Sado - Goldmines

On the first of the two days off, I use it to do my laundry and rest after the exciting but tiring days. The next day, we decide to visit the old gold mines and the accompanying small museum. On the way there, Chris can drop us off at the museum as he has an appointment nearby. The entrance fee is quite cheap at €2, and everything is surprisingly modern. At each station, there is a small screening room that shows about 10-minute videos retelling the events. All the scenes were filmed at the original locations, and the local residents were simply used as actors. The history of the gold mines is closely linked to the history of the island, as it is the reason for the cultural diversity of Sado. Due to the gold mining, people from all regions of Japan came to the island and brought a part of their own culture with them. After the museum, we have lunch at a restaurant nearby and then head to the ruins where the gold used to be separated from other substances. The path leads over a hill, from which you have a great view of the city and the sea. Upon arriving at the mines, we examine the peculiar structures. They look a bit like those in 'Castle in the Sky,' and in the nearby café, where we get lemonade, there are all sorts of figures from the film. A few meters away, we find a pottery shop selling handmade pottery. The clay comes from the area of the gold mines, and you can watch the craftsmen work through a window. On the way back, we take the coastal route and then take the bus back to Hamochi. The buses run very irregularly, and we only arrive at our bus stop at seven o'clock in the evening. So now we have to climb the mountain in the dark. When we finally reach the top and I turn on the light in our room, I see a long, approximately 10 cm long creature with many legs crawling around the edge of the tatami mat. It's a huge centipede that disappears into the crack between the floorboards. (10 cm is still small) Great. Guess i won't sleep tonight.