Event

Two large lions from Tokuwa Shrine and onidaiko (devil drum) from Suwa Shrine are paraded through the streets, with houses at their gates. Onidaiko is said to be a dance depicting gold diggers at the Aikawa Mine. Around noon, the large lion and onidaiko gather at Tokuwa Shrine for the "Neriage" (parade). The enthusiastic "Neriage" is well worth seeing as they slowly climb the stone steps while singing "Ise Ondo" and "Kiyari," a traditional Japanese folk song.

A portable shrine procession is performed, and large lions and devil drums go around the houses in the Mikawa area. In the evening, the parade at the steepest shrine on Sado Island is a sight to behold.

An annual event! As one of our efforts to create attractive places to visit at night around the island, this year we will again light up the historic Kitazawa Flotation Plant.

Located in the Hatano area, Chokokuji Temple is an ancient temple which was built in imitation of Hasedera Temple in Yamato (present-day Nara Prefecture). It is known for its peonies as well as the Rabbit Kannon statue housed there. Elegant peony flowers burst into bloom along the front path, in front of the main hall and all around the temple grounds.

The annual series of performances on Sado Island. They are held at the Shukunegi Public Hall, which still retains its old-fashioned atmosphere. You can enjoy a powerful performance right in front of you. Don't miss it this year, as it will be held only in spring!

Dubbed "Wakamiya-san," Hachiman Wakamiya Shrine is extremely familiar to locals in the Ryotsu Minato area. The annual grand festival is held on the 5th of May every year. Along Wakamiya Street, fisherman's good-haul banners (used to indicate a good catch) are hoisted and flutter, creating a colorful backdrop for this distinctly heated, port-town festival. Ondeko (demon drumming), shishi (lion dance) and a portable shrine, bounced and shaken by its bearers, parade around the street. A Sagariha musical performance troup and a float with musicians on it also travel around the neighbourhood. In the precinct of the shrine where many people await, the portable shrine makes its slow and steady return. The highlight is the heatedly bounced portable shrine in the parade.

With the guidance and cooperation of the Honma clan (head of the Hosho school on Sado Island), Ryotsu Takigi Noh also serves to preserve the history and quality of Noh on Sado Island. Noh is performed in a fantastic atmosphere on the Shiizaki Suwa Shrine Noh Stage overlooking Lake Kamo. Please come and watch this traditional Noh performance that has been supported and nurtured by the people of Sado Island.

This is one of the leading cycling events in Japan with over 3,000 participants. There are five courses to satisfy everyone from beginners to experts. Course A, which has the largest number of participants and the longest distance of 210 km, almost circles Sado Island. While enjoying the spectacular scenery along the coast, participants will tackle a highly challenging course with continuous ups and downs. In addition, an S Course has been newly established for super-advanced runners, which runs on a partially mountainous course. The warm support of the people of Sado Island and the unique delicacies of Sado Island served at aid stations are also part of the event's charm.

Sado's local performing arts such as "Sado Okesa" and "Onidaiko" gather in one place. This is a popular event that attracts more than 10,000 spectators every year, with around 25 performing arts groups participating. Visitors can enjoy the performing arts of each region that have been handed down on Sado Island without having to leave their homes. Food stalls selling local specialties, fresh seafood from Sado Island, and Sado sake can also be enjoyed.

In June, the area around "Onogame," the symbol of the Outer Sea coast, is filled with as many as 1 million tobishima kanzo flowers, 500,000 in number, in full bloom. The cluster is said to be the largest in Japan, and is famous as one of the most scenic spots on the Sea of Japan. The local people perform Kaifu drums, Onidaiko drums, and Sado folk songs.

Kyomachi Street was Aikawa's main street in the early Edo Period (early 17th century), when the Kinzan gold mine flourished. The historical street, where there used to be merchants' houses, is dimly lit with lanterns, and groups from both inside and outside of Sado parade through the street, dancing the Aikawa Ondo folk dance. All accompanying music is played live, and dancers slowly proceed, accompanied by the blue-tinged song. You can see the slow procession of elegant dancing within the grounds of the Sado Commissioner's Office, too.

