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Japan is made up of 4 massive islands, however in recent times I’ve made visits to a few of its smaller islands, like these within the Setouchi Inland Sea space in addition to the offshore Okinawa islands. On this street journey to Niigata, I took a detour off the Chugoku island to go to Sado Island 佐渡島, considered one of Japan’s largest islands and residential to some fairly attention-grabbing traditions and distinctive sights. Here’s my little information on issues to do on a Sado Island street journey.
Why do you have to go to Sado Island?
My weblog readers know that I like a great offshore island, and whereas it’s not one thing usually related to Japan, this nation has so many islands to discover! I’ve visited the artwork islands in Setouchi and cycled throughout the islands that make up the Shimanami Kaido, so I used to be curious to see what else was on the market.
I needed to take a look at Sado Island since I used to be head to the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale and was on the hunt for different hidden gems in Niigata. Friends advisable that I take a look at Sado Island as it’s a fairly standard Niigata day journey, and I used to be captured by the visuals of tub boats and toki birds and determined to spend an evening or two there.
I’m conscious that Sado is absolutely ‘Sa Island’, however I’m going to make use of Sado Island right here simply to make it clear that we’re speaking about this significantly location and never every other Sado.
How to get to Sado Island
Sado Island is situated off the northwestern finish of Chugoku Island, near Niigata City. The island has 2 ferry ports – most individuals select to go from Niigata City to Ryotsu Port on the east coast of Sado as that has essentially the most and quickest connections as you possibly can experience the jetfoil as a substitute of the automotive ferry.
Another possibility is heading to Naoetsu metropolis in Joetsu which has a automotive ferry that goes to Ogi port within the south Sado, however solely had 2 journeys in a day.
- Niigata City – Ryotsu (east Sado): Car Ferry (2.5 hours) or Jetfoil (1hr+)
- Naoetsu – Ogi (south Sado): Car Ferry (2 hr 40 minutes)
More information on ferry timings and ports may be discovered on the Sado Kisen web site.
I took the jetfoil between Niigata City and Ryotsu and the spherical journey ticket price 13,370 JPY.
I did take into account renting a automotive and driving the automotive ferry over from Naoetsu because it was nearer, however observe that the automotive ferry ticket is for 1 automotive (will depend on size, spherical journey is from 26,000+ JPY) which incorporates 1 driver – further passengers have to purchase the passenger ticket. Ultimately, I made a decision it was cheaper/simpler to simply lease a automotive on Sado itself and purchase spherical journey ticks for the sooner Jetfoil.
Driving round Sado Island
Sado Island is fairly massive, fairly rural and whereas they do have a bus service, a rental automotive is by far one of the simplest ways to navigate this island. There are essential roads that circle the island’s coast, in addition to one which cuts by the centre of the island going from Ryotsu port on the east to Sawada coast on the west.
Check out my article about Niigata street journey article for extra about renting a automotive and driving in Japan.
I rented a automotive from Toyota Rent a Car, and the choose up was situated proper on the Sado Ferry Terminal at Ryotsu Port (Sadokisen Rent A Car). My automotive rental price 21,670 JPY from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon – cut up between 2 pax over 2 days value of journey it’s about S$45 per day which is fairly respectable.
Driving round Sado Island is fairly straightforward as there’s not a variety of site visitors and there are respectable roads. It can get very darkish at evening although and there aren’t a variety of road lights which generally is a bit scary in case you are up within the hilly areas.
How lengthy to spend in Sado Island
We spent 2 nights in Sado Island and it was barely sufficient to see a few of its essential sights within the central space. Sado Island is a bit like Jeju Island for me – you assume as a result of it’s an ‘island’ that it’s not too massive, however at 855+ sq km, it’s truly LARGER than Singapore (which is about 734 sq km) – Sado is the biggest island within the Japan Sea!
Also to keep in mind that whereas many of the sights are alongside the coast line, there will probably be areas the place you’re driving within the hill/mountains, in order that additionally takes some travelling time.
I ought to have spent extra time on Sado Island, however I used to be on a little bit of a schedule and headed to Matsumoto and Tokamachi as properly, however in future I feel I want to spend at the very least 3 nights on Sado minimally, and possibly do it street journey type and keep in a special guesthouse each evening so cowl extra floor effectively.
