Sado Nishi Mikawa Gold Park

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Pan for gold on Sado Island! A theme park where you can enjoy history and nature at the site of the Nishi Mikawa Sand Gold Mine.

Historic Sites
Cultural Assets
Factory Tours

Tourist destination images of Sado Nishi Mikawa Gold Park(1)

HighlightsLearn about the history of the Nishi Mikawa Sand Gold Mine, Sado's oldest gold mine.
Experience the thrill of actually panning for gold.
Three courses to suit all skill levels, from beginner to advanced.
Take your collected gold home in a case.
Explore the historical museum and souvenir shop.

Basic Information

Address: 835-1 Nishi Mikawa, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture Search for tourist attractions in Niigata

Access: About 25 minutes by Niigata Kotsu Sado bus (Ogi Line) from Sawada Bus Station. Get off at the Gold Park bus stop. *This is also included in some routes of the regular sightseeing bus that tours Sado Island. Show route

Op.Hours: March-April & September-November / 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM May-August / 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM December-February / 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM *Please enter the facility by 30 minutes before closing time.

Cld.Days: Open every day

Fee: Adults, High school students, and Junior high school students: ¥1,200 Elementary school students: ¥1,000 Preschool children (¥600 per child if participating in the gold panning experience) *The gold panning experience is included in the admission fee. *For visitors with a disability certificate, the admission fee is ¥600 (for the certificate holder only).

INFO: Parking is available for 110 passenger cars and 9 large buses. Please allow 40-50 minutes for your visit and experience.

HP: https://www.sado-goldpark.com/

Overview

Sado Nishi Mikawa Gold Park is an experiential museum located in Nishi Mikawa, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, built on the site of the Nishi Mikawa Sand Gold Mine, said to be the oldest gold mine on Sado Island. Full-scale development of this Nishi Mikawa Sand Gold Mine began in 1460, and it's known as one of the oldest gold mines on the island. After its closure in 1872, gold panning for tourists began in 1981, and the Gold Panning Festival started in 1986. Then, in 1990, Sado Nishi Mikawa Gold Park opened with the aim of creating tourism resources and employment. In addition to the gold panning experience facility, the park features a historical museum, a souvenir shop, and a "Machihiroba" (local residents' plaza) where local people sell their specialties. The gold panning experience offers three courses: a beginner's course in a tank, an intermediate course in an artificial river, and an advanced course in a nearby river. You can take your collected gold home in a case, and for an extra fee, you can have it made into a strap or keychain on the spot. The surrounding area also preserves remnants of the former sand gold mining areas and landscapes featuring galaishi (rough stones) used in stone walls, designated as an Important Cultural Landscape of Japan. Sado Nishi Mikawa Gold Park is a recommended sightseeing spot where you can enjoy the history and nature of Sado Island.