Event

Sado Island, the largest remote island in the Sea of Japan, is a land rich in nature, unique history, and diverse culture. The Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival 2025 will be held again this year. This art festival, commissioned by the Japan Cultural Expo 2.0, is an international art festival that invites you to think about and create a “better future.”

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.

Traditional performing arts show! 25 restaurants gather. Oyster kankan-yaki and sales of peeled oysters are also available. Sado Ryotsu Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) will be held at the same time.

The Ogi area features many old-fashioned, machiya-style houses, which are reminiscent of townspeople culture. During this doll festival, hina dolls and "treasures" with a long history are displayed along the Ogi Shopping Street where historical buildings stand in rows. At some shops, there are clay dolls on display, a reminder of exchanges with other parts of Japan that are peculiar to Ogi. Have fun at this event while enjoying a leisurely stroll around the town of Ogi.

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.

Sadokoku Ondeko Dot-com showcases symbolic local performing arts of Sado such as Sado Okesa (folk song and dance) and Ondeko (demon drumming) under one roof. Every year around twenty five groups of local artists participate in this event, and it is so popular that it attracts more than 10,000 spectators. You can enjoy local entertainment, passed down over generations, from various areas in Sado without having to travel around. You will also find food stalls selling Sado specialties like seafood caught fresh off the coast of Sado, and Sado's local Japanese sake.

One of the best cherry blossom viewing spots on Sado Island, with 2,000 cherry trees in bloom. The cherry blossoms are illuminated at the peak of the blooming season.

Sanno Festival, with a history of 800 years, is a large-scale event held over three days. The Ondeko demon drumming team goes out to visit the Iuchi area on the first day, followed by every Ondeko team of Hiyoshi Shrine from the villages of Funashimo, Ono, and Niibo. Seven portable shrines from the seven Hiyoshi Shrines gather at the worship hall of Niibo Hiyoshi Shrine, and that is a spectacular sight. On the last day, young boys' Yabusame (horseback archery), Ondeko, and Sagariha (processional music accompaniment) are dedicated within the precinct of Niibo Hiyoshi Shrine. The idyllic Harigoma song and dance performance is also delivered.

Sado Kinzan is also famous for the largest number of cherry blossoms on Sado Island. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is around mid-April, when the spring tourist season arrives. The rows of cherry trees in full bloom are illuminated in a spectacular manner, delighting visitors. The cherry blossoms floating in the background of the buildings of the Sado Kin Ginzan Ruins is a fantastic sight that can only be seen on Sado Island. Please enjoy strolling through the cherry blossoms at night.

The Sado Bonfire Noh season kicks off with Noh peformances at Daizen Shrine. One of four Noh stages in the Kuninaka area, the stage at Daizen Shrine was reconstructed in 1846, and is said to be the oldest among others still in existence in Sado. Encased in green, the stage features a thatched and hipped roof and has an elegant atmosphere. Witness the opening of the Sado Noh season, while taking in the fresh spring breeze.

This course allows visitors to enjoy the magnificent nature, including the bright blue ocean and snow-capped mountains.

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.

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.

At the Sadokoku Aikawa Hina Dolls Festival, private households, shops and hotels in Aikawa display their own hina dolls, and related objects, for the public. The city of Aikawa flourished along with the development of Sado's gold mine. Venues for viewing the dolls add up to fifty, and the objects on display include many traditional, or historical and valuable items. Related events and hospitality services are also available around the Aikawa City Centre. Enjoy the festival while browsing through the town of Aikawa.

Shinbo Festival is hosted by Shinbo Hachimangu Shrine. Four groups of Ondeko dedicate their performances in front of the worship hall from 15:00, and other rituals, such as Sagariha musical performance and Yabusame (horseback archery), also take place. Bunya Puppet plays and other Sado local traditional performing arts are shown at Taikeiji Temple next door. Quaint stalls create a make-shift market, held under cherry flowers in bloom, where you can savor simple sweet treats, or pick up some handicrafts.(TBC) Cherry trees on the path to Hachimangu Shrine are also in bloom. Lit up with lanterns in the evening, the precinct of the shrine is a popular cherry viewing spot.

The Noh stage on the grounds of Daizen Shrine is said to be the oldest one still in existence in Sado. It is one of the four Noh stages in the Kuninaka area where Noh performances have been regularly held. The Noh stage features kagami-ita (a back wall) with a painting of a pine tree and the sun. Noh is performed every year, dedicated to the gods, along with Sagiryu Kyogen. Kyogen is usually performed as a comic interlude between Noh acts, and there are three schools: Okuraryu, Izumiryu and Sagiryu. Sagiryu has been passed down in only three places in Japan: Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Kanzaki City (Chiyoda-cho), Saga Prefecture, and Sado. Kyogen steadily declined in popularity during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), and Sagiryu Kyogen in Sado once ceased all together in the middle of the 20th century. In the 1970s and 1980s, a successor of Sagiryu Kyogen was discovered in the Mano area, and it was reinvigorated thereafter. Today, the Sado Sagiryu Kyogen Study Group has been striving to pass down and spread the art form.

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.

A summer festival held by the taiko performing arts group "Kodo" since 1988. Live performances are held on three consecutive nights, each with its own distinct personality! The festival is also packed with a variety of other programs. For more information, please visit the official website.

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.

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.

Held in the Sawata area, Sado no Bon "Shishigajo Matsuri" is a festival featuring a mikoshi (portable shrine) parade carried by children, Bon dancing and Ondeko deity mask dance, among others. (Bon is the time when the spirits of the ancestors return home.) The fireworks show set to music, "Firework Fantasy," is popular for the dynamics of launching at close range. Fireworks are set off in rhythmical patterns in sync with a wide range of music.

This festival began when rice was offered to Kisaki Shrine as a prayer for safe voyage in the days when Ogi Port was a port for loading gold and silver. Shinto ritual entertainment, small lion dances, large lions, and devil drums, as well as Shukunegi chitoton and chitoton, etc., make the rounds of the gates. Ogi Okesa" and "Mikoshi" also make an appearance. As the last summer festival on Sado Island, the night sky is decorated with a large display of fireworks.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Sagiryu is one of the Kyogen schools, which was passed down in only three places in Japan. Three major schools of Kyogen: Sagiryu, Izumiryu and Okuraryu, ceased after the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century, but Izumiryu and Okuraryu schools were reinvigorated shortly thereafter. The Saigyu Kyogen school steadily declined, but today, a Nohgaku club called "Tekihokai," based in former Mano Town, strives to preserve the style. At Sosha Shrine's Annual Festival Eve, Sagiryu Kyogen performances are offered by Sado Sagiryu Kyogen Study Group and Mano Junior High School's Kyogen Club.

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.

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.