Where to remain in Sado Island
Sado is a reasonably unfold out island with most of its city centre within the centre portion of the island which is the place I stayed on this journey.
Since we had been driving, I needed to select a extra uncommon place to remain and located this cute little guesthouse referred to as Rosencat on reserving.com – as you might need guessed from the identify, they’re well-known for his or her roses and their cats!
We had a tatami room on the 2nd ground with bedding and a desk. There was one other room situated right here however we had the ground to ourselves on these days. The lavatory is shared as a result of that is a kind of older properties that doesn’t have ensuite – it’s on the bottom ground the place there are another rooms as properly.
It wasn’t fairly rose season in October after we had been there however you possibly can see they’ve a superb backyard, and naturally that they had 5 cats that might wander round every now and then however the home was stored very clear, and the cats all had been very properly behaved too.
Rosencat’s location is fairly central in Sado Island and a brief 20 min drive to Ryotsu Port, nevertheless it’s in just a little village surrounded by rice paddies and there aren’t any facilities within the speedy neighborhood – we had a automotive so it was a brief drive to close by eating places or onsen, nevertheless it’s not essentially the most handy location if you happen to don’t drive.
Rosencat ローゼンキャット 体験型農家民宿 [Google maps] Check out Rosencat on reserving.com [affiliate link]
Other different locations to remain in Sado that I thought-about [affiliate links]:
- Guest Villa on the Bichi was a really robust contender as a result of it seems each trendy and cosy. I truly booked this for myself at first after I deliberate a solo journey, however when my good friend confirmed she was approaching this journey, it was cheaper to e book Rosencat as a substitute. I did go by this space fairly often when driving to and from the sights, pretty spot by the coast.
- NIPPONIA Sado 佐渡相川 金山町 additionally seems like a stunning place that’s a mixture of outdated and new situated in Aikawa close to the gold mining space.
Things to do in Sado Island
I principally visited locations within the west/central bits and southwestern ends of Sado Island in my two days there, however right here’s a rundown of the issues to do in Sado that I feel are value testing.
Ride the Tarai Bune, a conventional tub boat
One key factor to do in Sado is to experience the Tarai Bune, a extremely cute wash-tub wanting like boat that’s made out of wooden. Traditionally these boats had been used for fishing and the compact spherical form was meant to assist the fishermen navigate the numerous slim inlets of the shoreline extra simply to fish and choose up shellfish. These days, the Tarai Bune are principally for vacationers to experience on, and there are a number of areas alongside the coast to take action.
I headed right down to Yajima-Kojima 矢島・経島, 2 islands situated very near Ogi port within the south of Sado and a very picturesque spot for a Tarai Bune experience due to the gorgeous crimson arch bridge linking the islands. Here, the boats are manned by the island’s girls wearing conventional garb and with massive floppy hats for defense from the solar.
These girls don’t actually communicate English however know sufficient to speak, like stating fish within the sea and letting us steer by displaying how one can paddle with only one oar. Let me simply say that it’s loads more durable than it seems!
That boat experience doesn’t take too lengthy, about 10-Quarter-hour as you navigate the picturesque little inlet. There is a glass panel in the midst of the boat if you wish to look down into the water. After the boat experience, we took just a little stroll across the islands, however sadly we couldn’t make a full circuit as there was some restore work occurring.
Yajima-Kojima 矢島・経島 [Google maps] Open every day 8am – 5pm. The Tarai Bune experience price 600 JPY and we purchased the ticket immediately from the Yajima Learning Centre.
Visit Shukunegi, the shipbuilder’s village
As an island, Sado was residence to many seafaring folks, and the village of Shukunegi 宿根木 on the southern tip of the island was significantly recognized for its shipbuilding and was an essential port for service provider ships or sengokubune which in essence had been massive wood cargo ships.
The homes on this village are very densely filled with slim alleyways, and also you’ll discover many wood homes – these wood homes had been constructed with the identical planks used to make sengokubune ships, and a few of these date again to the late 18th century!
There are some heritage residences you possibly can enter if you wish to take a look round however it is advisable to examine on their opening timings. A particularl constructing of observe which you could see however not enter is the Triangle House or Sankakuya, constructed to suit the awkward land plot, its triangular form additionally makes it look extra like a ship than the opposite homes.
