lodgepole tree, hanshigiri

Magoshiro is a cottage-style lodge located within a designated important preservation area for traditional buildings and architecture. The building has wooden walls and a historical atmosphere, with the living room built using a traditional Japanese house style. You can relax and unwind as you drink and chat with your friends or family around the Japanese style hearth. The inn has three Japanese-style rooms and a cellar converted into a special room, which offers a unique atmosphere and is available for group use. Magoshiro only provides packages without meals, but delivery service is available from neighbourhood restaurants. The building is equipped with a self-catering kitchen.

An ancient temple tucked away in the back of the Shukunegi village, Shokoji Temple was founded in 1349 as the first Jishu School temple in Sado. On the Sanmon main gate, there still remains a munefuda [an inscription related to the building], written in 1717, and this gate is one of the oldest pieces of architecture in Shukunegi. Shokoji has been enshrining the Tokai Benzaiten (literally means sea-crossing goddess of the sea), since the olden days. It has continuously been worshipped as a guardian deity protecting against shipwreck, and as a goddess of artistry. A master artist, Mahori Hogan Yoshitaka, donated his painting entitled "Tokai Benzaiten" to the temple. Shokoji Temple is one of the temples on Sado's Seven Gods of Fortune pilgrimage route. Within the temple precinct, there is a graveyard of Shuzo Shibata, a Shukunegi-native who studied Western Studies in the late Edo Period (early 19th century), and later drew an elaborate world map.

Isaburo's Residence, known as the house with a unique eave decoration, has opened its doors to the public as an accommodation. The old house of a Sengokubune captain, built in 1892, it is now available for use with its interior in the original format. You can feel a sense of history everywhere in the building, with fan-shaped eave decorations, glossy, amber coloured flooring planks, sooked walls, and lacquered beams and cupboards. You'll enjoy exclusive use of the property during your stay. Isaburo's offers a bed-only package, but the building is fully equipped with a self-catering kitchen.

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.

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.

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.