Learning through travel - Jade, the National Stone of Japan

On a recent trip to Itoigawa City in Niigata, I learned that jade, specifically, jadeite is a representative stone of Japan. I knew when we were heading to Itoigawa that it was renowned as the home of the Jade Coast, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. Thanks to the trip, I learned a lot more.

“Jade” is a broad term for two minerals - jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite is the rarer, harder, and more valuable of the two, known for its vivid colors such as Imperial green. Jadeite has been part of life in Japan for thousands of years, with Jōmon‑period pendants and Yayoi‑period magatama showing how widely it was treasured. Itoigawa is still the heart of this history; the rivers and coastline hold natural jadeite, including massive boulders now protected as national Natural Monuments. 

In 2016, jadeite was officially selected as Japan’s national stone, recognized for its beauty, its deep cultural roots, and its unique presence in Japan’s landscape. Learning all this while exploring Itoigawa and visiting the Jade Coast added a richness to our travel experience. We found ourselves taking the simple act of searching for jadeite on the shore (something anyone can do for free) a little more seriously, and with a lot more appreciation.