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Travel / Tourism Spots in Sado Area

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  • Jissoji Temple
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    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Nosawa 856
    According to records, for two and a half years from 1272, the great monk Nichiren, having been banished to Ichinosawa, recited the lotus sutra at this Buddhist temple each morning. Beyond the temple’s thatched roof Deva gate, visitors are welcomed by the moss-covered temple approach. A statue on the grounds depicts a standing Nichiren as he looked each morning thinking of his parents in his home of Awa Province. It is recorded that Nichiren would stand on the hill here, hang his monk’s stole on an old pine, ritually rinse his mouth using water from a spring below the cliff, and express his thanks for the tender care his parents had given him. Temple treasures such as its wooden statues of the two Deva kings, framed depiction of the Sanbaso dance, and annotated and illustrated Avalokitesvara Sutra are all registered as prefectural or municipal Cultural Properties.

    日蓮ゆかりの寺。門までコケの生えた道はとても風情があり、京都の寺ような雰囲気です。「袈裟掛けの松」があり、それを狩野派の絵師が描いているようです。

  • Sado Bugyosho (Magistrate's Office)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nigata Pref. Sadoshi Aikawahiromamachi 1-1
    The remains of the Sado Magistrate Office, built in 1603 in the early Edo period. The magistrate office was built for the purpose of managing the Sado Kinzan gold mines. It was repeatedly destroyed by fire and rebuilt. During the Meiji period, it was used as a government office and school, but in 1942 was once again destroyed by fire. It was designated again as a National Historic Site in 1994, and was restored in part in 2000.
    Sado Bugyosho (Magistrate's Office) image
  • Senkaku Bay Ageshima Park
    Travel / Tourism
    Nigata Pref. Sadoshi Kitaebisu 1561
    This is a sightseeing attraction located in the Senkaku Bay quasi-national park which is renowned for its beautiful coastline and is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty. One can see an unbroken view of magnificent Senkaku Bay at the Yusenkyo suspension bridge that was used as a location in a film and also the observatory just after crossing the bridge. From around mid-March to the end of November visitors can ride a glass-bottomed boat that tours around Senkaku Bay to appreciate the beauty of the bay and the ocean up close.
    Senkaku Bay Ageshima Park image
  • Hamochi Castle Site
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Hamochihongo
    The site of a ruined castle built on an isolated plateau sprawling on the east side of Hamochi Hongo. The prototypical medieval mountain castle is believed to have been built in the early Muromachi period to serve as a southern Sado base by the Hamochi Honma, a clan thought to have branched off from the Yoshioka Honma clan in Mano District. After the mighty samurai lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the country, the lord Uesugi Kagekatsu of Echigo attacked Sado, leading to the fall of this castle; archeological traces from this time period can still be found here today. Today, the site is maintained as Joshi Park, and visitors can learn about the castle’s history from a sign at the park entrance. From the top of the mountain, one can look down at the Hamochi Plain and perceive the stacked encampments and auxiliary defensive forts arrayed across a vast area around the former castle.
    Hamochi Castle Site image
  • Cape Sekizaki
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Seki
    Also known as Kamuro-no-Taka, this is a rocky cliff over 100 meters tall where the massif of the Osado Mountains drops off into the sea. Looking out over the panorama of the Sea of Japan, one can also see Mt. Onokame in the distance. Walking trails centered on Sado Vacation Village Auto Camp have been laid out, and during the day, visitors can enjoy the Sea of Japan glittering in the sunlight, and at night they can enjoy the sunset and the sight of illuminated fishing boats. Since there is a lighthouse at the end of the walking trail, many people go there to marvel at the scenery.
  • Sabutozaki Point
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Seki
    This is a scenic area north of Zendana Rock, associated with the ninth-century monk Kobo Daishi. Legend has it that in the medieval period, a rockslide from Mt. Chigyo, which looms over the area, buried the beach. Japan has many legends about badgers, and the three most famous ones are Danzaburo-Danuki of Sado, Shibaemon-Danuki of Awaji Island, and Hage-Tanuki of Yashima in Kagawa Prefecture. Over 90 shrines are dedicated to them. Traveling along Prefectural Route 45, one finds a small torii gate, and through that gate is Sabuto Jinja Shrine, which figures in a legend about the badger. On Sado, badgers are depicted and honored as kindly and helpful parent-like figures.
  • Sai no Kawara Grotto
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Negai
    A walking path connects Sado’s wondrous Onokame and Futatsukame rocks. This sea cave, situated along the path, was formed via erosion caused by the waves of the Sea of Japan and is filled with countless stone Jizo statues. Visitors to this sacred area can only hear the sound of wind and waves, and some call the seaside path the boundary with the underworld. The cave has been seen as a sacred place since ancient times and is believed to be a gathering place for the spirits of children who passed away at a young age. During the Sai no Kawara Festival, held once a year, Buddhist mantras are intoned and offerings of food are made with the hungry ghosts and spirits of newborns suffering hunger and thirst, with more than 200 faithful and supporters attending.
