In this article, I will introduce some of the things to keep in mind and how to get there after a day trip to Sado Island, Niigata.
Many of you may be interested in this island since it was registered as a World Cultural Heritage in July 2024.
I went there without a car & on a day trip from Niigata, so I hope this will be helpful to those in similar situations or planning a trip to Sado Island! It will include some reflections, but I hope you will find it helpful as well♪
- Those who came to Niigata trip and want to visit Sado Island registered as a World Heritage Site
- Those who are considering a trip to Sado Island without a car & day trip to Sado Island
- Those who are considering a day trip from Niigata to Sado Island
Sado Island, where is it?
Sado Island is generally reached from Niigata by car ferry or jetfoil.
It takes about 2.5 hours one way for the car ferry and about 1 hour one way for the jetfoil.
Since I went to Niigata with zero preliminary research, I honestly did not expect it to take so long, but since I had come all the way to Niigata, I headed for Sado Island with great vigor!
I thought it would only take about 30 minutes by ferry, but it was much farther than I imagined.
By the way, the reason why I decided to travel to Niigata was because I was chosen by “Somewhere in Boon! I decided to go to Niigata because it was chosen by the “Dokokani byuun! It is fun to go on a trip with a destination in mind, but it is also fun to think about the destination after the destination has been decided.
Booking a Boat to Sado Island
Now that we know we need to take a long boat ride, the next step is to make a boat reservation!
Boats to Sado Island leave from two locations. One is Niigata Port, located about 15 minutes by bus from Niigata Station, and the other is Naoetsu Port, about 30 minutes by car from Joetsu Myoko Station.
This time we will choose Niigata Port since we were staying at Niigata Station!
The ship types are car ferry and jetfoil!
The car ferry costs about 6,000 yen round trip (2nd class seat), while the jetfoil costs about 14,000 yen round trip.
However, the Jetfoil can get you to Sado Island in about an hour, so it depends on whether you prioritize time or price in this area.
For boat reservations and more information, please check the official website here.
This time we went from Niigata Port to Sado Island, and what we were worried about was whether or not we needed to make a reservation in advance for the boat.
In conclusion, you could have purchased tickets on the day of the tour, but since the ship has a capacity, I think it would be safer to purchase in advance.
However, please note that the barcode sent to your e-mail after booking is not a ticket. Please note that it is a barcode to exchange it for a ticket!
Now it’s time to go to Sado Island!
Finally, it was time to board the car ferry!
Boarding began 20 minutes before departure. I am somewhat nervous and excited!
The interior of the car ferry was larger than I had imagined, and just exploring the ship was fun.
I was worried about getting seasick, but I hardly felt any rocking at all.
We took the first car ferry on the way there, so I was fast asleep and before I knew it we had arrived! Most of the people around me were fast asleep as well.
Just looking at the Sea of Japan is fun!
By the way, second class seats are unreserved, so I recommend getting to Sado Port early and joining the battle to get a seat!
I went during the Obon season, so it was probably a busier season than usual, but the ship was full.
If you want to get a good seat, you’ll need to get to Sado Port early, or pay to ride in first class.
Again, it’s a question of whether you prioritize time or money.
We looked at the ocean, explored the ship, dozed off, chatted, and before we knew it we had arrived at Sado Island!
We were greeted by a Japanese crested ibis! Speaking of Sado Island, it’s the Japanese crested ibis – so cute.
Let’s head to the historic Sado Gold Mine!
Well, we arrived safely at Ryotsu Port! It’s 8:30am.
Sado Island is famous for the Sado Gold Mine, a registered World Heritage Site, so we hop on a local bus and head there.
Sado Gold Mine is located on the west side of Sado Island, directly opposite Ryotsu Port.
This time, we went to Sado Kinzan by bus, but a day trip to Sado Island by bus was more difficult than we expected…
There are few buses and you have to transfer, so it is not recommended for those who want to sightsee efficiently.
If you want to fully enjoy Sado Island, we recommend renting a car or staying overnight on Sado Island!
However, if you just want to go to Sado Island like us and are happy as long as you can see Sado Kinzan, I think you can sightsee even by day trip and bus!
It takes about an hour and a half, including transfers, to get to Sado Kinzan safely!
If you are traveling by round trip bus, we recommend the Sado 1-Day Pass! It will be slightly cheaper.
I immediately bought my ticket.
No prior reservation is required unless you are planning on taking the guided prospector tour or the mixed reality experience course called Island Mirage.
I chose the course that took me to see both the Soutafu and Doyū tunnels! I think most people chose this course. You can check the details on the official website here.
By the way, it’s pretty cold inside the cave! Really cold!!!
I went there without doing any research, so it was too cold in just a sleeveless top and cardigan…
It’s about 10 degrees, so be careful if you’re going in the summer!
First, we headed to the Soudaifuku Mine, which is about a 30-minute course! Here, the mining scene from the Edo period is recreated.
Apparently the work was tough and short-lived, so people who couldn’t find work in Edo were brought here.
There are also doll models on display, so you can get an idea of what the work was like at the time.
Next, we head to Doyuko Tunnel! It’s a course of about 40 minutes.
It seems that gold could no longer be mined in the late Edo period. However, in the Meiji period, modern mining methods made it possible to mine the metal again, and gold production increased again. There are also remains of the trolley train rails inside the tunnel.
Finally, we finish off our tour of Sado Kinzan with a taste of the famous gold leaf ice cream!
Ice cream is the best in midsummer!!!
Now, since I have a little bit of time before the return bus, I stop by the Kitazawa Flotation Plant ruins, known as the Laputa of Sado Island.
It’s a popular tourist spot that evokes the worldview of the movie “Castle in the Sky”!
It certainly does look like Laputa! You can’t go inside, so you take photos from outside! Since I was only there to take photos, it took about 10 minutes.
Since I had to catch the return car ferry, I left the Kitazawa Flotation Plant ruins early and walked to the bus stop to get on the bus! I slept soundly on the return bus too.
On the way back to Niigata Station
We returned safely to Ryotsu Port! It was already 3:30 p.m. I hadn’t had lunch until this time, so I was feeling hungry…
I was hoping there would be restaurants at Sado Gold Mine, but there was only ice cream and coffee, no meal options. If you’re planning to eat lunch near Sado Gold Mine, be careful!
After a quick hot dog at a cafe at Ryotsu Port, we boarded the car ferry.
Just like on the way there, the boat was fully booked. We went out onto the deck of the boat and headed to Niigata, looking out at the ocean.
It was just evening, so I was able to see the sun setting from the boat, which was very satisfying! It was relaxing!!!
Summary: Let’s go to Sado Island!
Above is the travelogue of my day trip from Niigata to Sado Island!
It was a schedule that I thought was a bit too difficult, but I actually enjoyed it.
If you want to enjoy Sado Island to the fullest, I recommend renting a car to get around efficiently or staying overnight on the island, but I think this is recommended for those who just want to go to Sado Island, take a boat ride, and see the ocean.
If you have a chance to go to Niigata, be sure to visit Sado Island as well♪