Sado Island

Waking up around 6:00 AM for a quick shower before heading out into the chilly morning. It was drizzling a bit but today's weather ought to be good. With Lisa in the driver's seat, we headed down to Naoetsu port to catch the 7:30 ferry to Sado Island. We got there just in the nick of time and boarded the boat, bought some breakfast (which was a huge mistake) as soon as we finished eating, the boat took off with the captain announcing that the waves today were much more intense than usual. And we felt that.

No sooner after a few minutes, I realized I was going to be in for a difficult ride, as I soon got more and more seasick, I laid down and just waited for it to be over but it was going to be a 2.5-hour ride. The sea showed no mercy, Lisa went to the bathroom and people all around me were hurling as well. It was difficult to maintain my composure but I didn't want to vomit. Though looking on hindsight, I should have done that because around 9:00AM, just as the island's silhouette appeared in the horizon. My breakfast had also come out, yikes. But I immediately felt better afterwards and was able to gain my bearings.

Still a bit out of breath from such a dreadful ride, we finally got to put our feet on land again. Got on our rented car and headed out to Yajima-Kyojima, where the famed tub-boats were. This place had a picturesque red bridge connecting the two islands and the tub-boats around this area were used in the Ghibli film, Spirited Away. We weren't ready to get back on the waters so quickly so we lapped around the area until the bridge before turning back as access to the island was unavailable.

The tub-boat was a unique experience, makes me wonder just why it came to be, but turns out they used these boats to get shellfish such as abalone. Just after a few meters, I had already started to get some motion sickness but thankfully, it was a short ride and we both got to try and paddle the boat as well. The pictures were amazing though.

We went to Shukunegi Village next, a traditional wooden village, getting lost in its alleys was fun. We got to the coastline where there were more tub-boat experiences and a cave leading out to an almost otherworldly landscape. No doubt caused by the lava formations around the island. We had some lunch at the village before continuing the long road trip around the island.

Passing by Sawasakihama Lighthouse and Mikoiwa, yet, the highlight landscape of the day was Manjojiki, stone plates that the waves cascaded upon, forming a dreamy scene akin to a painting.

After stopping by Lawson, we went to visit Myosenji Temple where there was a pagoda nestled in the woods. A thatched-roof structure, and Buddhist temples. It was a strange complex that seemed to have influences from various eras.

It was another long trip to Benten no Hasami Iwa, a triangular rock stuck between two cliffs, a peculiar sight worth seeing. Nearby, we also visited the Kitazawa Fuyuu Senkouba Ato, which was something out of a post-apocalyptic scene, the ruins of what once was now being engulfed by Mother Nature. It used to be a floatation plant meant to separate gold and silver from waste.

The last stop of the day was the Kinzan Gold Mine. Sado Island was famous for its gold after all. We went deep into the mines and learned about the process and what the people back then had to go through. Humans were incredibly brave to do such things, it was so claustrophobic and I couldn't imagine myself working in such conditions.

With seemingly enough time to spare, we managed to get back to the port in under an hour where we watched the sunset at the docks before going (and dreading) the ferry ride back. The seas this time graced us with gentle waves and I could barely feel it so it was a very pleasant journey back.

Back at Jyoetsu Myoko, we got some take out at Ootoya and said good bye to board our respective carriages on the Shinkansen.Read more