    Sai no Kawara Grotto image
  • Nagate Cape
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Tachibana
    This point, located in the central part of the Nanaura Coast, is known as an excellent place to view sunsets or illuminated nighttime fishing. The entirety of this flat rocky area that looks like a raised beach has been designated as Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Park. The scattered rock formations and the beautiful and variable seascape are the products of ancient volcanic activity. If one walks along the coast, these eye-catching rocks tell of the history of the area. A lighthouse is located at the tip of the point, and visitors can walk quite close to it. This point is also known for its impressive views of the sun setting into the Sea of Japan.
    Nagate Cape image
  • Shiizaki Suwa Shrine
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Harakuro
    An ancient Shinto shrine which records state was built in 1376 during the Muromachi period. Standing on a rise overlooking Lake Kamo, the shrine was the guardian shrine of the Kuji Honma, a local family with much influence in the area. The shrine’s noh stage, believed to have been erected in 1902, has been registered as a Tangible Folk Cultural Properties by the prefectural government. This stage is known for hosting the most noh performances in Sado. On Saturdays from May to early October (excluding August), wondrous firelight noh plays are held here, attracting large numbers of visitors from across the island and beyond. The shrine grounds are also a popular cherry blossom viewing destination in spring.
    Shiizaki Suwa Shrine image
  • Hiranezaki Marine Potholes
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Tochu
    These rocks are found along the Hiranezaki Coast. Around 80 large and small turtle-shaped pot holes can be seen along a slope of about 500 meters, all of them created and polished by waves. These kinds of pot holes are a common sight along Sado’s coast, but the ones at Hiranezaki are the largest. Fourteen of them are two meters or more in diameter, and some are three meters deep. These pot holes, which are valuable examples of the force of the waves in the Sea of Japan, have been designated a National Monument.
    Hiranezaki Marine Potholes image
  • Ruins of Sado Kokubunji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Kokubunji 287-1
    The ruins of the oldest Buddhist temple in Sado. The shrine was a Kokubunji temple, state-sponsored temples which Emperor Shomu ordered one be built in each province. The exact time period the temple was founded and the borders of its grounds are not clear, but records state it was completed between 743 and 775 between the Tenpyo and Hoki periods. The temple’s grounds overlook the Kuninaka Plain; a portion of the temple’s foundation stones still stand, and one can perceive the positions of structures such as the Kondo main hall and Chumon gate. The temple was destroyed repeatedly by fires and lightning strikes, and in turn was repeatedly rebuilt; the temple’s principal object of worship, a statue depicting a seated Bhaisajyaguru (a designated National Important Cultural Property) escaped destruction in the war and today remains enshrined in the rebuilt Sado Kokubunji Temple.
    Ruins of Sado Kokubunji Temple image
  • Myoshoji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Nosawa 459
    This Buddhist temple is notable for its stunning hermitage capped by a massive thatched roof. It is believed that Buddhism founder Nichiren spent two and a half years here, from the time he moved to Ichinosawa from the Sanmaido in Tsukahara, where he wrote his well-known text the “Kaimokusho,” until the time his banishment was pardoned. It is here that Nichiren famous wrote the “Kanjinhonzonsho,” the core of his teachings, in order to promote the use of the Lotus Sutra. Of the sacred sites associated with Nichiren still extant in Sado, this is the only one with a thatched hut; there’s also a Soshido hall commemorating the founding of the temple. The temple was famously granted its name as well as its title by Nichiren himself.
    Myoshoji Temple image
  • Shiawase Jizo Statue
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Shukunegi 56-2
    A statue of the bodhisattva Jizostatue on Mt. Tokamiyama looking out over the Shukunegi area. This large scale Jizostatue can be seen from quite some distance and stands 17. 5 meters tall including its pedestal. This overwhelming giant Jizo statue is said to be the largest in Japan. In 1982 a local had a great ambition to erect a Jizo statue and this Great Jizo statue, surrounded by greenery, was completed the following year. Behind the Great Jizo is Jizo Hall where a large number of Jizo statues have been enshrined. In the nearby sea there's a 2-meter tall Jizo statue on the seabed and you can feel the Jizo faith throughout Sado.
    Shiawase Jizo Statue image
  • Sado Aikawa Sunflower Field
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Ogawa 2066-1
    A sunflower field that spreads along Prefectural Route 45 past downtown Aikawa City on the way to Senkaku Bay. The golden sunflowers continue on against the blue backdrop of the Sea of Japan. It's a relaxing area with a pleasant sea breeze. The contrast produces different atmospheres throughout the day. The best time to visit is from late July to mid-August. The villagers plant seeds so that they come into full bloom during the Obon festival to please tourists as well as locals who have moved away but come back for the holiday (very common in Japan). Lots of people stop by the side of the road to take in summer scenery you can only see in Sado.
