I had been curious about this place ever since I found an article on the internet about a Greek-like place on Sado Island, and the other day I finally got to go and see it. It is the modern remains of a gold mine on Sado Island called Kitazawa Ukiyu ore dressing plant, located near the magistrate's office in Aikawa.

The photos that have appeared on the internet certainly give the impression of being so out of place that one is tempted to ask, "Is it Greek, or rather, ancient Roman?" rather than "Is it Western?".

I have now actually been there and sure enough, "Ancient Rome!" (as it is). The following are some of the things I found out when I actually went there, along with some photos.

First of all, the location was unexpected.

A group of mysterious remains that suddenly appeared deep in the remote mountain forests of the Sado Gold Mine! I had imagined that it would be like that, but in fact it was just a normal town.

My father went to the local barbershop and liquor shop, and I thought, "My mother is too noisy if I go home too early, so I'll take a detour for a change" and walked up the back slope off the usual alley, and found myself at the Kitazawa floating ore dressing plant.

What, is it here? Feeling.

I parked my car in the car park and approached on foot. The area where we could enter for viewing was bisected by a ditch in the middle, and on the parking lot side there was a triangular cone saying that the area was off-limits in the middle of the ditch. There was a fence at the end of it, so I think it was to prevent mischief.

Even from there, the picture could be taken as shown below.

The ditch is at the bottom of the photo. But I wanted to get a bit closer, so I crossed the bridge to the other side.

Then we could get this close. Close!

However, climbing the stair-like structure is prohibited. The large grassy square in front of the remains is freely accessible. You can move around and choose the angle of your choice.

Nevertheless, something like a speaker is installed. Perhaps lights?

When lit up at night, it will be spectacular too.

When you come in winter, there is less greenery, so the atmosphere is different from that in summer. Most of the photos on the internet were taken in the summer, and the bricks were beautiful with green moss-like growth, but I thought winter was nice in winter.

The lack of greenery makes them look more like ruins from an arid region. They look more like ancient Roman ruins in the deserts of North Africa or the Middle East.

I remember the map of the fortress attack around Lake Chad from the first chapter of the PlayStation software Front Mission Alternative, released in 1997, do you recognize it? I don't understand.

Modern remains in the town of Sado Aikawa. Sightseeing on Sado tends to focus on the Toki and gold mines, but why not visit this place that supported Sado's mining industry?

Previously: Video showing the romance of the Kitazawa Floating ore dressing plant site, Sado Island.

Spotlight.

• Ruins of Kitazawa flotation beneficiation plant.
• Address: 3-2 Shimo-Aikawa, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture.
• tel: 0259-74-2389
• 大きな地図で見る