Welcome to Oka Tours! -Specialists in bike tours in Japan

Sado Island, located in the Sea of Japan, is a perfect destination to discover the unspoiled beauty of Japan. Despite its remote location, Sado Island is a treasure house of culture as it was an island of exile for intellectuals in the medieval times. You will ride along coasts and through fishing villages, enjoying spectacular ocean views and fresh seafood. We plan to include some extra-curricular activities such as pottery making lesson, soba noodle making or ride on a taraibune (tub boat).

Minimum number of guests required for guaranteed departure: 4

• Day 1 (Monday) Echigo-Nagano (53km)
  Meet in Tokyo in the morning and transfer to Nagaoka by the Shinkansen (bullet train; takes about 2 hours). Our warm up ride starts in Nagaoka, following quiet back roads out of the city that eventually lead to beautiful countryside. Our accommodation for the first night is a rustic ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) with onsen (natural hot spring bath) situated in a small valley.
• Day 2 (Tuesday) Niigata (97km)
  Today we cycle on the Echigo Plain through rice fields towards Niigata, one of the first five Japanese ports opened for foreign trade after the end of National Seclusion in 19th century. After lunch, we head off to Yahiko-jinja Shrine which stands in a dense forest and is considered by many the best shrine in the Echigo region. As we approach the central Niigata, we take cycle paths along a small river to avoid traffic. In the evening, we go out for dinner in Furumachi (the old town district) and explore its nightlife. We stay at a western-style hotel.
• Day 3 (Wednesday) Futatsukame (72km)
  In early morning, we visit the Hakusan morning market and stroll through stalls selling fresh local produces. After breakfast, we set off for a journey from the port of Niigata to Sado Island by a jetfoil. Upon arrival in Sado Island, we cycle on flat roads on the eastern coast towards the northern tip of the island, passing fishing villages. We stay at a comfortable inn situated on a cliff near Futatsukame (two turtle-shaped giant rocks) enjoying stunning ocean views.
• Day 4 (Thursday) Sawata (96km)
  The coast changes character as we head south and cycle on the western coast today. We ride in a region of the most dynamic and magnificent landscape of the island through rolling hills along the coastline, which include some steep climbs and spectacular down hills. We take on a very tough climb to Donden-yama plateau, where we have lunch enjoying panoramic views of the island. After a quick descent, we continue along the coastline. En route we stop by the town of Aikawa, which prospered from its gold mine during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). We visit the old gold mine to see what it used to be like in old days. We stay at a ryokan* with onsen in Sawata.
  * Guest rooms are equipped with private toilets, but may not be with private baths.
• Day 5 (Friday) Shukunegi (50km)
  This is an easy day after yesterday’s tough ride. The route continues along the western coast of the island, and takes us inland over modest hills. Our destination today is Shukunegi, a picturesque preserved village that prospered from ship building and shipping business during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). Before lunch we take either a soba noodle making lesson or a taraibune (tub boat) ride. Before sunset, we ride to the Sawasakihana Lighthouse and watch the amazing sunset into the Sea of Japan. Our ryokan for the next two days is a beautiful conversion of an old Japanese house. (During our stay at this ryokan, we try to have an opportunity of taking a pottery-making lesson by a renowned ceramist.)
• Day 6 (Saturday) Shukunegi (85km)
  In the morning we cycle along the tranquil southern coastline. We then ride into the interior of the island taking narrow mountain roads. En route we visit several temples with stunning buildings and Japanese gardens. After lunch our route follows the magnificent western coast past small fishing villages and sand beaches around cape Sawasaki.
• Day 7 (Sunday)
  Following breakfast, we leave Sado Island and return to Niigata by jetfoil. Once at the Niigata train station, it is time to say goodbye to your leader/guide. You take the Shinkansen (bullet train), and arrive in Tokyo in the early evening.

• All lodgings on a double occupancy basis. A limited number of single-occupancy rooms are available for an additional charge on most tours. If you are a single traveler, please inquire for room availability and a single supplemental charge.
• Meals (6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners)
• Guides and van support
• Rental bikes
• Any ground/ocean transportations (except for private taxis)
• Fee for soba noodle making lesson or a taraibune (tub boat) ride