Sado Island, located in the Sea of Japan, is a gateway to Japan’s unspoiled beauty. After two days of exploring Niigata’s rustic farmlands, we set sail for the Island. Our journey takes us along serene roads, past scenic rice paddies, and through charming fishing villages. Despite its remote location, Sado Island is a cultural treasure trove. It was a place of exile for intellectuals in medieval times, a historical fact that adds a unique dimension to our trip. We’ve planned a diverse range of activities to immerse ourselves in the island’s culture, from Japanese drum lessons to soba noodles-making classes, and even a taraibune (tub boat) ride. And let’s not forget the food-the freshest seafood, perfect rice, and farm produce await your palate.
- Meet/Depart: Tokyo/Tokyo
- Trip Length: 7 days 6nights
- Level: MODERATE
- Price per Person: 370,000JPY (click HERE for indicative amounts in other currencies)
- Single Supplement: 30,000JPY
- Ave. Temperature (High/Low) : June 23/16C (73/60F) October 20/13C (68/55F)
- Minimum number of guests required for guaranteed departure: 4
2025 May 23-29 / June 12-18 / October 17-23
- Ride on spectacular coastal roads on this remote island
- Stay at charming ryokans (Japanese-style inns)
- Gourmet food featuring the freshest seafood
- Visit a traditional local festival in Hamochi – a truly unique experience (June departure only)
- A variety of cultural activities including Japanese drumming and soba noodles making
- All lodgings on a twin-share 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 about room availability and a single supplemental charge.
- Meals (6 breakfasts and 6 dinners. Lunch is not included.)
- English-speaking guide and van support
- Rental hybrid bike or road bike.
- Any ground/ocean transportation (except for private taxis)
- Fee for Japanese drumming lesson, pottery making lesson and a ride on taraibune (tub boat).
- Oka Tours custom cycling jersey and a water bottle.
- Once you have read and agreed with the Terms & Conditions, click the ‘BOOK ONLINE’ button below and submit an online booking form.
- We will contact you within one business day by email to confirm your reservation and arrange for payment of your deposit, which is 10% of the trip price.
- We accept payments by credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, or AMEX) or wire transfer.
- After receipt of your deposit, we will send you a registration form. We ask you to fill out, sign, and return to us.
- Full payment is due 21 days prior to the first day of the trip.
Trip Itinerary
We meet at the Tokyo train station in the morning and transfer to Nagaoka by the Shinkansen (bullet train; it 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 ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) for the first night is a rustic wooden building situated in a small valley. Enjoy a dip in its delightful onsen (natural hot spring bath). (Dinner included)
After breakfast, we hit the road to Niigata, one of the first five Japanese ports opened for foreign trade after the end of National Seclusion in the 19th century. We ride through rice fields and then along the Shinano-gawa River. In the afternoon, we finish our ride on the outskirts of Niigata city and take a water shuttle to downtown Niigata. In the evening, we go out for dinner in Furumachi (the old town district). We stay at a western-style hotel. (Breakfast and dinner included)
Following breakfast, we set off for a journey from Niigata port to Sado Island by ferry. Once on Sado Island, after a short transfer by van from Ryotsu port to Hatano, we start cycling onto quiet hills and then ride along the coastline towards Shukunegi. Our ryokan for the next two days is a beautiful conversion of an old Japanese house. (Breakfast and dinner included)
We cycle around cape Sawasaki and its surrounding areas along the magnificent coastline and hills in the morning. We spend the afternoon in Shukunegi, a picturesque preserved village that prospered from the shipbuilding and shipping business during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). Today’s program includes various activities, including Japanese drumming with an instructor from Kodo and a ride on a taraibune (tub boat). (Breakfast and dinner included)
Our journey begins with a scenic ride north through peaceful hills and fields. We make a special stop at a local festival in Hamochi town (June trip only), where we can witness the unique fertility dance called Tsuburosashi if we are lucky. En route, we take a detour to learn the traditional art of making soba noodles and taste our creations. After a satisfying lunch, we continue our adventure along the stunning western coast of the island. Our final destination is Aikawa, a town that thrived from its gold mine during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). Here, we stay at a Japanese-style hotel on the oceanfront. Enjoy soaking in an onsen hot spring bath and rejuvenate (Breakfast and dinner included).
In the morning, we visit the old gold mine to see what it was like in the old days. Then, we ride in a region with the island's most dynamic and magnificent landscape, through rolling hills along the coastline, passing fishing villages, and including some climbs and spectacular downhills. After exhilarating rides, your day ends at a comfortable inn. Nestled on a cliff near Futatsugame (two turtle-shaped giant rocks), the inn offers stunning ocean views, providing the perfect setting to relax and unwind. (Breakfast and dinner included)
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. (Breakfast included)