We truthfully didn’t do an excessive amount of right here, principally wander across the streets and cease for lunch. You may also experience the Tarai Bune right here in Shukunegi – we had already completed it in Yajima Kyojima so we handed on that right here.
We ate lunch at Yamashita 茶房 やました [Google maps] and had some delectable curry rice in a small restaurant that we chanced upon. It’s very cosy and has some nostalgic vibes, and so they serve up pizzas and curry rice together with some desserts.
Shukunegi 宿根木 [Google maps]. There is a delegated parking space close to the publish workplace a brief 5-10 min stroll away. More on the Shukunegi web site
Pan for gold at Nishimikawa Gold Park
One of the extra uncommon issues that Sado Island is understood for is its lengthy historical past of gold and silver mining, from way back to 400 years in the past throughout the Edo period within the 1600s, by the Meiji interval and at last stopping in 1989 initially of the Heisei interval.
The mines are usually not working any extra, however if you wish to strive your hand at discovering any remnant gold left on the island, you possibly can head to Nishimikawa Gold Park the place as a substitute of mining, you are able to do one other old-fashioned sourcing approach which is to pan for gold.
This facility is situated on the positioning of the Nishimikawa Gold Mine which has over a thousand years of historical past. There are many sand-filled troughs right here the place you possibly can stick a bowl in and slowly sift away the sand to see what number of gold flakes you possibly can come away with. I didn’t do this myself, however panning seems like fairly onerous work.
You can take the gold you collected and put it aside in a pendant which you could purchase on web site. You’re not going to be going away with massive gold nuggets – that is actually extra only for the expertise of what gold panning was like again within the day, nevertheless it’s enjoyable maybe you probably have household or pals to cooperate or compete with.
Nishimikawa Gold Park 西三川ゴールドパーク [Google maps]. Gold panning prices 1,000 JPY. More at Nishimikawa Gold Park
Descend into the Sado Kinzan gold mines
The Sado Kinzan Gold Mines are historic websites on Sado and are the biggest gold and silver mines in Japan, some of the essential issues that formed this island’s historical past. Over 400 km of tunnels had been dug on this mine’s historical past, although solely a fraction of those tunnels may be visited as we speak after the mine’s gold veins had been depleted and formally shut down operations in 1989.
You can take the extra adventurous excursions if you happen to plan properly and have a information, however stroll in guests like myself simply go to the Sodayu and Doyu Mines on their very own.
Sodayu Mine is the ‘old’ mine that reveals what early Edo period mining circumstances had been like. Very scant safety, pretty rudimentary instruments, all that is displayed by mechanical dioramas and soundscapes within the tunnels, although for Singaporeans it kinda jogs my memory of a barely much less bizarre Haw Par Villa.
The mines had been fairly intensive, and the cities sprung up round this trade. Besides strolling by the tunnels, there’s a extra gallery like space the place you possibly can see extra scale fashions and different displays in regards to the gold mining days.
After Sodayu Mine, we headed on to Doyu Mine, the extra trendy one constructed post-Edo within the Meiji period and solely closed as just lately as 1989. The mine appears rather less ‘exciting’ at first look – know-how meant bigger and higher tunnels and services, however the actual spotlight right here is the out of doors half of this part.
Doyu no Warato is a reasonably uncommon characteristic on the prime of the hill the place it seems like somebody tried to cleave the height open. This isn’t a pure characteristic, however a gap created by dynamite to entry a serious vein of gold situated round there. Today it connects Sodayu and Doyu mining tunnels, and you may truly take a stroll to the positioning of the outlet on the mountain facet – it was raining after we visited so we opted to not stroll.
My tip is to carry a jacket as it’s a number of levels colder within the mines in comparison with the temperature outdoors. The mines generally is a bit claustrophobic because the tunnels within the outdated facet particularly are fairly slim. Expect to do a good quantity of strolling and there are stairs as properly. Each mine takes about 30-40 minutes to finish in complete.
Adventurous guests can take into account reserving the non-public Yamashi Tour for a extra intense caving expertise that requires a torch and a tough hat – prior bookings are required.
