Gold KAIDO Cycling Route( Advanced )
Central Four Prefectures of Japan (Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka) cover two gold mines, Sado Gold Mines (Niigata) and Toi Gold Mines (Shizuoka) that Tokugawa Ieyasu initiated the development. There are also Yunooku Gold Mines (Yamanashi), and Kinkei Gold Mines located along the cycling route. This is the "Gold KAIDO Cycling Route in Four Central Prefectures of Japan ".
This route spans approximately 550 kilometers, crossing the Japanese archipelago from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan. Along the way, cyclists can experience the history of old roads that once supported the transport of goods and people in each prefecture, while also enjoying the breathtaking landscapes of the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Alps, and the Sea of Japan, along with the local cuisine.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Distance: Approximately 550 km (including sections by public transportation)
- Start Point: Sado Gold Mine (Sado City, Niigata Prefecture) or Toi Gold Mine (Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
- End Point: Toi Gold Mine (Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) or Sado Gold Mine (Sado City, Niigata Prefecture)
1. Introduction to the route
2. Ride with GPS
3. Gold Mines along the Route
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Sado Gold Mine (Niigata Prefecture)
This historical site preserves the 400-year history of the Sado Gold and Silver Mine. It was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2024.
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Kinkei Gold Mine (Nagano Prefecture)
Developed in the 1550s by Takeda Shingen, this gold mine is named after the legend that the gold veins are shaped like a rooster.
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Yunooku Gold Mine (Yamanashi Prefecture)
This gold mine, known as "Shingen's Hidden Gold Mine" during the Sengoku period, is now the site of the Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History. Visitors can learn about the history through a theater, diorama, and gold panning experience.
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Toi Gold Mine (Shizuoka Prefecture)
This Gold Mine is the largest in Izu, and it had the second largest gold and silver output from the Edo to Showa periods. It is now the largest gold-themed park in Izu, with a tourist tunnel that recreates Edo-period mining scenes and a giant 250 kg gold bar displayed at the museum.
With its concept of “A cycle journey along an old highway filled with nature, history, and culture”, these roads were once the major transportation means for daily necessities including salt, seafood, and people.
Although today its role has been replaced by railways and highways, in addition to the Gold Mines, there is much more history and culture of that time for you to see.
