The Role of the Stone Mill in the History of the Gold and Silver Mines

Let’s meet at the seaside parking area!

Meet at Information Center Kirarium Sado’s parking area. We will start the course by exploring this guidance facility for the Sado Gold and Silver Mines.

Observe some strange stones in this stone wall!

Millstones, once used in the Sado Gold and Silver mines, are embedded in this shrine’s stone wall – like a piece of art! Let’s learn more about the relationship between the indispensable millstone and the gold and silver mines.

The site of the largest vein of the Sado Gold and Silver Mines!

This huge vein is approximately 2 km long, 6m wide, and 500m deep. Ores extracted from this vein were later ground by stone mill to extract gold and silver.

Let’s see how the stone mill was used long ago!

The Sado Magistrate’s Office was established by the Tokugawa Shogunate to directly administer Sado Island. This exhibition teaches how the millstones, just like the ones we saw in the stone wall of Daijingu, were used in the processing of gold and silver ores.

Visiting the Sado Magistrate’s Office is optional, and an additional entrance fee is required. The guided tour takes about 3 hours.

To add on this option, please indicate your interest in the “Remarks” section of the application form.

A hunt for materials used to create stone mills!

Let’s think about the characteristics suitable for making stone mills while observing stones on the coast!

This coast is a nationally designated scenic spot, so we ask that visitors refrain from bringing stones home. Any stones picked up for observation should be returned to their original location.