Sado Kinzan Gold Mine 史跡佐渡金山 [Google maps]. Open every day 830am – 5pm. The mixed ticket for Sodayu and Doyu Mine prices 1,500 JPY. More at Sado Kinzan.
Explore the mining stays at Kitazawa Flotation Plant
Very near Sado Kinzan is the Kitazawa Flotation Plant, an deserted group of constructions which had been used to course of the ore extracted from the mines. Over 50,000 tonnes of ore handed by this plant each month, it was one of many busiest in its heyday. But because the mines shut down, these secondary constructions have been left as is, and nature has taken over turning and greening these concrete buildings.
While you possibly can’t discover the deserted constructions in all probability resulting from security causes, one attention-grabbing factor you are able to do is to come back again at evening. While it’s darkish, the constructions are lit with rainbow lights that flash and alter together with a soundtrack of accompanying atmospheric music – it’s each fairly enchanting and unearthly.
Kitazawa Flotation Plant 北沢浮遊選鉱場跡 (Kitazawa fuyūsenkōba ato) [Google maps]
Admire the view of Senkakuwan
We managed to drive up the western coast of Sado Island however I positively underestimated how a lot time we would wish to correctly discover Sado, so the furthest north I acquired was Senkakuwan 尖閣湾 or Senkaku Bay. This bay truly consists of 5 smaller bays and are mentioned to resemble the Scandinavian fjords.
We reached fairly late within the night simply a short time earlier than closing and likewise the climate was fairly iffy so we principally simply strolled across the space and loved the cliff views.
There is a bridge referred to as Yusenkyo Bridge that connects to the very tiny Ageshima Island throughout the water – followers of the present What is Your Name or Kimi no Na Wa (not the anime, that is the identify of a Fifties film) would possibly recognise this bridge that appeared within the film as it’s also referred to as Machiko’s Bridge after the feminine lead.
There is a glass backside boat experience which you could take if you happen to come when the climate is sweet – late May to early June is very standard as a result of day lilies are in bloom then. Spotted a really small lighthouse as properly, however apart from that this place is generally a spot for good views and pictures.
Senkakuwan 尖閣湾 [Google maps]. Open every day 830am – 5pm. Admission ticket is 500 JPY. More at Senkakuwan Ageshima.
Rare birdwatching at Toki Forest Park
Another uncommon sight which you could solely see on Sado Island are the presence of huge teams of untamed toki birds. Toki, or the Japanese Crested Ibis, is a principally white fowl that’s faintly pinkish in the suitable mild with a punky mohawk hairdo and distinct crimson faces that appear to be a painted on masks.
You know these birds are actually a Japanese nationwide image when their scientific identify is Nipponia Nippon! They was discovered widespread throughout Japan however turned extinct within the wild within the Sixties resulting from overpopulation and searching. The captive Japanese-born tokis died out within the early 2000s, however since then they managed to discover a handful of those birds surviving in China and have efficiently bred them and now you can see some wild tokis round Sado Island as we speak.
The Toki Forest Parkトキの森公園 is kind of near the Ryotsu Ferry Terminal so it was our final cease earlier than heading again to Niigata. Here you possibly can see an exhibition corridor with details about the toki birds and their historical past, in addition to enclosures the place several types of tokis are stored in a breeding programme. There are some actually pink tokis right here alongside the principally white ones.
I significantly appreciated the commentary space on the Toki Fureai Plaza, with glass home windows that allow you to spy on the big toki enclosure. There is a pool of water proper in entrance of the glass so you possibly can see toki come proper as much as the water for a drink. They look kinda goofy but in addition so cool~
There is a Toki Terrace which is a tower the place you are able to do some wild toki recognizing, it’s a ten min drive southeast from the Toki Forest Park [Google maps]. We noticed some wild toki within the rice fields behind our guesthouse! You may also spot different migratory birds round Sado Island in the suitable season.
Did I additionally point out that in typical Japanese style, you’ll find the cutest toki decorations and items throughout this park. I had to purchase myself a pair of toki socks simply because~
Toki Forest Parkトキの森公園 (Tokinomori koen) [Google maps]. Open every day 830am – 5pm. Admission ticket prices 400 JPY. More at Niigata City web site.
Have you been to Sado Island? Tell me what I missed! In the meantime take a look at different close by sights round Niigata.