Sado Bugyosho

The Sado Bugyosho served as the center of government administration on Sado Island during Japan's Edo period. After Sado came under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1601, the magistrate's office was established in Aikawa in 1603. The facility uniquely combined governmental offices, judicial functions, and gold production facilities under one authority. A magistrate appointed by the shogun oversaw the island's gold mines while handling public administration and judicial matters. The mines produced approximately 100 tons of gold and silver from 1616 to 1627, making Sado a crucial source of revenue for the early Tokugawa shogunate. Over 102 magistrates served here before the end of the Edo period.

The original buildings were destroyed by fire multiple times throughout history, with the most recent fire occurring in 1942. The current structures were faithfully reconstructed and opened to the public in 2000 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the gold mine, with the refinery section completed in 2004. The reconstruction cost exceeded seven million dollars. Today, visitors can explore the Oyakusho administrative offices, the Shirasu court where trials were conducted indoors to accommodate severe weather, and the Yoseseriba refinery where ore was processed. The mitsuba hollyhock emblem at the entrance marks this as a territory directly ruled by the Tokugawa family.

Visitors can examine the audience hall with its blown lacquer ceiling, walk through corridors where magistrates once moved in ceremonial costume, and see the indoor courtroom. The refinery area offers hands-on experiences where guests can try traditional ore-sorting processes using stone jars and cotton cloth. Informative displays showcase historical documents and artifacts that explain the island's administrative and mining heritage. The site provides insight into how this location functioned not just as a government office but as the operational heart of what became the largest gold and silver mine in seventeenth-century Japan.

The Sado Bugyosho is located in Aikawa Town on the northwestern coast of Sado Island. From Ryotsu Port, the main ferry terminal, the site can be reached in approximately 50 minutes by car via Sawata. Public bus service is available, with the nearest stop at Sado Hangamura, about 2 minutes on foot from the entrance. Parking for 10 vehicles is available on site. Adult admission costs 500 yen, while elementary and junior high school students pay 200 yen. Group discounts are available for parties of 15 or more. No advance booking is required for general admission, though guided tours must be reserved in advance.