast mine where you can still see the remains of the workings. There is no public transport here.

Ask for directions to the Kami-AIkawa walk (one hour), starting from car park 3: it's a fascinating downhill ramble past hidden temples along a historic street with wonderful vistas.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Niigata Prefecture attractions

1. Sado Hanga-mura Museum

0.94 MILES

Art lovers shouldn't miss this rambling gallery where local artists display vibrant hanga (woodblock prints) depicting country life in Sado.

3. Kokubun-ji

8.01 MILES

Sado-ga-shima's oldest temple (dating from AD 741); although sadly neglected, it's still beautiful.

4. Myōsen-ji

8.13 MILES

This Buddhist temple is home to a five-storey pagoda.

5. Mano Go-ryō

8.34 MILES

Pine and cherry trees mark the entrance to this cremation mound, which honours Emperor Juntoku, who was forced into exile on Sado in the early 13th…

6. Konpon-ji

8.91 MILES

This rustic wooden temple, with its thatched roof and pleasant gardens, is where the Buddhist monk Nichiren was first brought when exiled to Sado in 1271…

7. Ogi Folk Museum

16.15 MILES

Come to this former 1920s schoolhouse, saved from demolition to take up a new life as a folk museum, to gawk at all manner of Sado's cultural artefacts …