Amid discussions of “overtourism” in Japan (and beyond), a few destinations reliably serve as counterexamples. Sado Island, located off the coast of Niigata prefecture in the Sea of Japan, is among the first that springs to mind.
Not that the island isn’t worth visiting. Featuring bucolic rice fields, sweeping ocean views and culture and architecture that rivals anywhere on the Japanese mainland, Sado-ga-shima is among the best places to visit anywhere in Japan.
It’s also relatively difficult and expensive to reach, however, which means that very few people (foreign or Japanese) make the journey. If anything, Sado is exemplary of undertourism!
How to Reach Sado Island from Niigata (and Beyond)
As of mid-2025, the options for how to get to Sado Island are…sobering, to say the least. Really, there’s only one: A Shinkansen (or, if you’re coming from somewhere west of Tokyo, multiple trains) to Niigata Station; a bus from there to the Sado Kisen ferry terminal; and a high-speed jetfoil ferry from there to Sado Island’s Ryotsu Port, where you will almost certainly need to rent a car.
At some point in the future, a local airline called Toki Air (named for the toki, a bird native to Sado but which I have never personally seen) will start flying to Sado Island’s now-defunct airport, including to and from Narita Airport near Tokyo. However, this was supposed to start this month (it’s June 2025 as I’m writing this), yet there’s still not even an indication as to when these routes might actually take flight.
What to Do on Sado Island
Ride a tub boat at Ogi Port
I first visited Sado in 2021, when Japan’s insane covid policies (had I not been living there at the time, I wouldn’t even have been able to enter the country) meant the island famous tarai-bune, or tub boats, were not in operation. As a result, they were among the first stops I made on this trip: Both riding in one from Ogi Port, and also photographing them with picturesque Yashima island in the background.
TIP: If you make the journey all the way to Ogi-ko, do yourself a favor an visit Shukunegi, a preserved townscape that will take you back to the Edo period!
Traipse amid daylilies in Onogame
If your Sado Island itinerary happens to be taking place during the month of June, then you’re in luck: The island’s famous daylilies (wasuregusa) will be in bloom. You’ll find these flowers everywhere on the island (and particularly along its west coast), but the most impressive place to see them is way up north, near the Onogame monolith. However, there’s also a patch at the Sawasakihama Lighthouse near Shukunegi and Ogi.
Watch the sun set into the sea
Once you finish at Onogame, I recommend that you spend the afternoon driving down the island’s west coast, from Senkakuwan bay, all the way down to the UNESCO World Heritage Sado Kinzan Gold Mine. If you’re visiting in late spring or early summer, this will allow you to enjoy views of flooded rice paddies above the sea—which, as you can imagine, will be especially stunning at sunset.
See a firelit Noh performance
Whether on the same day you drive the west coast or not, one of my favorite things to do in Sado Island is to watch Noh, and ideally firelit (Takagi) Noh-gaku. If you do plan to do this, I suggest consulting the Sado Island Noh schedule, which outlines when and at which shrine (all performances take place at shrines) this will happen. You don’t need to buy tickets in advance, but I do recommend showing up early to make sure you get parking.
Don’t neglect the island’s interior
One major advantage of having a second full day in Sado in 2025? I got to visit places I didn’t see in 2021. These included, on the advice of staff at my shukubo temple stay (more on that in a second), scenic temples such as Seisui-ji and Hase-dera, which in spite of sharing characters with Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera and a name with one of a temple in Kamakura, respectively, very much had their own identities (and absolutely massive Sugi, or Japanese cedar trees).
Where to Stay on Sado Island
The first time I visited Sado, in 2021, I just came for the day from Niigata. While this is definitely possible, if you have limited time, I can now saying (having spent two nights here in 2025) that multi-day trips are much preferable. Sado Island is way bigger than it looks on the map; attractions and curiosities are also dense enough that it’s very worth taking your time.
Now, when it comes to Sado Island hotels, there are a few options. These range from simple minshuku such as Nanauraso, to luxury hotels like Hotel Oosado. I personally stayed at Gyokurin-ji, a shukubo (temple stay) located deep within the island’s interior. On these dates, I happened to be the property’s only guest, which meant the morning prayers and Buddhist breakfast were even more special than they are, say, in Koyasan.
Other FAQ About Your Sado Island Itinerary
How do I travel to Sado Island?
To get to Sado Island as of 2025, you first need to get to Niigata, either by Shinkansen (to Niigata Station) or plane (to Niigata Airport). Travel from either of these places to Sado Kisen ferry terminal, where a jet-foil (high-speed ferry) can take you to Sado’s Ryotsu Port. In the future, direct flights to Sado’s now-defunct airport may be available, though no date has been set.
Is Sado Island worth visiting?
Sado Island is absolutely, positively worth visiting! Whether you come for local curiosities such as to see a firelit Noh performance or ride in a tarai-bune (tub boat), or simply to enjoy seasonal spectacles like the daylily bloom or rice planting, Sado-ga-shima is like nowhere else in Japan.
How long to spend on Sado Island?
The longest I’ve ever spent on Sado Island is two nights—and I definitely could’ve explored more! It’s bigger than it looks on the map, but beyond that, it’s rich in attractions. There’s a lot to do in every part of the island, and it’s definitely a place you want to explore as slowly as you can. As a result, if you have 3-5 nights to spend, I’d say that Sado Island is worth the investment of time and money.
The Bottom Line
Sado Island is one of the most underrated—and under-visited—places in Japan. Located just off the coast of Niigata in the Sea of Japan, the island is known for verdant rice paddies (some of them right on the ocean), seasonal daylilies, fresh seafood, one-of-a-kind cultural traditions and some of Japan’s most picturesque Noh theater performances. On the other hand, it remains relatively difficult to reach, which has both downsides (it’ll take you time and money to get there) and upsides, namely the decided lack of tourists. Need personalized help integrating Sado-ga-shima into your Japan trip? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
