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[Niigata ]Sado Island - 15 Sightseeing Spots for Women Alone on Sado Island

[Niigata ]Sado Island - 15 Sightseeing Spots for Women Alone on Sado Island

2023-07-11

Sado, an island of Niigata in the Sea of Japan.
Although it is often thought to be small, it is actually about 280 km in circumference and covers an area 1.4 times the size of Tokyo's 23 wards.
Sado Island, the largest island in Honshu, is home to about 50,000 people, and can be reached from Tokyo by high-speed boat in as little as 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Although it is an island off the coast of Niigata, winters are warm and snowfall is fairly low thanks to the Tsushima Warm Current that flows around the island! Visitors can enjoy the original Japanese landscape in the blessed four seasons!
This article introduces recommended sightseeing spots on Sado Island, which is rich in such natural beauty.
This article is recommended for those who are going to travel to Sado Island or who would like to go there someday.
Why not take a trip to Sado Island using this article as a guide?

Author of this article

[You can't miss it when you come to Sado Island! ]Regularly Recommended Tourist Attractions

Hosta



Shukunegi has been selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
The village once prospered through trade on the Kitamae Line and retains a history and culture that has not faded away.
"The triangular house "is built to fit the triangular site, showing the ingenuity of the village's clever use of land.
With 110 structures on approximately 1 hectare of land, the density of houses is a characteristic of the Shukunegi community. Today, three of the private houses are open to the public, and the entire village conveys today the history of the village's involvement in ship's work.

"Facility Information "
Name: Hosta
Address: Shukunegi, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Phone number: 0259-27-5000 (Sado Island Tourism Exchange Organization)
URL:https://shukunegi.com/

History Sado Kanayama

Entrance to Sado Gold Mine

A historical site that tells the 400-year history of the Sado Gold and Silver Mine.
It is also notable for its inclusion on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2010 as "Sado Mine Heritage Sites with a Focus on Gold ".
Sado has been called "the Island of Gold "since ancient times, and was known as an island where gold sand was extracted around the 12th century.
During the Edo period, it was the largest gold and silver mine in Japan and one of the world's largest producers. It is said that the mining technology and management methods established on Sado Island had a great influence on the development of mines throughout Japan.

"Facility Information "
Name: Sado Gold Mountain
Address: 1305 Shimoaikawa, Sado-shi, Niigata 952-1501
Access: 60 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port, 80 minutes by car from Ogi Port
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
Hours: [April - October] 8:00 - 17:30, [November - March] 8:30 - 17:00
Parking: Available
URL:https://www.sado-kinzan.com/

Futatsugame Beach



"It has been selected as one of the 100 best bathing beaches in Japan "and listed as two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japon "" . It has both outstanding transparency and scenic beauty.
At low tide, a sandbar is formed! When it is empty, it often becomes a private beach.
It is the perfect place to spend a luxurious summer on the island's beaches with the laid-back atmosphere that only local beaches can offer!

"Facility Information "
Name: Futatsugame Beach
Address: Washizaki, Sado-shi, Niigata 952-3205
Parking: Available
Access: 50 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
     10 minute walk from Futatsugame bus stop (Uchikaifu line)
Parking: SADO Futatsugame View Hotel Parking Lot
Possible period of use of the sea bathing area: July 15 to August 20, 2023
Monitor hours:10:00~17:00
Facilities: public restrooms, changing rooms, shower rooms
URL:https://www.visitsado.com/spot/detail0407/

Toki no Mori Park



A park where you can see Sado's iconic bird, the "crested ibis ".
The park has "crested ibis resource and exhibition hall "and "crested ibis communion plaza ". "At the Ibis Fureai Plaza ", the plantings and rice paddies inside the cages where the crested ibis are bred are kept in conditions close to those of nature on Sado Island, allowing visitors to observe up close the ecology of the ibis, including their flight, feeding, egg-laying, and departure from the nest.
The crested ibis used to be seen almost everywhere in Japan, but due to environmental destruction caused by the use of pesticides and habitat modification, it was designated in 1952 "a special natural monument "and in 1960 "an international protected bird ", but by that time the number had already declined to around 20 birds.
Today, the crested ibis once again soars in the skies of Sado Island, symbolizing the coexistence of the creatures and the islanders.

"Facility Information "
Name: Toki no Mori Park
Address: 383-2, Niibo Nagaune, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Phone number: 0259-22-4123 (Toki no Mori Park)
Closed: [March-November] Open daily, [December-February] Closed on Mondays, Year-end and New Year holidays, and weekdays following national holidays.
Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

side door of a loom



Symbol of Sado Gold Mine. "Wari-do of Doyu. ".
This is the site of an open pit mine from the Edo period, which is believed to be an early development mining site.
The mountain looks as if it has broken into a V shape while digging through a huge vein of gold.
The cracks at the top of the mountain are said to be as wide as 30 meters and as deep as 74 meters, making it hard to imagine that they were broken by human hands.

