Island of maritime history, rice culture and sake education

Sado, about 1.2 times the size of Singapore, is an S-shaped island with teal lagoons, cedar forests and the Osado mountain range.

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(Above) Sankakuya, nicknamed the "triangular house", at Shukuneqi, a maritime hamlet that once catered to shipbuilders, blacksmiths and merchants. (Left) Hike along cliff-side coastal trails on Sado Island in Niigata. PHOTOS: DENISE LIM

(DENISE LIM)

It is home to about 48,000 people, and is a popular retreat for Tokyo residents.

To get from Niigata Port to Sado Island, I board a jetfoil for a one-hour ride (from 13,960 yen for a round trip; str.sg/CjA5).

From Sado Outdoor Base, near the Rotsu Port where I disembark, I join an e-bike tour (3,300 yen for three hours; str.sg/9Kyh) along the shores of Lake Kamo that takes me through rice fields, small fishing villages and a toki conservation park.

The toki, or Japanese crested ibis, is an emblem of Sado. Once endangered, the white birds with pink feathers are thriving here again, thanks to community breeding efforts.

Another morning, we drive north, past oyster farms orderly grids of wooden rafts under which oysters grow in the mineral-rich Sea of Japan and along dramatic cliffside coasts.

Near the northern tip of Sado, a trail leads us towards Onogame, a monolith rising 167m from the sea. We hike a trail down to the Futatsugame, a pair of rock islets resembling two turtles. The winds are strong, but the gorgeous views of luminous turquoise waters are rewarding.

Amid the sand, I spot bottles bearing labels from other countries. Our guide explains that Futatsugame lies in the path of ocean currents that carry debris from distant shores.

Even in this remote, rugged location, environmental conservation is a concern.

In 2024, Sado’s gold mines were inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the Sodayu Gold Mine (1,500 yen), I tread through tunnels carved entirely by hand, as the temperature dips to a chilly 10 deg C.