Sado Island (Sado-ga-shima)

Getting Here and Around

Sado Kisen has two main ferry routes, both with regular ferry and hydrofoil service. From Niigata to Ryotsu the journey takes 2½ hours, with six or seven crossings a day; the one-way fare is ¥2,190 for ordinary second class, ¥3,100 for first class, and ¥6,210 for special class. The jetfoil (¥6,090 one-way, ¥10,990 round-trip within five days) takes one hour, with 10 or 11 crossings daily in summer, 3 in winter, and between 3 and 8 at other times of the year (depending on the weather). The bus from Bay No. 6 in front of the JR Niigata station takes 15 minutes (¥200) to reach the dock for ferries sailing to Ryotsu.

Between Ogi and Naoetsu the hydrofoil cost is the same as the Niigata-Ryotsu crossing, but the Naoetsu ferry terminal is a ¥150 bus ride or ¥900 taxi ride from Naoetsu Station. Depending on the season, one to three ferries sail between Teradomari (a port between Niigata and Naoetsu) and Akadomari, taking two hours. The fare is ¥1,610 for second class and ¥2,500 for first class. The port is five minutes on foot from the Teradomari bus station, and 10 minutes by bus from the JR train station (take the Teradomari-ko bus).

Frequent bus service is available between major towns on Sado-ga-shima. The 90-minute bus ride from Ryotsu to Aikawa departs every 30 minutes and costs ¥740. Two-day weekend passes for unlimited bus travel are ¥2,000, and are available at the Ryotsu and Ogi ports and in the towns of Sawata and Aikawa. During July and August there's a special one-day pass for ¥1,500. In hop-on, hop-off zones it is possible to flag the bus driver or get off anywhere on most routes, which is very convenient for sightseeing.

From May through November, four- and eight-hour tours of the island depart from Ryotsu and Ogi. These buses have a magnetic attraction to souvenir shops. The best compromise is to use the tour bus for the mountain skyline drive (¥4,500) or the two-day skyline and historic-site combined tour (¥7,000), then rent a bike to explore on your own. You can make bus-tour reservations directly with the Niigata Kotsu Regular Sightseeing Bus Center.

Give yourself at least two days to take advantage of the beauty of Sado Island. For music lovers, the Kodo Earth Celebration in mid-August is not to be missed. When choosing when to head to Sado, remember the ferry and hydrofoil are no fun in harsh winter weather.