"Facility Information "
Name: Doyu no Warido
Address: 1-1 Aikawa Ginzan-cho, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Access: 50 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
Parking: None

Floating ore dressing plant site

Floating ore dressing plant site illuminated

The site of a former flotation beneficiation plant is a symbol of modern heritage. It is called "the best flotation beneficiation plant in the East ".
The plant was the first in Japan to adopt the flotation beneficiation method for gold and silver ores, and construction of the plant began in 1936.

▲ Thickener

Thickener, which supported mass production in the Showa period along with flotation beneficiation plants, was a device to separate water and impurities in order to secure scarce industrial water; impurities were discarded and water was reused in ore dressing plants.
With a diameter of 50 meters, it was the largest facility of its kind in Japan.

Depending on the season, events such as lighting up and projection mapping are held, and the mysterious appearance with the star-filled sky is breathtaking!

"Facility Information "
Name: Floating ore dressing plant site
Address: 3-2 Kitazawa-cho, Aikawa, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Phone number: 0259-27-5000 (Sado Island Tourism Exchange Organization)
Access: 50 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
     2 minutes walk from Aikawa Museum bus stop (main line, Nanaura Coast Line)
Parking: Available

[Great place to drive ]Spectacular scenic views

Nanoura Coast


Nanaura Coast, a 10-km coastline that straddles seven villages from Shikabushi to Futami in the Aikawa district.
It is a typical uplifted coastline and is a particularly beautiful and photogenic spot for sunsets.
The surrounding area is a perfect spot for a drive, as there are many places of interest such as "Cape Tachibana-no-Nagate ", which juts out into the Sea of Japan, "Kasuga-zaki ", "Kojiki ", which is said to originate from the myth of the birth of the nation "Takase-no-Musubiwa ", etc!

"Facility Information "
Name: Nanoura Coast
Address: Futami - Aikawa Oura, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Access: 60 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
     Approximately 60 minutes by car from Ogi Port
Parking: None
Tel: 0259-74-2220 (Sado Island Tourism Exchange Organization Aikawa Tourist Information Center)

Senkaku Bay Island Resort



It is the collective name for five small bays that stretch along a 3-kilometer stretch of coast from Himezu to Kitateki.
It is said that it was named Senkaku Bay because of its resemblance to the isthmus beauty of Norway's "Hardanger Fjord ".
The scenery of a series of 30-meter spire-shaped cliffs is fascinating, and the view from the observation deck at Yangdo Amusement Park and from a sightseeing boat is spectacular!
There is also an aquarium with fish from the surrounding waters, a museum that displays panels from the movie "Your Name is ", which was shot on location, as well as a store and a light lunch.

"Facility Information "
Name: Senkaku Bay Yeojima Park
Address: 1561 Kitatoteki, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Access: 60 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
Parking: Available
Hours: [March-April/October] 8:30-17:00, [May-September] 8:30-17:30, [November] 8:30-16:30
Admission: [Entrance and boarding fee]Adults 1,400 yen, children 800 yen
Phone number: 0259-75-2311

Osado Skyline




An approximately 30-km long observation road connects Kanai and Aikawa.
The highest point is over 900 meters above sea level, providing a bird's-eye view of the entire island of Sado, including Mano Bay, Ryotsu Bay, the Kuninaka Plain, and the Kosado Mountains.
It is especially beautiful during the fall foliage season, which is around the end of October.
Please note that the road is closed during the winter and will be closed from mid-November.
Near the Ohira Plateau is Otowa Pond, surrounded by a beech forest, which is also ideal for walking!

"Facility Information "
Name: Osado Skyline
Address: Nakayuki - Shimoasagawa, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Access: 15 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
By driving: approx. 6 km from Sado Airport, approx. 10 km from Ryotsu Port, Skyline Entrance (Kanai)
Parking: None
Phone number: 0259-27-5000

Sado Kogi Coast



The 16-km coastline stretches from Ogi's Shiroyamadai to Sawasaki's Kamikoiwa.
The richly varied landscape formed by old volcanic activity is "designated as a national natural monument and a place of scenic beauty as the Ogi Coast of Sado Island ". The scenery is spectacular, with terraces formed by the uplift and subsidence of the ground over many years, large and small sea caves called 澗 (澗), and wave erosion scars, and other varied landscapes. Visitors can also try their hand at tub boating!

