View

The Kitazawa area in Aikawa is home to a group of facilities, such as a power plant and a thickener (designated National Historical Site), which contributed to the modernization of mines. The flotation method had originally been used for copper beneficiation, but at Kitazawa Flotation Plant, the technniques were applied to silver and gold extraction, and successfully utilized for the first time in the world. Under a war-time increase in production plan, large-scale investment was made. As a result, the Flotation Plant was able to process over 50,000 tonnes of ore per month, and the plant was declared the greatest one in the East.

Sado Kinzan Gold Mine is a collection of historic relics which tell the 400-year history of Sado's gold and silver mines. On the Edo Kinzan Emaki (illustrated scrolls of gold mines) course (Sodayu Tunnel course), full-size dolls and robots provide accurate presentations of the workings of the mines in the past. On the Meiji Government-Controlled Mine course (Doyu Tunnel course), relics of modernization and industrialization still remain. Furthermore, there is also a guided tour course which includes facilities such as "The Best Gold Processing Plant in Asia" and "Japan's First Wetsern-Style Vertical Tunnel", that will cause visitors to marvel at the impressive scale.

Yajima produces good-quality Japanese arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa Japonica).The arrow which Yorimasa Minamoto, a samurai warrior in 12th century, fired to exterminate nue (a frightening imaginary bird in old stories like chimera) in the Tales of the Heike is said to be made from Yajima-grown bamboo. Kyojima is where Nichiro, a Nichiren (buddhist monk)'s senior disciple, drifted to because of a storm, when he brought a discharge paper for Nichiren, who had been exiled to Sado. Kyojima was named after legend that says Nichiro spent a night reading sutras (経 kyo in Japanese). In the beautiful setting with two islets which a red arched bridge connects, you can take a tub boat ride.

Having been a port since the medieval times, Shukunegi went through the prosperous 17th century brought about by Sado Kinzan Gold Mine, and developed as a kitamaebune port of call for the merchant shipping industry. Facing a small inlet, Shukunegi is characterised by the crowded rows of over 100 houses built with plate walls made from ship planks, and it has been designated as a National Important Preservation Area for Traditional Buildings and Architecture. Three private houses are open to the public (admission charges required), and the entire Shukunegi village represents a history of involvement in ship-related industries.

Along the walking path connecting the unique rock outcrops of Onogame and Futatsugame, a ten-minute walk from the Negai village will lead you to Sai-no-Kawara. In a marine cave, countless stone Jizo (the guardian deity of children) statues stand still, centred around Jizo Bosatsu. Sai-no-Kawara is considered to be the bank area of a river, which flows at the boundary of life and the afterlife. It is where the spirits of deceased children are thought to go, and it has been a sacred space since the olden days.

Doyu no Warito is a relic of opencast mining from the Edo Period (1603-1867), which is said to be a pit in the early stages of the development of Sado's gold and silver mines. As the digging went deeper and deeper to extract more gold ore, the mountaintop was split into a V-shape. The crack on the summit reaches approximately thirty metres in width and seventy-four metres in depth. The mountain with the crack holds a mother lode of gold, stretching about ten metres wide, called the Doyu Vein, and after the Meiji Period (1868-1912), large-scale development was carried out under the Warito.

Benkei no Hasamiiwa is a peculiar sight located on seashore in Shimoaikawa, along Prefectural Route 45. A wedge-shaped rock is stuck between two giant rocks. Once upon a time, Sado Benkei and his company mountain priests were making their way to Mount Kinpoku for ascetic training, when a demon appeared in an ambush and requested a contest of strength. Sado Benkei threw rocks in the air, and the rocks are said to be thrown onto the beach in Shimoaikawa. A grave of a consummate governor of Sado, Ichizaemon Shizume adjoins the beach.

After the discovery of gold ore veins, Sado was placed under the direct control of the Shogunate (tenryo), and the Sado Commissioner's Office was established in Aikawa in 1603. Among the vast facilities that were used to house the Commisioner's residence, the section of the Oyakudokoro (administrative office) was restored in 2000. In addition to judicial and administrative offices such as Yakudokoro and Shirasu (court of law with white sand), the Office functioned as Yoseseriba (a place for gold refining and grading), which is quintessentially Sado's, and has, also, been faithfully restored.

