A picture of the Doyu-no-warito Opencut Site, formed by surface mining, where gold and silver veins exposed at the surface were directly extracted.

Their development drew many people to Sado, including miners. This influx helped traditional performing arts like Noh theater and folk performances such as ondeko drumming and lion dances to thrive, while additional terraced rice fields were cultivated to feed the growing population.

Historic Site Sado Gold Mine

• Address: 1305, Shimo-Aikawa, Sado-shi, Niigata
• Access: Approximately 50 minutes by car from Sado Kisen “Ryotsu Port” or a short walk from the “Sado Gold Mine” bus stop (Hon-sen Line, Nanaura-kaigan Line)
• Phone: 0259-74-2389
• Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm (April – October), 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (November – March)
• Closed: Open year-round
• Price: Sado Gold Mine Course: Adults – 1,500 JPY, Elementary students – 750 JPY
• Parking: 500 passenger car spaces, 23 large bus spaces

Photo: Hideko Saito

Noh, one of Japan’s most treasured traditional performing arts, is also one of the world’s oldest integrated stage arts, dating back to the 14th century. Its roots lie in “sangaku”, a form of an entertainment brought from China in the 8th century, which were later shaped by ancient Japanese folk performing arts and court culture.

Performed with vocal music (utai) and instrumental accompaniment (hayashi), Noh is distinguished by its masks (nomen), elaborate costumes, and subtle emotional expression conveyed through highly stylized, minimalist movements. In 2008, it was designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Property.

Noh was introduced to Sado Island – the place of exile for Zeami, the great Noh master – in the early 17th century, when Sado, home to rich gold and silver mines, came under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 1603, the Sado magistrate, Okubo Nagayasu, reportedly brought Noh performers to the island. Originally considered as a kind of samurai art, Noh on Sado evolved into shrine ritual performances and eventually became popular entertainment for commoners.

Today, Sado is home to more than 30 Noh stages, most of them located within shrine grounds. Audience seating is outdoors, and nighttime performances take the form of Firelit Noh play (Takigi Noh), beautifully illuminated by firelight.

From April to October, visitors can enjoy Noh at different venues across the island, with June celebrated as “Noh Month,” when Takigi Noh performances are held weekly.

In Takigi Noh, the mystical torchlit stage blends with the glow of stars and moonlight, the crackle of fire swaying in the breeze, and the soft chorus of insects – merging with the natural surroundings to heighten the profound beauty of the performance.

Why not experience Noh on Sado’s stages where history and nature converge?

*For performance schedules, please check the official Sado City tourism information site, “Sado Tourism Navi.”

“Ondeko” is a folk performing art handed down across Sado Island, where dancers wearing demon masks dance to the beat of drums to drive away evil and pray for good harvests, plentiful catches, and household safety. It is performed at festivals in many parts of the island. Though its origins remain unclear, it appeared in the late 18th-century drawing “Quarterly journal of Aikawa,” showing it was already established by then. Today, around 120 ondeko performance groups exist on Sado, each with its own unique style and character – making it especially appealing since you can experience so many different expressions of the same performance art.

Every May, the annual “Sadokoku Ondeko Dot-com” event takes place at the Ondeko Dome in Ryotsu Port Central Park. This popular festival brings together ondeko groups from across the island along with those who practice other Sado folk performing arts, such as Sado Okesa. Around 25 groups perform each year, giving visitors the rare chance to enjoy many different styles of ondeko in one place – something not usually possible since the dances are often tied to local shrine rituals. Food stalls featuring Sado specialties, from fresh seafood caught off the coast to locally brewed sake, add even more flavor to the event.

Sadokoku Ondeko Dot-com

• Venue: Ondeko Dome, Ryotsu Port Central Park
• Address: 138, Ryotsu Port, Sado-shi, Niigata
• Date: Every May

With full English support, it provides an ideal space for cultural exchange, allowing beginners and international visitors to join in with confidence.

Tatakokan (Sado Island Taiko Centre)

• Address: 150-3, Ogi Kaneta Shinden, Sado-shi, Niigata
• Access: Approximately 10 minutes by car from Sado Kisen “Ogi Port”
• Phone: 0259-86-2320
• Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following Tuesday), year-end and New Year holidays, winter (December – February)
• Price: Taiko Experience (60 minutes) – Junior high students and older: 3,000 JPY, Elementary students: 2,000 JPY, Preschoolers: 1,000 JPY each from the second child
• Parking: 25 passenger car spaces, 4 large bus spaces

Sado Island is a cultural treasure island where nature, history, and performing arts resonate richly together. A journey to explore the traditions that flourish here will surely stimulate your senses and help you rediscover the profound depth of Japanese culture.