A Journey Through Sake and Islands! A 3-Day, 2-Night Model Course in Niigata and Sado Island in Japan

I took a summer vacation in early September and traveled to Niigata Prefecture.

I had originally planned to tour the remote islands of Okinawa, but
due to an approaching typhoon, I suddenly changed my plans and
traveled to “Sado Island” in Niigata Prefecture.

It turned into a 3-day, 2-night trip, and despite the last-minute planning,
it was extremely satisfying, so I’m introducing it as a model course.

This information should be valuable for those who want to enjoy
“sake,” “island life,” and “marine sports.”

Since I departed from Tokyo to Niigata,
this model course assumes a Tokyo starting point.
Please adjust the transportation methods according to where you live.

Target Audience

 

• Those who want to enjoy a journey with delicious sake
• Those who want to enjoy island trips beyond Okinawa
• Those who want to enjoy marine sports

What You’ll Get from This Article

 

By reading this article, you’ll get the following information:

• A model course for a 3-day, 2-night trip to Niigata (mainly Sado Island)
• Gourmet spots and tourist attractions worth visiting on your trip
• The good points and lessons learned from my actual travel experience

Reading this article will give you a more concrete image of traveling in Niigata.

This information is useful for those who think,
“I know where I’m going, but I haven’t decided exactly what to do.”

Now, let’s get to the main topic.

 

Introducing the Destinations and Time Schedule Model Course

 

Roughly speaking, this is a model course where you spend the first day sightseeing around Niigata City in Niigata Prefecture,
and the second and third days on Sado Island.

A plan to fully enjoy Niigata Prefecture’s sake, islands, and marine sports

You can mainly enjoy the following:

• Around Niigata Station
  • Northern Culture Museum
  • Views of the area around Niigata Station from an observation deck
  • Sake tasting
• Sado Island
  • Delicious food
  • Tarai-bune (tub boats)
  • Toki Forest Park
  • Blue Cave
  • A Michelin two-star beach
  • Snorkeling and kayaking experiences
  • Former Sado Gold Mine
  • Scenery viewed from the ferry

The time schedule is as follows:

Day 1	8:00	Head to Tokyo Station to take the Shinkansen
	9:00	Depart for Niigata
	11:00	Arrive at Niigata Station
	12:00	Drop off luggage at lodging near Niigata Port (Hotel Nikko Niigata)
		Stop by the observation deck in the hotel building
		Sightseeing in Niigata – Head to the Northern Culture Museum
	14:00	Tour inside the Northern Culture Museum
	16:00	Head to Niigata Station for dinner
	17:00	Eat an early dinner (sushi) inside Niigata Station
	18:00	Enjoy sake tasting at Ponshukan
	20:00	Check in at the hotel
Day 2	7:50	Take a boat (the Jetfoil) from Niigata Port to Sado Island
	9:00	Arrive at Sado Island, rent a car
	9:30	Make a quick stop at Toki Forest Park
	11:30	An early lunch (seafood set meal)
	12:30	Blue Cave tour and Tarai boat experience
		Drive along the coast
	16:00	Brief swim at Futatsugame Beach
	19:00	Check in at the lodging (Hotel Azuma)
	20:00	Enjoy dinner and local Sado sake
Day 3	7:30	Leisurely breakfast
	9:00	Check out from lodging and enjoy snorkeling and kayaking
	11:00	Warm up your cold body in an open-air bath
	12:00	Depart from the lodging
	13:00	Arrive at the former Sado Gold Mine, take a brief tour
	13:30	Head to the port via the Sado Skyline
	15:30	Return the rental car on the way
	16:00	Board the ferry to Niigata Port
	18:00	Buy souvenirs at Niigata Station
	19:00	Board the Shinkansen and head home

Day 1 Schedule Details

Day 1 is a journey around Niigata Station area.

Since I wanted to drink sake from the morning,
I didn’t rent a car.

Niigata is vast, and its transportation options besides trains aren’t entirely convenient, so
I recommend renting a car for more freedom of movement.

We won’t go to Sado until the second day, but the trip around Niigata
offers plenty of beautiful scenery and delicious sake to enjoy.

Now, let me dive into the details of Day 1.

Departing for Niigata

Since I was departing from Tokyo, I headed to Tokyo Station to board the Shinkansen.