The Noh stage at Ozen Shrine is said to be the oldest existing Noh stage on Sado Island. It is one of the "Four Noh Places in Sado Province" and has been used for Noh performances since ancient times. The stage features a mirrored panel with a picture of a pine tree and a sunflower. Regular Noh plays are performed every year, and the stage is dedicated to Shinto rituals along with Sagi-style Kyogen (Kyogen). Kyogen plays performed during the Noh play include Okura-ryu, Izumi-ryu, and Sagi-ryu. The Sagi-ryu is the only three remaining schools of Kyogen in Japan. Yamaguchi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Chiyoda Town in Saga Prefecture, and Sado Island. Kyogen declined in the Meiji era (1868-1912), and the Sagi-ryu school of Kyogen on Sado Island was said to have disappeared in the 1950s. In the 1975's, the herald of Sagi-ryu Kyogen was identified in Mano-cho at that time, and this form of Kyogen was revived. The Sado Sagi-ryu Kyogen Kenkyukai (Sado Sagi-ryu Kyogen Society) has been working on its transmission and dissemination.

Ushio Shrine is a venerable old shrine that is descended from Izumo Taisha Shrine. The Noh stage is also prestigious and dignified, and is almost the largest Noh stage on Sado Island. The history of the firelit Noh stage is one of the oldest on Sado Island. The Tenno Festival Yoimiya is dedicated to firewood Noh on the Noh stage. Onidaiko (devil drums) from Lagoon and Agata are also dedicated. In the main festival, miko (shrine maiden) dances and daikoku dances are performed. The portable shrine procession is performed, and onidaiko (devil drummers) go from house to house to perform the parade.

Ryotsu Takigi Noh has been playing a role in maintaining the tradition and quality of Sado's Noh performances, obtaining instruction and cooperation from Mr Honma (head of Sado Hosho School). You can see Noh performances in the magical atmosphere of the Noh stage in Shiizaki Suwa Shrine which faces Lake Kamo. Enjoy the traditional art of Noh, developed by the community.

The Ryotsu Ebisu Festival is held on June 15 and 16 every year. It is an annual festival of Suwakata Shrine, the town guardian of the barbarians, and the Ryotsu barbarians shopping street is the center of the festivities. The festival includes a large portable shrine procession, onidaiko (omikoshi), kodomo onidaiko (children's onidaiko), shishi-mai (lion dance), otsutome-mai (maiden dance), and yorogi-ha (downhill dance). Ryotsu Jinku," a traditional Japanese folk dance, is also performed in a relaxed atmosphere. (Contents are subject to change)

Annual festival of Kusakari Shrine and Sugawara Shrine. Taikagura Tsuburosashi, a Niigata Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, is danced in the town. Onidaiko (devil drums) and mikoshi (portable shrines) are brought out, and a large lion parades through the town with a powerful appearance. In addition, children and students perform "Kodomikoshi" and "So Odori" to enliven the festival for the whole district.

The Noh stage at Kusakari Shrine is thought to have been built before the early Meiji Period (late 19th century), and there remains a record of Noh performances held here in the late Edo Period (mid-19th century). Noh has been performed continuously, and it is dedicated to gods at the Kusakari Shrine's annual festival (Hamochi Festival) on the 15th of June every year. Bonfires illuminate the stately Noh stage and invite you into the subtle and profound world of Noh.

The dedication is not a performance, but a Shinto ritual, but those who are interested are welcome to observe. Dedicatee: World Reido Federation

An event where you can relax and enjoy the day at Ogi Minato Park. Entertainments will be performed on the stage. There will also be sales of Oki soup, local specialties, and tuna. The annual "catching turban shells" is also popular.

Nagoshi-no-harae (purification ceremony over the summer) is held at Kisaki Shrine and Kotohira Shrine in the Ogi area. Participants pass through a thatch ring made of kaya (thatching) wrapped around a large bamboo wheel to purify themselves of the injuries of the past six months and pray for good health for the next six months. In the evening, men and women of all ages gather at the shrine to go through the thatched ring decorated at the shrine, with men going around the ring three times to the left and women going around the ring three times to the right. There is a custom to eat Ayame dango (dumplings made of iris), which are also sold at stores.