Tamemori Endo (Abutsubo Nittoku Shonin) served Nichiren upon being exiled to Sado and became an avid believer of the Hokke mantra. Together with his wife, Sen-nichini (a Buddhist nun), he opened his residence as a temple in 1278, and this is said to be the origin of Myosenji Temple. The temple used to be a residence of the Takeda Honma clan, deputy governor of Sado, and the ambience of a castle still remains. On site stands the only five-story pagoda in Niigata Prefecture, as well as the grave of Suketomo Hino, who was forced into exile on Sado after the Shochu Incident.

Up the hill on Kyomachi Street in Aikawa, you will see an ivy-covered three-metre high concrete wall. Aikawa Detention House was opened as a branch of Niigata Prison in 1954, and was in use until 1972 when it was relocated in the Sawata area. Designated as Japan's Tangible Cultural Property, this is a wooden detention house still in existence, which is rarely found in Japan. Aikawa Detention House is open to the public and free of charge, so you can take a look around.

Watatsu Shrine is dedicated to Isotakeru, a god of Japanese Shinto, and it is worshipped by islanders as a god of traffic safety. This is one of the nine shrines listed on the shrine register of Engishiki (Regulations of the Engi era), and a high class shrine called Ichinomiya. It is said that its precinct, old documents, etc. were flooded out in 1470 and as a result the shrine was relocated to where it stands now. Its origin and history is not clearly known. Watatsu Shrine is a famous spot for the first shrine visit of the New Year, and many islanders visit there from all around Sado.

Under Emperor Kanmu's ordinance, Seisuiji Temple was founded in 808 by Ken'o Hoshi, a Buddhist monk who came from Kyoto on a missionary tour. There is Guzeden (literally: salvation) Hall, imitating the wooden stage at KiyomizuderaTemple (written in the same characters as Seisuiji: 清水寺 in Japanese) in Kyoto, but the main object of worship is 1,000-armed Kannon Bosatsu (Guanyin: Goddes of Mercy), also in imitation of Kiyomizudera Temple. Enmeizenzaijurosonten (the god of longevity) is worshipped at this temple, too, and a painting called, "Zenzaijurojin," by Mahori Hogan Yoshitaka, a master artist, was donated. Seisuiji Temple is one of the temples on Sado's Seven Gods of Fortune pilgrimage route.

Mano Goryo Mausoleum is the official cremation mound of Emperor Juntoku. Emperor Juntoku was forced into exile on Sado when he lost the Jokyu Disturbance. After twenty-two years, he passed away in 1242, at the age of forty-six. His body was cremated the following day, and trees of pine and cherry were planted on the site to mark that which is the present-day cremation mound. His ashes were returned to Kyoto the following year. They were buried near the imperial graveyard of his father, Emperor Gotoba. The cremation mound is handled as an imperial mausoleum under the management of the Imperial Household Agency. The nearby Manogu Shrine enshrines Emperor Juntoku.

Daizen Shrine sits in a rustic setting resembling the landscape of Asuka in Nara Prefecture. Honma Yamashironokami, the manor's lord, initiated the enshrinement of Suketomo Hino (an exiled court noble) and Daizenbo (an ascetic hermit) together, while Miketsuokami (the god of food) is enshrined at the main building. When Kumawakamaru, the son of Suketomo Hino, came over to Sado to revenge his father's death by execution, Daizenbo helped him escape and was, consequently, executed. This shrine reputedly houses Daizenbo in order to calm his revengeful ghost. Reconstructed in 1846, the Noh stage with its thatched and hipped roof (designated a Niigata Prefecture Tangible Folk Cultural Asset), is one of the four Noh stages in the Kuninaka area where Noh performances were regularly held. It is said to be the oldest Noh stage still in existence in Sado. At present, Noh performances are offered at a festival on the 18th of April; and in June, Noh and Sagi School's Kyogen performances take place.

Gashima Cinema is located on historical Kyomachi Street, which connects Sado Gold and Silver Mine with the Sado Commissioner's Office. This former residence of the Sado Gold Mine captain, built about 80 years ago, has been converted into a café while maintaining the ambiance of the olden days. A monthly featured film is shown daily, and a monthly book corner provides movie-related books. An old carbon arc film projector, which was once used at an actual movie theatre, is on display. This spot is perfect for a break on a stroll through history, in the old mining town of Aikawa.

Founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 807, Chokokuji Temple is an ancient temple which imitates Hasedera Temple in Yamato (present-day Nara Prefecture). The temple is where Zeami paid a visit after landing on Sado Island, and he mentioned the temple in his book Kintosho (Writings of the Golden Isle). The temple is also known as a temple of flowers, including peony. Chokokuji Temple owns a large number of cultural assets which shadow living history, varying from three Eleven-Headed Kannon Statues (National Important Cultural Properties), to statues of Kongo Rikishi (two wrath-filled guardians of the Buddha) made in the Heian Period (10th-12th centuries), as well as Gochido Hall. Within the grounds, there are also three cedar trees and Japanese Umbrella-pine trees, both of which belong to Niigata Prefecture's Natural Monuments.

Ushio Shrine is familiar to locals, which is called "Katagami no Tenno-san," (Gozutenno in Katagami). The reconstructed hall of worship is richly embellished with elaborate sculptures depicting swimming carps and a story related to Emperor Juntoku. It reminds us of the skills and techniques of master carpenters and great craftsmen of the time. The shrine was established in 792 by dividing gods, including Okuninushinomikoto (a god of nation-building, farming, etc.), from Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture and re-enshrining them here. The sacred tree in front of the hall of worship, estimated at 1,000 years of age, is revered as a cedar that brings fertility and easy delivery. The Noh stage with a hip-and-gable tiled roof in front, and a hipped roof in the back, was reconstructed in 1901. It is a Niigata Prefectural Tangible Cultural Asset and it is one of the four Noh stages in the Kuninaka area where Noh performances were regularly held. The shrine has a long track record of Noh performances. It still keeps Noh masks of Okina (an older man with a white beard) and Sanbaso (the black mask of an older man) as the shrine's treasures, both of which are designated Niigata Prefectural Tangible Cultural Assets. Bonfire Noh performances are held in the evening before the annual festival in June.

Rengebuji Temple was established by Kukai (Kobo Taishi, who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism) around 806, since Sado is considered to be an unlucky direction from the Imperial Palace. Rengebuji Temple is said to have been built on the order of Emperor Saga, and is one of the holy places of the Shingon school of Buddhism, along with Kongoji and Murouji Temples. Kobodo Hall, Kondo Main Hall and Kotsudo Ossuary are designated as Japan's Important Cultural Properties, and sixteen other buildings and halls within the precinct are registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties. The hydrangeas come into full bloom in July, and the scenery is breathtaking.

The Sanmaido Hall within the grounds of Konponji Temple is reputed to be the place where Nichiren (a Buddhist monk and the founder of the Nichiren School) had a debate with monks from other schools, and authored Kaimokusho (The Opening of the Eyes). It is one of the sacred places for the Nichiren school, along with Myoshoji Temple in the Sawata area, where Nichiren wrote Kanjinhonzonsho (The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind). Konponji Temple is a temple complex consisting of twenty-nine buildings and halls on an area of approximately 56,200 square metres. Included on the grounds are Soshido Hall (named after its founder) and the Main Hall, constructed and donated by wealthy gold-mining engineers in the Edo Period (1603-1867).

This bronze statue of Nichiren (founder of the Nichiren School of Buddhism and an exile to Sado) was erected as a result of the concerted contribution of over 3,000 monks and followers all around Japan, and as a part of a celebration for the 750th anniversary since the establishment of the Nichiren School. With Ryotsu Bay as its backdrop, the statue stands facing India, the Buddha's birthplace, at approximately 13 metres high (26 metres including the base). The statue appears with a great dignity well-suited to Sado, which is closely related to Nichiren.

Holding status as the centre of Noh in Sado is the Honma family, present-day grand master and the 18th head of Sado Hosho School. They have been playing a vital role in the promotion and popularization of Noh. Reconstructed in 1885, the Noh stage with its hipped, tiled roof (a Niigata Prefectural Tangible Folk Cultural Asset) has clay pots set under the floor to create good sound effects during performances. It is the most authentic among others in existence in Sado, and the only one that is privately owned. Regular Noh performances are held on the last Sunday in July every year.

Take a stroll (about 600 metres) along a trail starting at a signboard on the street around Odaira Highland on Osado Skyline, and you will find the mysterious Otowaike Pond enclosed in woods of beech and Mongolian oak. A natural pond deep in the mountains, Otowaike Pond is an important area (together with the surrounding natural forest), and has been designated a Niigata Prefecture Natural Monument. In the middle of the pond, there is a floating bog, one of the largest of its kind in Japan, with over twenty species of plants, including mosses of Polytrichaceae and Climaciaceae, growing naturally upon it. There is a heart-shaped hole in the middle of the bog, which is considered to be the life-line of the islet, and is also thought to induce romantic ambience. The name of this pond is derived from lore, which says a young woman named Otowa was loved by a gigantic serpent, the master of the pond, and committed suicide by throwing herself into the water.