I took the Shinkansen in the 9 o’clock range.
It was refreshing since I rarely have the opportunity to ride the Joetsu Shinkansen.

Since I hadn’t had breakfast yet, I bought a bento box at the Shinkansen platform to fill my stomach.

 

Arriving at Niigata Station

After about two hours on the Shinkansen, we arrived at Niigata Station.

When you’re looking at the scenery outside, time flies by quickly.

I can feel the start of the journey.

 

Dropping off Luggage at Hotel Nikko Niigata near Niigata Port

Due to a schedule with quite a bit of movement and an early departure for Sado on Day 2,
I went to drop off my luggage at Hotel Nikko Niigata, our accommodation for Day 1.

While it’s a bit far from Niigata Station, taking about 20 minutes,
it’s only about a 10-minute walk to the boarding area at Niigata Port.

I chose ease of movement for Day 2.
If you want to make Day 1 movement easier, I recommend a place near Niigata Station.

This is the building containing our lodging.
It’s quite a tall building.
The night view must be beautiful.

 

Taking a Detour to the Observation Deck in the Hotel Building

Actually, there’s an observation deck on the top floor of this building where you can get a panoramic view of the Niigata area.

Despite our tight schedule, we took a brief detour.

Beyond the cityscape of Niigata, the Sea of Japan stretches out, making for a very nice view.

The observation deck is only open until 18:00,
so please be careful if you want to view the night scenery.

With a growing sense of traveling in Niigata Prefecture,
we headed to our next destination.

 

Heading to the Northern Culture Museum

For those wondering what the Northern Culture Museum is… allow me to quote Wikipedia:

The Northern Culture Museum is Japan’s first private museum established after World War II, located in Sawami, Konan Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. After the post-WWII agricultural land reform, Bunichi Ito, the seventh-generation head of the wealthy farming family, chose to become a foundation and developed his residence into a museum with the help of Lieutenant Ralph E. Wright, who was appointed as the head of the Civil Information and Education Section of the United States, Allied Forces Supreme Commander’s General Headquarters.

Please see the website for more details.

Now that we have an image of our destination, let’s head there.

The transportation method is train + bus.
※ Renting a car and driving is the best option

The bus to the Northern Culture Museum only runs about once every two hours,
so decide in advance what time you’ll take it.

If you try to take the bus with the same expectations as in the city, you’ll regret it.
I regretted it.

The idea is that if you take the bus that arrives at the Northern Culture Museum at 14:00,
the next bus back from the Northern Culture Museum would be at 16:00.

 

Touring the Northern Culture Museum

When you get off at the nearest bus stop, a spectacular view unfolds before you.

The open, expansive scenery right in front of me is breathtaking.

Even the road to the Northern Culture Museum is beautiful. It’s exciting.

 

And so we arrive.

First, let’s eat lunch to fill our stomachs!
However, due to the impact of reduced tourists from COVID-19,
the restaurant wasn’t operating on weekdays.

If you’re considering visiting, please be careful.

Putting that aside, we entered.

Those who love traditional Japanese scenery will likely fall deeply in love with this place.

There were three couples taking pre-wedding photos.
It may be a famous local spot for pre-wedding shoots.

And for good reason—this place is the most beautiful.
※ The photos on the website are even more beautiful, so please check them out too

After touring the main spots, we took a break eating ice cream at the souvenir shop.

Keeping an eye on the bus schedule, we left the Northern Culture Museum and returned to Niigata Station.

 

Eating an Early Dinner (Sushi) Inside Niigata Station

Wanting to eat seafood in Niigata, we promptly went for sushi.

We visited Health Sushi Kaisenya CoCoLo East Shop inside the station.

I apologize for the casual impression, but it was delicious.

Enjoying Sake Tasting at Ponshukan

Having come to Niigata where the rice is delicious, we hadn’t yet tried that…

That… yes, sake.

Amazingly, inside Niigata Station, there’s a place called “Ponshukan” where you can enjoy sake tasting for just 500 yen.

There’s no way I could pass up the chance to sample various Niigata sakes.

You can taste over 90 different types of sake.

At the reception, pay 500 yen and receive 5 coins and a small sake cup for tasting.

Set this cup, insert a coin, and press a button,
and sake will be dispensed into your cup.

