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You cannot talk about Sado's special tub-boats without mentioning Rikiya Kanko Kisen. Lady skippers skillfully shift the oars, and this is a unique experience that you will never forget. Other popular activities are a cruise around Nansenkyo (the best part of the Ogi Coast) and Sawasaki Lighthouse aboard a high-speed pleasure boat, and another speedy cruise on a high-speed motor boat, to visit other scenic spots. The waiting room houses a ticket booth, souvenir shop and light-meal eatery.

The Kitazawa area in Aikawa is home to a group of facilities, such as a power plant and a thickener (designated National Historical Site), which contributed to the modernization of mines. The flotation method had originally been used for copper beneficiation, but at Kitazawa Flotation Plant, the technniques were applied to silver and gold extraction, and successfully utilized for the first time in the world. Under a war-time increase in production plan, large-scale investment was made. As a result, the Flotation Plant was able to process over 50,000 tonnes of ore per month, and the plant was declared the greatest one in the East.

Sado Kinzan Gold Mine is a collection of historic relics which tell the 400-year history of Sado's gold and silver mines. On the Edo Kinzan Emaki (illustrated scrolls of gold mines) course (Sodayu Tunnel course), full-size dolls and robots provide accurate presentations of the workings of the mines in the past. On the Meiji Government-Controlled Mine course (Doyu Tunnel course), relics of modernization and industrialization still remain. Furthermore, there is also a guided tour course which includes facilities such as "The Best Gold Processing Plant in Asia" and "Japan's First Wetsern-Style Vertical Tunnel", that will cause visitors to marvel at the impressive scale.

The terraced rice field stretches in the mountains over 350m high in the Iwakubi area. The rice paddies have been passed down since around the Edo Period, and about 460 paddies remain until today. Making full use of the land with a steep slope, local people cultivate the rice fields in various size and shapes, which stretch to the top of the mountain like a dragon rising high into the sky. The scenery is particularly spectacular when the morning sun shines on the rice fields filled with water in early spring. The view from the viewing hut is also stunning.

Yajima produces good-quality Japanese arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa Japonica).The arrow which Yorimasa Minamoto, a samurai warrior in 12th century, fired to exterminate nue (a frightening imaginary bird in old stories like chimera) in the Tales of the Heike is said to be made from Yajima-grown bamboo. Kyojima is where Nichiro, a Nichiren (buddhist monk)'s senior disciple, drifted to because of a storm, when he brought a discharge paper for Nichiren, who had been exiled to Sado. Kyojima was named after legend that says Nichiro spent a night reading sutras (経 kyo in Japanese). In the beautiful setting with two islets which a red arched bridge connects, you can take a tub boat ride.

Sado Nishimikawa Gold Park is a hands-on facility situated on the old site of Nishimikawa Gold Dust Mine, which is thought to be the oldest among others. Anyone can easily try panning for gold on three levels: beginner, Intermediate, and advanced. On the advanced course, you will pan for gold on a river! The gold you panned for can be made into a phone strap or pendant (for a charge). You can learn about the history of gold in the exhibition room on-site, and there is a souvenir shop featuring their original goods including sweets and jewellery.

Onogame is a 167-meter high monolith projecting into the sea, and that is a sight to see. The giant rock gained two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japon. The surrounding area is where amur daylily (Tobishima kanzo) grows in clumps, one million flowers in 500 thousand amur daylily. Many people visit there when yellow flowers come into full bloom. The blooming season is from late May until early June. Every year, the Sado Kanzo Festival is held on the second Sunday of June, when Onidaiko (deity mask dance native to Sado) and folk songs are performed.

Doyu no Warito is a relic of opencast mining from the Edo Period (1603-1867), which is said to be a pit in the early stages of the development of Sado's gold and silver mines. As the digging went deeper and deeper to extract more gold ore, the mountaintop was split into a V-shape. The crack on the summit reaches approximately thirty metres in width and seventy-four metres in depth. The mountain with the crack holds a mother lode of gold, stretching about ten metres wide, called the Doyu Vein, and after the Meiji Period (1868-1912), large-scale development was carried out under the Warito.

Along the walking path connecting the unique rock outcrops of Onogame and Futatsugame, a ten-minute walk from the Negai village will lead you to Sai-no-Kawara. In a marine cave, countless stone Jizo (the guardian deity of children) statues stand still, centred around Jizo Bosatsu. Sai-no-Kawara is considered to be the bank area of a river, which flows at the boundary of life and the afterlife. It is where the spirits of deceased children are thought to go, and it has been a sacred space since the olden days.

Take a ride on a hangiri (washtub boat) and explore the world at sea level. The hangiri have been an essential fishing tool for people living on the Ogi Peninsula since old times. Each boat is handmade using cedar and bamboo grown on Sado. In front of the retro backdrop of Shukunegi Town, you will be leisurely guided along the rocky and otherworldly shore created by the earth over a long period of time. This is an eco-friendly slow 'cruise,' navigated by a local skipper who speaks in the Ogi dialect.