Shiizaki Suwa Shrine is perched on a hill overlooking Lake Kamo. It was built in 1376, as a shrine to where the god divided from Suwa Taisha, in Nagano Prefecture, was invited and reenshrined. It is, reputedly, a guardian god for the Kujihonma family, the neighbourhood manor's lord. The Noh stage, with its gable-style tiled roof, was built in 1902 (a Niigata Prefectural Tangible Cultural Asset) and hosts the largest number of Noh performances in Sado. Atmospheric bonfire Noh performances are held on Saturdays, from May until early October (excluding August). You can join workshops of Noh and shimai (a simplified version of Noh, which is danced/performed to jiuta songs).

There is a sacred cave in the middle of Mt Iwaya at the back of Shukunegi Village. Various Buddha statues are carved into the surface of the rock. There are eighty-eight stone statues of Buddha, imitating the eighty-eight temples of pilgrimage in Shikoku. The place is called "Iwaya-san" by locals. Worshippers stay overnight in the cave, and practise "Nemari Henro (sitting pilgrimage)" discipline, chanting mantras and pilgrimage songs while seated.

Considered to have been established in 764, Sado Kokubunji Temple (provincial temple) was burnt down several times after lightning strike and great fire. The present-day Kokubunji Temple is located to the east of the old site. The year of establishment is not clearly known, but it is said to be the early Edo Period (early 17th century). Within the grounds lie the main hall as well as Niomon gate with a pair of statues of Buddha's guardians, Rurido Hall, Bell Tower, and so on. The main image of Buddha, a wood statue of Yakushinyorai (Bhaisajyaguru: the Buddha of healing and medicine) survived fires and is installed in the storehouse.

Shiawase (happiness) Jizo, a statue of Jizo Bodhisattva (guardian of children), stands at 17.5 metres high including the base, and it is so huge that it can be seen from a distance. A villager revealed the great desire to build a Jizo statue in 1982, and it was completed in the following year. The white, elegant statue contrasts fabulously with the deep green at the foot of mountains in the Togami area. Past the Sanmon main gate, there is a hall of Jizo, where a variety of Jizo statues are installed. Just a short distance from the Jizo statue lies Iwayasan Cave.

Shinrinji Temple used to look after the cremation mound of Emperor Juntoku. Through the religious reform movement (which promotes shinto and destructs Buddhist temples) in the Meiji Period (late 19th century), Shinrinji was recognised as a prefectural shrine in 1874 and renamed it as Manogu Shrine. Along with Emperor Juntoku, it enshrines Michizane Sugawara (statesman worshipped as a god of learning) and Suketomo Hino (disgraced court noble exiled to Sado). The present shrine buildings were erected in 1920. Torii Gate, Shinkyo (sacred bridge), Shinmon Bridge, and shrine office were newly built, and the sanctuary was enlarged with an extension of the approach. Manogu Shrine treasures a single edged dagger, a ink stone, a fan, a suspension vase, and so on, which are considered as mementos of Emperor Juntoku.

Oma Port was constructed in the traditional method of using slaked lime mixed with other materials, a common building technique before concrete became popular, and was completed in 1892. This port was used for loading ore and unloading materials for the mines, such as coal. This heritage site includes the seawall built of masonry, a truss bridge, loader pier and crane support pedestals.

Namidaimoku Monument (literally means wave mantra) stands in the shore of Maura, where Nichiren Shonin, founder of Nichiren School of Buddhism exiled to Sado, departed from Sado after pardoned by the Kamakura Shogunate. According to the lore in the area, when Nichiren put his palms together and prayed to the sun aboard a boat offshore, seven letters of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (南無妙法蓮華経) appeared in the waves. Closely related to Nichiren Shonin, the Maura area has many legends, and is dotted with sacred places including Nichirendo Hall, Nichiren Cave, etc.

The bronze bell owned by Jinguji Temple is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. The bell was originally offered to Shokoji Temple (Hayoshi, Sado) at the end of the Kamakura Period, to wish Nobutoki Hojo (governor of Sado) peace and good luck in the war. According to the inscription carved on the bell, it was cast and dedicated in 1295. When Haguro Shrine was abolished in 1868 on the order of the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism, the followers of Jinguji Temple purchased the bell and dedicated it to Jinguji Temple. The graceful appearance is marvellous.