I’m glad this shop isn’t near where I live… I thought.
If it were, I might go there every day.

By the time we left Ponshukan, it was probably around 7 or 8 PM.
Since we have Day 2 ahead, let’s return to our lodging.

Checking in at the Hotel

There’s nothing special to introduce, but we return to our lodging.

Since you might be tipsy and tired from walking,
it’s a good idea to take a taxi back to the hotel. (It costs about 1,000 yen.)

The morning of Day 2 starts early. Let’s rest our bodies early and prepare for the next day.

 

Day 2 Schedule Details

On Day 2, we head to Sado Island in the morning and spend the whole day traveling around various tourist spots.

Days 2-3 mainly involve travel by car.
Don’t forget to arrange a rental car.

Now let’s dive into the details of the Day 2 schedule.

Taking the Jetfoil Boat from Niigata Port to Sado Island

From Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port on Sado Island, we’ll travel by boat.

There are two types of boats: the Jetfoil and the Ferry.

The Jetfoil is faster at about 1 hour, but more expensive at around 6,000 yen.

In contrast, the Ferry is slower at about 2.5 hours, but more affordable at just under 3,000 yen.

Since I found it difficult to wake up early, I paid money to save time.
Consult your wallet and travel plans to decide what’s best for you.

For this model course, if you go by ferry, it departs from Niigata Port at 6 AM.

 

Arriving at Sado Island, Renting a Car

After about an hour, we arrived at Sado Island.

It was perfectly sunny with a beautiful blue sky.

Sado is a large island, so movement would be difficult without transportation.
Let’s rent a car first.

Since we’ll often encounter steep mountain roads,
choosing a car with more engine displacement will ease the strain of the journey.

 

Making a Quick Stop at Toki Forest Park

On the way to the tub boat experience, we found Toki Forest Park and
couldn’t resist making a quick detour.

The mascot in front of the Toki Forest Park reception was cute.

Though we hurried, we took a quick stroll around the park.

It’s a bit far in this photo, but I saw a live Japanese crested ibis (toki) for the first time.

It was large, colorful, and very impressive.

 

An Early Lunch (Seafood Set Meal)

There was a set-meal restaurant near the tub boat pier,
so we went there.

Inayoshi
https://goo.gl/maps/x7fJhJ3FDAUdJprk7

This is the meal that came for under 1,000 yen.

Isn’t the cost-performance ratio too good?
I was thoroughly satisfied with both the quantity and quality.

 

Blue Cave Tour and Tarai Boat Experience

With our stomachs full, we participated in an experiential tour.

Advance reservations are required for the experience tour.
I made my reservation through Jalan.

Even three days in advance was cutting it close,
so I recommend making a reservation more than a week in advance.

The experience is divided into two parts: the Blue Cave tour and the Tarai boat experience.

The former involves taking a boat to explore an inlet called the Blue Cave.
The latter involves enjoying the sea in a tub boat near the port.

Blue Cave Tour

We headed to the inlet by boat.
The sea along the way was beautiful.

The inlet comes into view (this is actually a photo from the return journey).

The water is crystal clear and very beautiful.
It deserves to be called the Blue Cave.

We traveled a longer distance than I expected,
so it was very enjoyable for me, who has little experience traveling by boat.

 

Tarai Boat Experience

Here, we ride in a large tub and float around the waters near the port.

While the guide is moving the tub forward with an impassive face,
it’s actually extremely difficult when you try it yourself.

I tried it, but the tub kept rotating instead of moving forward.

 

Brief Swim at Futatsugame Beach

This Futatsugame Beach apparently once earned two Michelin stars.

We couldn’t not go.

We headed to our destination while enjoying the beautiful coastline along the way.

We finally arrived after about a 2-hour journey from the tub boat pier.

Since it was September, the beach season had ended,
but we could still go down to the shore, so we went just to dip our feet.

It wasn’t the season, so there was no one around, which made it enjoyable in a different way.

It really does look like two turtles.
With no one around, I was able to take a nice, scenic photo.

After enjoying a brief swim, let’s head to our lodging.

It takes about 1.5 hours to Hotel Azuma.

 

Checking in at the Lodging (Hotel Azuma)

Upon arrival and check-in at the lodging, we informed the front desk of our dinner time.

For the meals, you can select from courses of various price points.
I chose a course that cost around 8,000 yen.