Tamemori Endo (Abutsubo Nittoku Shonin) served Nichiren upon being exiled to Sado and became an avid believer of the Hokke mantra. Together with his wife, Sen-nichini (a Buddhist nun), he opened his residence as a temple in 1278, and this is said to be the origin of Myosenji Temple. The temple used to be a residence of the Takeda Honma clan, deputy governor of Sado, and the ambience of a castle still remains. On site stands the only five-story pagoda in Niigata Prefecture, as well as the grave of Suketomo Hino, who was forced into exile on Sado after the Shochu Incident.

Toki Forest Park has toki-theamed facilities. Toki Materials Exhibition Hall showcases a collection of resources on the themes of preservation, breeding, and reintroduction into the wild. Toki Exchange Plaza is a popular spot where you can see toki up close. You can take a pleasant stroll around the park where you will ffind a monument to commemorate Japan's last wild toki named Kin. Don't miss out on the popular soft ice cream made with Sado-grown green edamame beans.

Having been a port since the medieval times, Shukunegi went through the prosperous 17th century brought about by Sado Kinzan Gold Mine, and developed as a kitamaebune port of call for the merchant shipping industry. Facing a small inlet, Shukunegi is characterised by the crowded rows of over 100 houses built with plate walls made from ship planks, and it has been designated as a National Important Preservation Area for Traditional Buildings and Architecture. Three private houses are open to the public (admission charges required), and the entire Shukunegi village represents a history of involvement in ship-related industries.

Osado Skyline is approximately 30km-long route for a scenic drive between Kanai and Aikawa. The highest point is above 900m, and you can look over the entire island, from Mano Bay, Ryotsu Bay, Kuninaka Plain to Kosado Mountains. The view from Hakuundai, a rest area with a viewing deck, is stunning. The scenery in each season such as fresh foliage in early summer and red leaves in autumn is a must-see.

Benkei no Hasamiiwa is a peculiar sight located on seashore in Shimoaikawa, along Prefectural Route 45. A wedge-shaped rock is stuck between two giant rocks. Once upon a time, Sado Benkei and his company mountain priests were making their way to Mount Kinpoku for ascetic training, when a demon appeared in an ambush and requested a contest of strength. Sado Benkei threw rocks in the air, and the rocks are said to be thrown onto the beach in Shimoaikawa. A grave of a consummate governor of Sado, Ichizaemon Shizume adjoins the beach.

Lake Kamo, with approximately 17km of circumferences, is the largest one in Niigata Prefecture. Originally, the lake was freshwater, but it was cut open to the sea in the Meiji Period (1868-1912) in order to prevent flooding, and became a brackish lake. There is a promenade and a cycle path along the lake, and you can enjoy scenery with atmosphere, which was depicted in the poetry. In addition, oysters have been farmed in Lake Kamo since 1932.

Senkakuwan Ageshima Yuen is a tourist attraction of Ageshima Kyowan (narrow bay), the fifth most scenic spot at Senkakuwan Bay. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a dynamic, panoramic view. The surrounding area is a marine park, designated as one of Japan's 100 Scenic Foreshores. You can also enjoy a cruise around the bay, and the underwater world, aboard a glass-bottom boat (for a fee). On site, there are also an aquarium, which is home to fish found in the sea surrounding Sado, and a resource centre, which displays panels about a famous Japanese film, "Kimi no Na Wa" [What is Your Name?

Just one among the rich variety of Kotoura caves, Ryuodo Cave is called "Sado's Blue Grotto," and is the largest lava rock cave on the island. Like the Blue Grotto in Italy, the sunlight creates a beautiful blue reflection and the waters glow brilliantly on days of mild weather and sea conditions. Sea kayak tours are available, providing participants with a chance to navigate into the cave and enjoy an otherworldly view.

Yajima Taiken Koryukan is nestled at the back of a cove with a view of Yajima and Kyojima. You can enjoy a tub-boat ride in the picturesque scenery of the Sado Geopark and Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Park. The centre also offers an array of workshops such as fishing from the rocky shore, dried squid making and soba (buckwheat noodles) making. (Please contact the centre for details.) At the eatery, you will experience the delights of soba and udon noodles with nagamo seaweed.

Under Emperor Kanmu's ordinance, Seisuiji Temple was founded in 808 by Ken'o Hoshi, a Buddhist monk who came from Kyoto on a missionary tour. There is Guzeden (literally: salvation) Hall, imitating the wooden stage at KiyomizuderaTemple (written in the same characters as Seisuiji: 清水寺 in Japanese) in Kyoto, but the main object of worship is 1,000-armed Kannon Bosatsu (Guanyin: Goddes of Mercy), also in imitation of Kiyomizudera Temple. Enmeizenzaijurosonten (the god of longevity) is worshipped at this temple, too, and a painting called, "Zenzaijurojin," by Mahori Hogan Yoshitaka, a master artist, was donated. Seisuiji Temple is one of the temples on Sado's Seven Gods of Fortune pilgrimage route.

