Mount Donden

Donden Sanso, situated right in the middle of the traverse course on Osado Mountains, has been loved by hikers and tourists who visit Osado Mountains such as Mt Donden, one of the Top 100 Mountains with Flowers in Japan. Seafood, riches of the soil special to Sado, and delicious rice are popular among visitors. The view from the deck is stunning, and you can look out to the mountain ranges in Echigo on the mainland when the weather is clear. Sunrise and starry night skies are also fantastic.

As an island of silk-farming using Aino mulberry leaves, Sado used to boast the top sericulture industry in Niigata Prefecture. This giant, ancient Aino mulberry tree is estimated to be 1300 years old, measuring 9 meters tall and 5.2 meters around the base. The trunk divides into four branches, and the crown spreads 18 meters. Hayoshi's Aino mulberry tree is one of the three great mulberry trees in Japan, together with one at Ebisu Shrine in Otaru City, Hokkaido, and another in Usune, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture.

This bronze statue of Nichiren (founder of the Nichiren School of Buddhism and an exile to Sado) was erected as a result of the concerted contribution of over 3,000 monks and followers all around Japan, and as a part of a celebration for the 750th anniversary since the establishment of the Nichiren School. With Ryotsu Bay as its backdrop, the statue stands facing India, the Buddha's birthplace, at approximately 13 metres high (26 metres including the base). The statue appears with a great dignity well-suited to Sado, which is closely related to Nichiren.

There is a walk path in Ishina natural cedar forest for anyone to enjoy a walk around natural cedar trees at around at 900m up in the mountain. You can get to the entrance of the path by car. Along the 650-meter long path, you can see giant trees, some of which were named "Zogesugi (ivory cedar)", "Hagoromosugi (magic robe cedar)", etc. in competition. The cedar trees were warped by strong winds and in fog, and trees unsuitable for timber remain without being cut down. Some of the trees are over 300 years old.

Fantao is a Chinese restaurant housed within the Sun Mall Town shopping centre. The chef/owner, who learned cooking skills in Tokyo, cooks wholeheartedly for his guests. A choice of more than 15 variations of Chinese ramen noodles enjoy popularities among locals. They also offer limited edition of original noodles of the season. As the restaurant is located at a shopping center with is a spacious car park, the restaurant is readily accessible.

Our boxed chirashi sushi is a lacquered box full of sushi rice topped with seafood delicacies from around Sado. In the Edo Period (17th – 19th centuries), Kitamaebune merchant ships carrying specialties connected Japan's East and West, calling at ports around the Sea of Japan including Sado. Our chirashi is prepared by layering sushi rice and seafood marinated in broth-enriched soy sauce. Enjoy seafood such as Sado-produced crab, tuna, sea bream and whitefish of the season, nurtured in the seas surrounding full-of-nature Sado Island and flavored with a special jellied dashi soy sauce. In addition, we offer a variation on chirashi sushi inspired by the ships that carried goodies from the East and West: Kitamae Meat Chirashi.