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 Japanese drum lesson, pottery making lesson, and a ride on a taraibune (tub boat).
Day 1 : Echigo-Nagano (37km)
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 : Niigata (59km)
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 19th century. We ride through rice fields and then along the Shinano-gawa River. After lunch, we take a water shuttle to downtown Niigata. 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 : Shukunegi (40km)
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 start cycling downhill on quiet road and then ride along the coastline towards Shukunegi. 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 4 : Shukunegi (33km)
In the morning, we cycle around cape Sawasaki and its surrounding areas, along magnificent coastline and hills. We spend the afternoon in Shukunegi, a picturesque preserved village that prospered from ship building and shipping business during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). We take a Japanese drum lesson and ride a taraibune (tub boat).
Day 5 : Aikawa (63km)
We head north through peaceful hills and fields in the morning. En route we visit several temples with stunning buildings and Japanese gardens. After lunch we ride along the western coast of the island. Our destination is Aikawa, which prospered from its gold mine during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). We stay at a ryokan with onsen.
Day 6 : Futatsukame (56km)
In the morning we visit the old gold mine to see what it used to be like in old days. We ride in a region of the most dynamic and magnificent landscape of the island through rolling hills along the coastline passing fishing villages, which include some steep climbs and spectacular down hills. We stay at a comfortable inn situated on a cliff near Futatsugame (two turtle-shaped giant rocks) enjoying stunning ocean views.
Day 7
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.