Watatsu Shrine is dedicated to Isotakeru, a god of Japanese Shinto, and it is worshipped by islanders as a god of traffic safety. This is one of the nine shrines listed on the shrine register of Engishiki (Regulations of the Engi era), and a high class shrine called Ichinomiya. It is said that its precinct, old documents, etc. were flooded out in 1470 and as a result the shrine was relocated to where it stands now. Its origin and history is not clearly known. Watatsu Shrine is a famous spot for the first shrine visit of the New Year, and many islanders visit there from all around Sado.

Futatsugame resembles two turtles nestling closely and the scenery changes according to the tide. The water around Futatsugame is the clearest in Sado, and Futatsugame Bathing Beach has been selected as one of the Top 100 Sea-Bathing Spots in Japan. Futatsugame is also listed with two stars on the Michelin Green Guide, along with Onogame.

Mount Donden, officially named Mt Tadaramine, is the whole highland area including three mountains above 900m. As the nickname,originated from the word "donden", which means roundtop mountain, indicates, Mount Donden is located at the heart of steep Osado Mountains and solely appears with modest inclines among the mountains. The surrounding area is a treasury of alpine plants and wildflowers. Mount Donden is one of the new Top 100 Mountains and TOP 100 Mountains of Flowers in Japan and many trekkers visit there from April towards early Summer.

After the discovery of gold ore veins, Sado was placed under the direct control of the Shogunate (tenryo), and the Sado Commissioner's Office was established in Aikawa in 1603. Among the vast facilities that were used to house the Commisioner's residence, the section of the Oyakudokoro (administrative office) was restored in 2000. In addition to judicial and administrative offices such as Yakudokoro and Shirasu (court of law with white sand), the Office functioned as Yoseseriba (a place for gold refining and grading), which is quintessentially Sado's, and has, also, been faithfully restored.

Sansuke and Okiku, who are reputed to started rice cultivation in Sado, are enshrined at the two peaks of Mt. Ogamiyama and Mt. Megumiyama in the middle of the Kosado area. The southern slopes are known as a spot to see beautiful autumn foliage, and lead to Momijiyama Park. You can walk around the park on a promenade and enjoy views from a viewing deck in the park.

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.

Up the hill on Kyomachi Street in Aikawa, you will see an ivy-covered three-metre high concrete wall. Former Aikawa Detention Center was opened as a branch of Niigata Prison in 1954, and was in use until 1972 when it was relocated in the Sawata area. Designated as Japan's Tangible Cultural Property, this is a wooden detention house still in existence, which is rarely found in Japan. Former Aikawa Detention Center is open to the public and free of charge, so you can take a look around.

Toki Terrace allows visitors to observe wild toki without disturbing them, and offers a view across Sado's mosaic and lush satoyama landscape. The indoor observation room displays information outlining the efforts to reintroduce toki to the wild, as well as the bird's ecology and habitat. Stuffed actual tokis, which used to live in the wild, are exhibited, too. Telescopes are available and visitors can watch a variety of birds, including toki. From the roof terrace, enjoy a panoramic view: the vast expanse of beautiful rice paddies nurturing all living things in the Kuninaka Plain, and the distant Osado Mountains around Mount Kinpoku, the tallest mountain on Sado Island.

Full-size robots intriguingly tell of the history and legends of Sado. On the first floor, famous scenes with historical significance are introduced by robots in elaborate clothing which are exact replicas of historical figures. Witness Emperor Juntoku mourning his fate with the moon at the place of his exile, or a famous Tsukahara debate between Nichiren and other priests from other schools, and Zeami (14th-15th-century Noh actor and playwright) dancing to pray for rains. On the second floor, photographs and art objects inspired by Sado's ambiance are on exhibit. Shodo Sasaki Museum is located within the museum, where the works of lost-wax casting by Shodo Sasaki, a living national treasure, are on display. You may also enjoy the taste of Sado at a restaurant on site.

Meotoiwa Drive-In is a roadside eatery right in front of the sight-seeing spot, Meotoiwa Rocks. The eatery offers dishes mainly on seafood such as rice bowls with seafood toppings and rice bowls with deep-fried breaded yellowtail. There is also a good selection of souvenirs unique to Sado on offer. Squid preparation is a popular experience with entertaining instructions by the "Dried Squid Master". After the experience, you can take some dried squid home, a popular item at the souvenir shop. If you wish to have the one you prepared by yourself, the prepared squid can be dried and shipped to you at a later date.