1: The Sado Gold Mine  2. Sado Rekishi Densetsukan 

3: Bunya Puppet Hands-on Experience at Kunimiso

4: Sado Museum   5: Mingeikan  6: Sado Bugyosho

7: The Sado-koku Ogi Folklore Museum

8: The Sado Hanga (Printmaking ) Museum

9: The Aikawa Folk Museum  10: Rengebu-ji Temple  

11. Chokoku-ji Temple  12: Seisui-ji Temple  13: Sai-no-kawara

14: Jishoro  15: Konpon-ji Temple  16: Myosho-ji Temple 

17: Myosen-ji Temple  18: Shukunegi  19: Sado Island Taiko Centre

20: Okesa Maiko Photo Studio  21: Nashinoki Jizo Shrine

22: Kitazawa Froth Processing and Power Plant Remains

A must see attraction on Sado. The mine produced gold and silver, 78 tons and 2330 tons respectively over almost 400 years of operation until the mining business was discontinued in 1989. The Sodayu mining tunnel, a source of large amount of gold in the Tokugawa era, is now open to public. Starting in April 2008, refurbished facilities of the Doyu Tunnel and the Odate Shaft will be unveiled to the public for the very first time. These facilities were constructed during Japan’s first industrialization period in late 19th century. Admission: Sodayu course: 800 yen; Doyu course: 600 yen; Combined Sodayu and Doyu course: 1200 yen. Industrial heritage course including Odate shaft with a guide (in Japanese) is available for a group of 10 or more with an advance reservation (1000 yen per person). E-mail: gsado@sado-kinzan.com
This site is a World Heritage candidate.

Let’s travel back in time to Sado Island 800 years ago. The island is a place into which a number of political dissidents were exiled from the mainland in connection with Japan ’s major historical events. Among those are: Emperor Juntoku; Nichiren, a Buddhist priest and the founder of Nichren Buddhism; and Zeami Motokiyo, creator of the classic stage performance of Noh. Sado Rekishi Densetsukan introduces visitors to those historical dramas and other local legends with sophisticated audio animatronics. We also exhibit representative artwork of the late Sasaki Shodo, a famous caster of the lost-wax method of bronze casting  

We are dedicated to preserving Bunya Puppets, a nationally designated intangible cultural asset, which is only found on Sado Island. Hands-on experience is available. Listed in Lonely Planet. Also see Accommodation and click "J". 

Sado Museum features all aspects of Sado, including: geology, zoology, botany, oceanography, archeology, historical science, traditional entertainments, fine arts and inventions. Its gallery also displays the artwork of Tsuchiya Bakusen, a historic great master painter who was born on Sado.  The museum occasionally arranges a special bus tour to visit sites of cultural and historical significance.  For schedules, costs and availability, call or fax to the museum. 

A century-old private house with owner's antique collections is now open to the public. Sado's history, culture, and traditions are seen in chests and other items. We also display the early development of Imari ceramics, which were brought to the island from Kyushu through the marine transportation of the 18th century. The entrance is inside of a family-run clothes shop.

See where the gold mining operation was governed from at this restored branch office building dating back to the era of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Skillful carpenters successfully restored the original construction.

This museum displays a wealth of Sado's historical relics as well as a restored sailing ship, designed in the Edo period. A festive event will be held on July 29th, 2007. 

Various hand-made prints depicting people's daily life on Sado are displayed. The building used to be an old courthouse which retains a vestige of the old days.

The museum exhibits historic materials from the Sado gold mine and its related artifacts. The Exhibit House offers hands-on experiences of artwork: try your own pottery work for 1600 yen, or traditional Sakiori weaving for 2400 yen.

Rengebuji Temple is considered one of the three sacred temples (the other two are Kongobu-ji Temple in Wakayama and Murou-ji Temple in Nara ) in esoteric Shingon Buddhism, one of major streams of Japanese Buddhism. Legend holds that the temple was built by Kukai, the founder of Shingon. However, there is no record of him ever having visited Sado. It is also said the 9th century Emperor Saga ordered Rengebu-ji's establishment on Sado for praying for the nation's peace as it is located in an unlucky direction from Kyoto's Imperial Palace. This temple maintains historically important architecture in each era, dating from the 14th. Free admission.   

According to another legend, Chokoku-ji Temple was also built in 807 by the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kukai (also called Kobo-daishi). Records indicate that, due to geographic similarities, Retired Emperor Juntoku named Chokoku-ji after Nara 's Hasedera Temple when he came to Sado in 1221. Various flowers are in bloom year round, and the temple is home to a variety of local treasures, including a wooden statue of an 11-faced Kannon. Descriptive handouts in English, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Russian are available, and a free tour is available in Japanese (please call in advance). Phone: 0259-66-2052 Open daily.