    Sado Aikawa Sunflower Field image
  • Sado Ogi Coast
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi
    A coastal road runs from Shiroyama in the Ogi District, along the southern end of Sado for approximately 16 kilometers to Kamikoiwa in Sawazaki. The scenery, created by numerous outcroppings and depressions, has been designated a National Monument and Scenic Spot. The coast is dotted with dozens of large and small caves eroded by the sea, the waves, or the wind, so this area is also valuable from an academic, geological point of view. In addition, the pillow lava in the Sawazakihana area is remarkable for its extent and high quality, and it has been noted as a piece of world Geological Heritage. The reef area is also famous for Isonegi Fishing Area, with its “taraibune” (“barrel boats”) available for short excursions.
  • Niibo Dam Lake Shore
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Kaminiibo
    Niibo Dam was built to hold back the upper reaches of the Kokufu River, Sado’s largest river, resulting in an accompanying lake and sprawling lakeshore area. An agricultural dam, it provides water for Niibo, an area which is committed to the conservation and recovery of the Japanese crested ibis; scenic lookouts and campgrounds veritably encircle the dam. Some 1,500 cherry trees spanning around 20 varieties have been planted on the lakeshore, and it is famous as one of Sado’s top cherry blossom viewing destinations. In spring, the area bustles with amateur photographers and people come to enjoy the flowers. The area is also known for its seasonal beauty, including azaleas in early summer and fall foliage in autumn, and year-round many people come here to take walks and go jogging.
    Niibo Dam Lake Shore image
  • Sado City Niibo Museum of History and Folklore
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi
    A museum with a variety of exhibits on local performing arts, folk art, and the history and culture of Sado. Adjoining the Niibo Administration Service Center, here visitors can come in contact with the history and culture of Niibo. Three forms of puppet theater –puppets of preachers, puppets of simpletons, and traditional bunya puppets– have existed in Sado since ancient times, and in modern times each has been designated a National Important Intangible Folk-Cultural Property. In turn, visitors can also learn about these traditional performing arts, their history, and culture in this museum. The museum also holds activity classes such as making ancient magatama stone jewels, and Sakiori recycled cloth weaving.
    Sado City Niibo Museum of History and Folklore image
  • Aikawa Folk Museum
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Niigata Sado-shi Aikawasakashitamachi 20
    A museum where visitors can learn about the Aikawa Area, location of the Sado Gold Mine, a model mine which contributed to the modernization of Japanese industry. Opened in 1956, museum exhibits include minerals from the mine and information on local Sado folk customs. The museum’s elegant building was once used as the Sado branch of the Bureau of Imperial Estates, which managed imperial assets under the Meiji Constitution. Look for the imperial chrysanthemum crests found everywhere on the structure. The museum displays archeological materials concerning the mine and the Sado magistrate’s office, implements used by Aikawa “yujo” ladies of the night as well as works of art featuring them, and folk custom materials from a town which developed along with the mine.
    Aikawa Folk Museum image
  • Henmi Syuzo
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Nagaishi 84- Ko
    While there were once over 200 breweries on Sado this is one of only five breweries that remain on the island. Henmi-Syuzou is the smallest of the group and was founded in 1868. They continue to only make small batches of sake that triumph in showing off the natural flavor of the liquor. Their famous Shinryou sake, a beloved drink that's a common dinnertime companion, derives its name from the Mano Goryo mausoleum for the Emperor Juntoku who was exiled to Sado after losing the Jokyu War during the Kamakura period. The sake is sometimes called by the friendly nickname Shinryou-san.
  • Mt. Donden
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Nyugawa
    Although its formal name is Tadara Peak, people call the round mountain at the highest point of the highland that consists of the three mountains of the Osado Range “Mt. Donden” (“Blunt Ridge”). As its name suggests, it is the only mountainous area with a gentle, rounded shape in the otherwise steep Osado Mountain Range. The highland, where free-range cattle sometimes can be seen on the parking lot, is abundant high-altitude plants and grasses. It is numbered among the New 100 Most Famous Mountains in Japan and the 100 Best Flower Mountains in Japan. The most popular season for visitors is spring to early summer, when trekkers flock here to see unusual varieties of rhododendron brachycarpum, Japanese azaleas, and Menziesia multiflora.
    Mt. Donden image
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Found along the northwestern coast of Japan, Niigata prefecture is celebrated for its high-quality rice and breathtaking nature, most notably its spectacular mountains, whose white peaks draw in snow sports lovers from far and wide over the winter months. Hit the slopes at Yuzawa, pick out your favourite modern artist at Echigo Tsumari, or take a ferry over to Sado Island for an extra adventure.

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