"Facility Information "
Name: Kogi Coast
Address: Ogi, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Access: 3 minutes by car from Ogi Port
Tel: 0259-86-3200 (Sado Island Tourism Exchange Organization, Minami Sado Branch)
Parking: Available
URL:https://www.visitsado.com/spot/detail0153/

Sado Airport



Sado Airport has been the focus of attention since it was announced that TokyAir, a low-cost airline aiming to operate from Niigata Airport, is planning to start flights.
Currently, Sado Airport does not operate regular passenger flights and is unmanned.
Since there is no one here, there are no souvenir shops, etc. at the moment, so there is nothing new to see here, but since unmanned airports are rare, it is secretly popular among airport enthusiasts. It will be interesting to see if the airport will be utilized and come back to life in the future!

"Facility Information "
Name: Sado Airport
Address: Akitsu, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
URL:https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/sec/sado_seibi/1204045245988.html

Himezaki Tendai-kan



The Himezaki Lighthouse is located on Himezaki, which juts out at the entrance to Ryotsu Port, the main gateway to Sado Island.
This lighthouse, which has been in place for more than 100 years, is Japan's oldest surviving steel lighthouse in its original form, and was selected as one of the 100 best lighthouses in the world and 50 best lighthouses in Japan at the 1997 IALA International Conference in recognition of its historical value.
It appears as a white lighthouse towering above the cliffs of this cape, which is first seen by boats bound for Sado.

"Facility Information "
Name: Himezaki Tendai-kan
Address: Ryotsu Okawa, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Access: 20 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
     Approximately 80 minutes by car from Ogi Port
Parking: Available
Hours of operation: 9:00-16:00
Fee: Free of charge
Phone number: 0259-27-5000
URL:https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/spot/9003

[Get to know Sado ]Experiential Sightseeing Spots

Many tourists visit this facility where they can try their hand at gold dusting "Sado Seisan Gold Park ".
The gold sand can be processed on the spot into key rings and other items.
The store offers a wide variety of products only available here, including the most popular cheesecake and Sado's famous sweets.

"Facility Information "
Name: Sado Seisan Gold Park
Address: 835-1 Nishimikawa, Sado-shi, Niigata 952-0434
Phone number: 0259-58-2021
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
Access: 50 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port
Parking: Available

Sado Bokusho



The center that administered Tenryo Sado, "Sado Magistrate's Office ".
Inside the building where the magistrates and officials of the time did their work "Goshakusho ", you will find "Goshakushu ", which was a place of trial, and a lead plate (replica) used in gold refining.
The factory "where gold and silver are extracted from the mined ore has also been restored, and visitors can experience the ore beneficiation process at the Yoshengjo ".

"Facility Information "
Name: Sado Bongosho
Address: 1-1 Aikawa Hiromacho, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
Fee: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students
Opening hours:8:30~17:00
Closed: at the end of the year
Access: 50 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port

Sado History and Tradition Museum

Travel back in time about 800 years and experience the highlights of Sado's history at the museum, "Sado History and Legend Museum ".
Visitors can learn about the history of Sado through life-size robots.
Using a diorama robot, visitors can experience the legends of Sado Island as if they have stepped back in time.
Starting with Emperor Juntoku's first daughter, we can see Emperor Juntoku who was exiled to Sado Island, as well as Nichiren Shonin and Zeami.
The attached ryotei restaurant, Yuzuru, offers a view of the Japanese garden while you dine. The restaurant also features dishes using Sado's specialties, such as Sado's famous mekabu soba (buckwheat noodles)!

"Facility Information "
Name: Sado History and Legend Museum
Address: 655 Mano, Sado-shi, Niigata
Hours: [April-November] 8:30-17:00, [December-March] 9:00-16:30
Closed: Open every day
Admission: [Admission fee]Adults 900 yen, elementary school students 400 yen
Parking: Available (100 spaces)
Phone number: 0259552525
URL:https://sado-rekishi.jp/

tub boat

Sado is synonymous with "tub boats ".
Originally built for iso-negi fishing, it is still used for iso-negi fishing today and can also be experienced for sightseeing.
A tub boat is a tub-shaped wooden boat about 150 cm long, 130 cm wide, and 50 cm high. It is also called "Hangiri "because it was made by cutting a large barrel in half.
The boats, skillfully maneuvered by female boatmen, are a unique experience, so much so that it is a recommended spot that you must experience when you come to Sado Island!
The tub boat experience is available at several spots.

summary

▲Installation spot "backgound "bus stop

In this article, we have introduced many sightseeing spots on Sado Island.
Sado Island is known not only for its marine sports such as diving and fishing, but also for its rich history and traditional culture.
The Sado Gold Mine is also a valuable historical site that tells the history of gold since the Edo period, and performing arts are also flourishing, with Noh stages in various locations.
Please visit Sado where you can feel such nature and tradition!

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