Iwayasan Cave and Buddha Statues

A private house from the Kaei era was relocated. It is a quiet inn quietly set against the backdrop of a mountain with a Buddha statue and a happy Jizo (guardian deity of children). What attracts repeat guests are the hearty meals prepared with local ingredients. On the premises is the studio of the owner of Hananoki, potter Tosei Watanabe. In 2008, Hananoki was awarded the "Worker of Local Production for Local Consumption" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan; in 2008, it was listed in the French edition of Michelin; in 2023, it was awarded the "Niigata Local Gastronomy" prize; and in 2011, it was awarded the "Niigata Local Gastronomy" prize.

Shiawase (happiness) Jizo, a statue of Jizo Bodhisattva (guardian of children), stands at 17.5 metres high including the base, and it is so huge that it can be seen from a distance. A villager revealed the great desire to build a Jizo statue in 1982, and it was completed in the following year. The white, elegant statue contrasts fabulously with the deep green at the foot of mountains in the Togami area. Past the Sanmon main gate, there is a hall of Jizo, where a variety of Jizo statues are installed. Just a short distance from the Jizo statue lies Iwayasan Cave.

Minshuku Takayama is situated behind Shukunegi Post Office in the Takayama area of Shukunegi. Here, you can enjoy delicacies from the sea, such as turban shellfish and abalones, etc. which the master, who is a fisherman himself, catches in a traditional manner on a tub boat. Minshuku Takayama takes pride in hand-kneaded soba (buckwheat) noodles, and they enjoy immense popularity. Guests sometimes enjoy talking and drinking together gathered around the sunken hearth in the lounge. A bottle of Japanese sake (Hokusetsu Kinboshi), bearing Takayama's original label on its bottle, is a perfect souvenir.

Sado Island's Ogi Folk Museum is housed in the building of the former Shukunegi Elementary School. This museum exhibits a magnificent collection of over 30,000 folk materials including tools and equipment of fishery in South Sado and shipbuilders, as well as objects closely related to the everyday life of the common people which evoke the retro ambience of the Showa times (1926-1989). The ship on display was restored based on the design drawings of a sengokubune (wooden freight ship), which was built in 1858 in Shukunegi. The museum is adjacent to the Shukunegi village, a designated preservation area for important traditional buildings and architecture.

Sabo Yamashita is a hearty café in a renovated shed, with tables made from washtub-boats unique to the Ogi area, where they are used locally. Simply sweet zenzai (sweet red bean soup with mochi rice cake) and warabimochi (Japanese jelly-like confectionery) are perfect for a tea break during a stroll through Shukunegi.

The first floor of Uoharu is a fishmonger shop, where local fish, caught fresh and purchased at early-morning markets, is sold. The second floor is a restaurant with tatami-mat rooms. Uoharu serves classic dishes, but you can choose your seafood at the shop downstairs and then have it cooked according to your preferred taste. "Rice Bowl with Stewed Abalone" and "Abalone Steak", both of which have captured the media's attention, come highly recommended and add an unforgettable dining experience to your travels.

You cannot talk about dining in Ogi without mentioning Matsuhama. Matsuhama has been the locals' favourite, where they can leisurely enjoy the unbeatably delicious seafood, meat, and drinks. Matsuhama's specialty is a set menu of "Ogi Irifune Gozen", which was created to commemorate Ogi Port's 400th anniversary (reservation required). It is served in a deluxe two-layer box containing sashimi, grilled fish, deep-fried dish, grilled turban shellfish, igoneri (seaweed jelly), and you can enjoy Ogi-landed seafood to the full.

Inayoshi is a popular Japanese restaurant in Ogi. It has earned its reputation for delicious grilled and basted eel. The eel, which is rarely available all year around in Sado, is cooked and glazed with their special sweet sauce that is a signature taste of Inayoshi. Kamameshi (hot pot rice) and rice bowl with sauce-flavoured pork cutlet are also popular dishes. They offer three private dining rooms, set meals and noodles, so families can also have a great dining experience. You can also find their popular bento box lunch and cooked food to take away.