Sado Magistrate's Office Site
The Governing Hub of Sado Island under the Tokugawa Shogunate's Rule
With the discovery of the gold vein, Sado came under the direct control of the Shogunate in 1603. The Sado Magistrate's Office was built in Aikawa, and it played a central role in the administration of Sado and the management of the mine. The Sado Magistrate's Office building, which was built in the late 1850s, was restored to its original appearance in 2000. This building contained an executive area that managed the gold and silver mines and the administration of Sado Island. It also contained an ore processing plant where gold and silver were extracted, and a residential area for the magistrate to live. This reconstruction accurately reflects the distinctive structure of the magistrate's office, which is unique to Sado. 102 local governors and magistrates were assigned to positions in the Sado Magistrate's Office.
No way, they mint koban coins right in the magistrate's office!
The Sado Magistrate's Office was known for its role in managing Sado's gold mines and minting currency. Koban coins were minted in only four places in Japan: Edo, Kyoto, Suruga, and Sado. These places were known as kinza. The fact that Sado was one of these locations underscores its importance to the Tokugawa shogunate. Try to operate a stone mill or a sluice! These tools were once used to extract gold and silver. Give it a try!
Information
This office was set up in 1604 as the development of the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine advanced and was the center of the Sado region's governance and mine management for 260 years until its closure in 1868. It is located at the tip of a marine terrace overlooking Aikawa Bay, and Aikawa's town planning was carried out here as a base point. The current building is a replica constructed in 2000 according to old drawings and excavation survey results. Today, some of the ore dressing procedure can be experienced at the yoseseriba ore dressing plant.
Experience AR
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Facility Basic Information
| Address | Aikawa Hiroma-machi, Sado, Niigata |
|---|---|
| Transport Access | Take the local bus from Kirarium Sado to the “Sado Hanga-mura” stop (approx. 7 min), then walk to the site (2 min). You may also drive from Kirarium Sado (approx. 5 min). |
| Parking | Free of charge / Holds up to 20 cars and 3 motorcoaches |
| TEL | 0259-74-2201 |
| Business Hours | 8:30 AM – 5 PM |
| Admission Fee | 500 yen for age 16 or older / 200 yen for age seven up to 15 / Special group rates available |
| Closed | Between December 29 and January 3 |
| Foreign Language Support | Site introduction: English version is partly available. |
| Website | https://www.visitsado.com/en/spot/detail0093/ |
Is this where you lived when you were the magistrate of Sado?