Seisui-ji Temple was established in 808 when a Buddhist monk named Kenno visited Sado. Kenno pitied the local people for not being able to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto , and thus decided to build Seisui-ji Temple in its image. Its stage, a replica of that at Kiyomizu, was constructed in 1622. While Kiyomizu is afflicted with the hustle and bustle of Kyoto tourism, Seisui-ji's perpetual quietness makes for a peaceful visit. A lofty, tree-lined set of steps awaits your entry. Admission free.

This cave is found in the middle of the footpath between Ono-game and Futatsu-game (see Scenic Spots section). Hundreds of jizo statues are left by parents whose children died. A local folk tale says this place is where those children stop in on the way to heaven. These figurines ensure that children have a safe journey.

The bell was used from the 18th century to 19 century to tell time to people in Aikawa. The building surrounded by the brick wall used to be the courthouse, and now is the Hanga-mura (printmaking) Museum.

Konpon-ji is one of the sacred sites honoring the Buddhist priest Nichiren, who was banished to Sado in 1271 for his criticism of the Kamakura shogunate government. Nichiren was the founder of Nichiren Buddhism, another major Japanese Buddhist stream. During his stay on Sado, he wrote the Kaimokusho (On the Opening of Eyes), one of his most important scriptures. Konpon-ji, meaning "fundamental", was built in 1607 to commemorate his honor and history. Admission is 300 yen.

After Nichiren arrived on Sado (as described the above), he successfully won a number of converts, causing the Kamakura government to reevaluate his importance in Japanese society. The government thus relocated him to Ichino-sawa here in 1272, where he eventually received a pardon and returned to Kamakura in 1274. In the following year, Myosho-ji Temple was established by a follower who remained. The nearby Jissoji Temple is another site important to Nichiren, as it was the location where he would worship the rising sun daily. Admission free.

Myosen-ji Temple is said to have been built in 1278 by Endo Tamemori, a devout believer of Nichiren's philosophies. The temple was originally built at a different site but was moved to its present location in 1589. Its five-story pagoda tower was built in 1825 by two generations of carpenters and took 30 years to complete. Admission free.

The entire area was declared a national historic site where a couple of private houses are open to public. (Admission 400 yen.) A vestige of prosperity and carpentry technique in the 18th century is found in the houses. Shukunegi was originally a village of skillful ship carpenters when Ogi Port was a prime shipping point for gold between the 17th century and the mid 19th century.

The Sado Taiko Centre offers a hands-on learning experience in Japanese taiko for a group of five or more (2000 yen per person). We are located close to Kodo Village, where the internationally renowned Japanese drum performing group KODO is based. Enjoy beating taiko in our facility surrounded by the warmth of woods and splendid nature. Two large natural wooden taiko, which were made from a 600 year-old (estimated) zelkova tree, are in place in our hall. Walk-in visitors are welcome. For a hands-on activity, a reservation is needed. Please feel free to contact us for availability and detailed information.  

A maiko is the name for a geisha's apprentice. It is also the term for a so-called "dancing girl" who entertains guests with song and dance.  Here at the Okesa Maiko Photo Studio, you can enjoy Japanese culture firsthand by wearing a kimono and receiving a head-to-toe makeover. Photography takes place either in a studio or outside in the historic district of Shukenegi. Thirty to forty poses will be taken and your choice of 20 poses will be printed onsite on sticker paper. Also, your three favorites from those 20 shots will be printed in 2L size (127mm x 178mm) and mailed to a desired address. A complete makeover takes approximately 2 hours. Advance reservation is mandatory. Please call or email us. Studio (indoor) shooting: 9975 yen; Outdoor shooting: 13,125 yen.  

A jizo is a stone image of a guardian deity for children. The principal image kept here is said to protect children from illness and to help recovery. Many parents bring and leave jizo statues as these jizo undertake sufferings on these children's behalf. The number of jizo statues continues to rise.

This old concrete structure is all that remains of what was a one time the largest processing plant of its kind in East Asia . In 1937, when the Japan-China Incident took place, Japan experienced economic sanctions imposed by the world community—including the US—and as a result, the nation became in need of gold to pay for imports. The Sado Gold Mine had a major role in this national policy and plant was built to increase output. In 1941, when WWII began and Japan seized several South East Asian countries, production shifted to copper. Moreover, excessive mining during the war ended up diminishing output and large scale of downsizing in 1952 resulted in the plant shutting down. The brick building next to it is the remains of a thermal power plant built in 1908. This new development eventually replaced all steam engines that had been used in mining operations.  Access to the buildings is restricted for safety reasons.