Cultural & Historic Interests

See where the gold mining operation was governed at this restored branch office building dating back to the era of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Skillful carpenters successfully rebuilt the original construction in 2001. Admission ¥500.

Japan’s wood-cut block printing technics rapidly advanced in the late 17th century, when ukiyo-e images gained popularity throughout the country. In contemporary ages, various hand-made prints depicting people’s daily life on Sado are in display in the museum. These artwork activities were facilitated by a late local high school teacher. The building, formerly an old courthouse, serves as a quiet reminder of olden days.

In Japan, bells like the one at Jishoro belfry are struck from the outside with a wooden striker, producing a deep, resonant sound that reflects Japan’s unique bell-making tradition. This method contrasts with Western church bells, where an internal clapper strikes the bell, causing it to swing and produce a higher-pitched tone. The bronze bell at Jishoro, cast in 1917, was made using copper of Sado, linking the bell directly to the island's mining heritage and craftsmanship. This combination of local materials and distinct techniques highlights the cultural differences in bell-making between East and West.

The museum exhibits historic materials from the Sado gold mine and its related artifacts. The Exhibit House offers hands-on experiences of artwork: try traditional Sakiori weaving for 1,800 yen.

Visiting this site evokes images reminiscent of Laputa from Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky. Originally built in 1938, the plant was once the largest flotation plant in East Asia. The enduring concrete structure is the remaining part of the facility, designed to separate and concentrate valuable minerals from ores. However, due to excessive wartime mining, the plant underwent significant downsizing in the post-war years and closed in 1952. Today, it stands as a symbol of the island's industrial history. Nearby, the brick building of Sado's first coal-fired power plant, constructed in 1908, further enriches the story of this bygone era.

According to multiple legends, the temple was built in 807 by the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kukai or Kobo-daishi (774-835). Records indicate that, due to geographic similarities, Retired Emperor Juntoku (1197-1242) 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). 0259-66-2052 Open daily.

Founded in 808 by monk Ken’no, Seisuiji Temple was established based on a legend. In 805, a child deity appeared, advising its construction. Moved by the people’s struggle to visit Kyoto, Emperor Kammu (the 50th, 781–806) ordered the temple’s creation. With a stage similar to Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, Seisuiji offers tranquility, contrasting with its bustling counterpart. A peaceful, tree-lined staircase leads to the temple. Admission is free.

Kompon-ji is one of the sacred sites honoring the Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222-1282), the founder of Nichiren Buddhism, another major Japanese Buddhist stream. He was banished to Sado in 1271 for his criticism of the Kamakura shogunate government. During his stay on Sado, he wrote the Kaimokusho (The Opening of the Eyes), one of his most important scriptures. Kompon means "fundamental". This temple was built in 1607 to commemorate his honor and history. Admission ¥300.

Myosen-ji Temple is said to have been built in 1278 by Endo Tamemori (1189-1279), a devout believer of Nichiren Buddhism. The temple was originally built at a different site but was relocated to the 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 is free. The tower is a nationally designated important cultural asset.

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.

Rengebuji Temple, one of the three sacred temples of esoteric Shingon Buddhism (along with Kongobu-ji in Wakayama and Murou-ji in Nara), is traditionally believed to have been founded by Kukai (774-835). However, there is no record of him visiting Sado. In the 9th century, Emperor Saga (786-842), the 52nd Emperor, ordered the temple’s construction to pray for peace, as it lies in an unlucky direction from Kyoto’s Imperial Palace. The temple is renowned for its 14th-century architecture and beautiful hydrangeas that bloom from June to July. Admission is free.

This museum exhibits a wealth of Sado's historic relics as well as a re-created sailing ship originally built in 1858. Many century-old household goods and tools are also on display in this old school building.

In cave in a hidden hilltop, multiple deity images were carved on the wall inside the cave. Local people consider it a holy site. A legend says this narrow cave is said to go through to Iwaya-guchi, a northern part f the island.

Shukunegi, designated a national historic site, was a vital village for skilled shipbuilders and marine entrepreneurs between the 17th and mid-19th centuries, particularly during the heyday of Ogi Port as a designated port of call for maritime transport. The village was a hub of shipbuilding expertise, as visitors can witness preserved historic houses, accessible with a fee, vividly illustrating the era's techniques. Behind the village, Shokoji Temple stands, where locals worship a guardian deity for safe navigation. Residents, following tradition, regularly refresh temple flowers. A100 yen contribution by each visitors is highly appreciated for area preservation.

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.

This is the place where RAF (Royal Air Force) aircraft FL510, as a Dakota III or Sister Ann, crash-landed in January 1946, just 5 months after the end of WWII. All aboard the aircraft were safe. With warm hospitality for its crew members provided by local people the plane was successfully repaired and flown back into the skies. Based on this story, a Japanese film was produced in 2013. The title is “Tobe! Dakota.” (English title: FLY, DAKOTA, FLY!)
◎Foreign Press Center Japan
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In the past, the 1955 movie, The Night My Number Came Up, was created on the true story of Air Marshal Victor Goddard, one of the Dakota’s passengers. It tells the story of why the artifact came to Sado. However, the rest of the story, what happened after the crash-landing, was virtually unknown until recently. The  new movie revealed it to all viewers for the first time.

The construction of Oma Port was completed in 1892 to facilitate unloading supplies and coal for Sado's gold mining business, and was actively used until the middle of the 20th century. A stretch of embankment consists to natural stones filled with hard-packed clay and slaked lime, making water-tight stone pitching layers to provide strong resistance against pounding waves. This Tataki embankment structure was a significant civil engineering achievement at the time without using concrete materials that were at unaffordable prices. The same embankment structure prevailed across the country during the 19th century. However, most of them were modernized and now long gone. Oma Port is one of few treasured places that still retain the original formation.