Songs and dances of a mining town, and a Sado summer festival that lights up the night sky
Mining Festival
The 2026 edition of Mining Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/25 〜 2026/07/26Ended
- Season / frequency
- The second half of July, on a Saturday and Sunday
- Location
- Aikawa Hama Park and central Aikawa
- Area
- Niigata Prefecture・Sado City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h 10 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer festival in the mining town of Aikawa, associated with the Sado gold and silver mines, featuring ceremonies, a Sado Okesa dance parade, and a fireworks display.
About Mining Festival
The Mining Festival is a summer festival that has been passed down around Oyamazumi Shrine in the Aikawa area of Sado City.
Held to honor and thank the gold mine workers and pray for the prosperity of the mine, it features ceremonies, an Okesa dance parade, and a fireworks display in central Aikawa.
It is also counted as one of Sado’s 3 major summer festivals, offering a close-up look at the history of this mining town and its local performing arts.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the Yawaragi ritual, which originates in songs sung by people who worked in the mines, and the Okesa dance parade through town.
During the Yawaragi ritual, the oyakata and kokata sing to the beat of a barrel, and distinctive masks and costumes are also presented.
In the Okesa dance parade, groups wearing flower hats and process through Aikawa to the accompaniment of shamisen, flutes, and drums. Fireworks are also launched on the final night.
Source: 鉱山祭 - Wikipedia
Songs and dances of a mining town, and a Sado summer festival that lights up the night sky
What to expect
On the first morning of the festival, a ceremony is held at Oyamazumi Shrine, followed by a performance of the Yawaragi ritual.
The first day also features children’s and a marching band parade by Aikawa Elementary School.
Okesa dance groups continue to parade through town, and the festival concludes with a fireworks display on the final night.
How to take part
Groups from local organizations, workplaces, hobby clubs, and elsewhere take part in the Okesa dance parade.
The children's mikoshi and the brass band parade are led by children from Aikawa Nursery School and Kindergarten and students from Aikawa Elementary School.
Whether members of the general public can take part in these events, and the conditions for groups wishing to participate, should be checked in the information for each year’s festival.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Aikawa Hama Park and central Aikawa.
The address is Aikawa Hata-machi and other areas, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture.
- Train and bus
From Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port, the journey takes about 65 minutes by jetfoil or about 2 hours 30 minutes by car ferry.
For bus timetables and other information, please contact Niigata Kotsu Sado.
- By car
About 60 minutes from Ryotsu Port via National Route 350 and Prefectural Route 45.
The Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association also gives a travel time of about 45 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port.
- Parking
Free temporary parking is available, with space for 300 vehicles.
Source: Mining Festival · 花火大会 / 新潟県 -【JAPAN 47 GO】
Address Aikawa Haneda-machi and other locations, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 festival was scheduled to run from July 25 (Saturday) to July 26 (Sunday).
The event was scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the fireworks display taking place from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on July 26 (Sunday).
The Mining Festival is usually held on a Saturday and Sunday in the second half of July.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Niigata Prefecture / Sado City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The 2026 fireworks display went ahead as scheduled at Aikawa Hama Park at 8 p.m. on July 26.
The venues extend across Aikawa Hama Park and central Aikawa, so it is a good idea to check the venue and time for the events you want to see in advance.
Source: 鉱山祭 公式ホームページ / 第140回 鉱山祭・花火大会（佐渡市）の打ち上げ数・日程など - 花火大会2026 - ウォーカープラス
Nearby attractions
Nearby are sites and facilities that tell the story of Sado’s mines and Aikawa’s history, including the Aikawa Folk Museum, the Kitazawa Flotation Plant, and the ruins of the Sado Magistrate’s Office.
The Sado Gold and Silver Mine Guidance Center, Kirarium Sado, is also introduced as a related attraction in Sado City.
If you plan to visit alongside the festival, check each facility’s opening status and visitor requirements in advance.
佐渡博物館
新潟県佐渡市にある博物館
佐渡島の金山
新潟県佐渡市にある世界遺産
Origins and History of Mining Festival
The Mining Festival has been held as the festival of Oyamazumi Shrine, the guardian shrine of the Sado Aikawa gold and silver mines.
It is said that the festival, which had fallen into abeyance, was revived in Meiji 20 by Takato Oshima, who had been appointed director of the mining bureau.
The dates later changed from the 13th–15th of July in Meiji 27 to the 25th–27th of July from Showa 37 onward, and then to a Saturday and Sunday in the second half of July starting in Heisei 19.
Official information
The official Mining Festival website announced the 2026 flyer on July 21, 2026 and posted fireworks information on July 26.
For the latest information on the program or any changes on the day, check the official Mining Festival website.
Mining Festival at a Glance
The Mining Festival is a traditional summer festival set in the mining town of Aikawa, Sado City. Its program includes ceremonies, the Yawaragi ritual, an Okesa dance parade, children’s mikoshi, a marching band parade, and a fireworks display.
In 2026, the festival was held from July 25 through the 26th, and the fireworks took place at Aikawa Hama Park at 8 p.m. on the 26th.
A distinctive feature is the chance to enjoy both a festival in central Aikawa and performing arts associated with the mines.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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