Myosenji Temple is known for the only five-story pagoda found in Niigata. Within the grounds, there is a grave of Hino Suketomo, who was a court noble forced into exile on Sado and then executed. He is mentioned in the Noh chant, "Danpu," created based on "Taiheiki" (Chronicle of the Great Peace). In commemoration of Hino Suketomo, Myosenji Temple puts on a Noh performance at its annual festival, "In Memory of Hino" on the 3rd of July, the anniversary of his death. At this event, Noh and Kyogen performances are dedicated in the tatami-mat floored main hall with the background of an old pine tree.

Ryotsu Takigi Noh has been playing a role in maintaining the tradition and quality of Sado's Noh performances, obtaining instruction and cooperation from Mr Honma (head of Sado Hosho School). You can see Noh performances in the magical atmosphere of the Noh stage in Shiizaki Suwa Shrine which faces Lake Kamo. Enjoy the traditional art of Noh, developed by the community.

Kuroki Palace used to be a residence of Emperor Juntoku, who lost the Jokyu Disturbance and was forced into exile on Sado. Emperor Juntoku spent twenty-two years in this simple, temporary palace, until he passed away while aspiring to return to Kyoto. A ritual event is held to commemorate the Emperor in this area deeply connected with him.

The event takes place in the water of Mano Bay, off the shore of Sawata Bathing Beach. Participants can compete in races of varying distances: 5,000m, 3,000m, 1,500m, and 500m.

This is an annual festival of "Shinmeisha" located in the center of town. Two large lions parade through the streets, and oni (devil) drums are also paraded around the town, making their way around the gates as well. The skillful oral performances in front of the houses are also a highlight of the festival. Onidaiko (devil drummers) dance to the accompaniment of lively flutes and drums, with the demons facing each other. Children dressed in happi coats and tasuki (socks) also appear and dance one after another.

Kasuga Shrine is considered to be the birthplace of Noh performances in Sado. This Noh stage was built by Nagayasu Okubo, a former Noh actor and Deputy for Sado (later the first Commissioner of Sado), and it was the site of the first ritual Noh performance dedicated in Sado. The present-day stage was transferred, to where it now stands, from the Hamochi area, by volunteer members of the community in 2006. Besides the mysteriously beautiful Takigi Noh, Sado's local performing arts, such as the folk songs "Sado Okesa" and "Aikawa Ondo" are also presented.

This festival is held to comfort gold mine workers and to pray for the prosperity of the mines. The festival includes a Shinto ritual ceremony at Oyamazumi Shrine, known as the "God of the Mountain," a town-wide okesa float, a fireworks display, and other historic events held mainly in downtown Aikawa. The festival is considered one of the three major festivals on Sado Island, along with the Ryotsu Tanabata Festival, Kawabiraki Festival, and Ogi Port Festival.

Akadomari's summer festival. The main event of the day is the "Grand Sumo Tournament on the Sea of Japan" held in a ring floating on the sea. The audience cheers for the wrestlers as they struggle to slide and fall on the swaying ring. There are performances by local performing arts groups, sales of local products, and a beer garden. At the end of the festival, fireworks light up the night sky.

Tanabata Matsuri and Kawabiraki is a combination festival to celebrate both the children's Star Festival and to commemorate the opening of Ryotsu Port. The town, mainly the central areas of Ebisu and Minato, bustles with spectators and locals. This event originates from the celebratory event to commemorate the listing of Ebisu Port, in 1898, as one of the top seven ports in Japan. The festival events include: a brass band parade, a children's float parade, a folk song and dance procession, and demonstrations of Ondeko (masked deity dance).The festival closes with a gorgeous firework display.

The annual summer Beer Festival will be held at Aiport Sado, a 4-minute walk from Ryotsu Port. There will be workshops, mini-concerts, and many other events. For details, please check the official HP and flyers.