Sea Town Shopping Street

Within the grounds of Sado Japan Coast Guard Station, a Japanese black pine tree with beautifully shaped branches stands nineteen metres tall, and has a girth of six metres. It used to be a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea, and is mentioned in the folk song, "Ryotsu Jinku". Murasame no Matsu used to be called "Otabisho no Matsu" (a pine tree at the midway resting point of a god during a procession), or "Gobansho no Matsu" (a pine tree at a port observation post). Koyo Ozaki, a novelist who visited Sado in the Meiji times (1868-1912), thought the tree getting splashed by waves resembled the wetness of getting caught in a shower of rain (called "murasame" in Japanese). The tree's name is derived from this episode. Murasame no Matsu is a Niigata Prefecture Natural Monument.

Called "Wakamiya-san", Hachiman Wakamiya Shrine is familiar to locals in the Ryotsu Minato area. Every year on the 5th of May, Minato Matsuri, the most important annual festival at the shrine, takes place. Along Wakamiya Street, fisherman's good-haul banners (used to indicate a good catch) are hoisted and flutter, and a mikoshi (portable shrine) is carried, bounced and shaken through the street in a wild procession. It is a distinctly heated, port-town festival. Within the grounds of the shrine, along with the Main Hall, there is a hall enshrining Tenmanten Shrine, Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine and Otokai Shrine together, and a monument built in memory of the Kita brothers, Ikki and Reikichi.

Café Rest Moa is located opposite the Sado Kisen's Ryotsu Ferry Terminal. Their delicious box lunch (served at lunchtime between 11:00 - 14:00) enjoys great popularity. The selection of bento includes Squid & Spring Onion, Breaded Deep-fried Meat, as well as seasonal items such as the Deep-fried Breaded Oysters Bento. Breakfast deals, known as "morning service" in Japan, are available. The original blend coffee tastes rich and mellow.

Sushi Uohide is located in front of Sado Kisen's Ryotsu Ferry Terminal. The owner/chef wholeheartedly crafts sushi with Sado-grown Koshihikari rice and toppings purchased from auctions at the Ryotsu Market. The chief draw is "Sado's Local Fish Nigiri Sushi Set," hand-crafted with seven toppings from the day's best catch. The signature item at Sushi Uohide is a creative one: "Sushi with Squid Innards." Squid innards are used instead of wasabi. This dish has an exquisite balance of flavours and is truly a masterpiece of hand-crafted sushi.

Oni Café is a coffee shop serving locally loved handmade potstickers, which were passed down from a longtime ramen shop after it closed its doors. Enjoy chatting with the owner who has a deep affection for Ondeko (deity [oni