One regret I have is allowing the hotel to decide the room (automatically).
We ended up with a room with no sea view at all.

Although there might be a slight price variation,
I recommend specifying a room with an ocean view when making your reservation.

Enjoying Dinner and Local Sado Sake

Now it’s time for the enjoyable dinner.

The reliable sashimi was excellent.
Of course, everything was so delicious it made my cheeks drop.

We didn’t miss out on enjoying the local Sado sake either.

After eating our fill, we soak in the hot spring to
heal the fatigue of the day’s travels.

Since Day 3 involves kayaking & snorkeling experiences in the morning,
let’s go to bed early to avoid a hangover or lack of sleep.

Day 3 Schedule Details

On Day 3, we enjoy marine sports in the morning, tour the former Sado Gold Mine,
and head home via Niigata Station.

Now let’s dive into the details of the Day 3 schedule.

Leisurely Breakfast

First, we eat breakfast at the lodging.

Checking Out from Lodging and Enjoying Snorkeling and Kayaking

On Day 3, we finally experience marine sports.

You can make reservations for this experience through the lodging.

After preparing our swimwear and other necessities, we head to the coast.

First, kayaking.

Paddling under the endlessly stretching sea and sky is liberating and wonderful.

On this day, the sea was apparently the roughest it had been all year,
so each time a wave came, it felt like riding a roller coaster.

Although rough seas can be a bit scary,
I think I’ve discovered the joy of riding the waves.

We arrived at a rocky outcrop rising from the sea.
We explored these rocks.

As I keep saying, the sea is crystal clear and beautiful.

Now we dive into the sea for snorkeling.
Even though it was September, the sea was warmer than expected, which was nice.

When it was time, we headed back.

Warming Up in an Open-Air Bath

After being in the sea, you naturally want to rinse off.

The lodging also offers a private open-air bath.
If you mention it before the snorkeling and kayaking experience,
you can use a private open-air bath for an additional fee.

The view of the sea from the open-air bath is also spectacular, so I recommend it.

Arriving at the Former Sado Gold Mine for a Brief Tour

Sado is known for gold.

At the former Sado Gold Mine site, there are
caves created when they dug out the gold mine in the past.

It’s one of the must-visit spots when touring Sado Island.

As befits a gold mine, it’s located deep in the mountains.

The entrance ticket is gold and looks cool.

Inside, there are tracks for mine carts to run on.

The living room space in the mountain is also very stylish.

Time is tight on Day 3, so we tour quickly and
head to Ryotsu Port, where the ferry departs, via the Sado Skyline.

 

Heading to the Port via the Sado Skyline

Despite saying time is tight, we make one more detour.

We’re going to the Sado Skyline.

This road is a scenic spot where you can get a panoramic view of the entire Sado Island.

The sea we see in front of us is Ryotsu Port, where we’re headed.
It’s truly a panoramic view that allows you to see half the island.

There was an even higher observation deck than shown in the above photo,
but unfortunately, it was cloudy when I went, and I couldn’t see anything.

I’d like to come back and try again sometime.

Now that we can clearly see our destination, let’s head to the port.

Don’t forget to return the rental car before arriving at the port.

 

Boarding the Ferry to Niigata Port

The journey’s pleasures are not over yet.

By taking the ferry around 16:00,
we can view the sunset over the Sea of Japan from the ferry.

With the silhouettes of seagulls(?) adding to the scene, a very emotional landscape unfolds.

Let me share one more photo since it’s special.
Isn’t this scenery sufficient to feel the end of a long journey?

We spend a relaxed time on the ferry as we return to Niigata Port.

 

Heading Home via Niigata Station

Having thoroughly enjoyed Niigata, we head home.

If you want to buy souvenirs, this is a good time to explore
inside Niigata Station and make your purchases.

The Shinkansen from Niigata to Tokyo runs at least once an hour,
so there’s some flexibility in your return time.

It was a good trip with the three elements of delicious food, sake, and marine sports all present.

 

Reflections from the Actual Tour

Here, I list some things that would have made this model course more satisfying…

I hope you’ll use these reflections to revise the model course I’ve introduced.

• Moving around Niigata Station area on Day 1 was challenging
  • Moving around Niigata without a car is indeed difficult
  • If you don’t need to drink alcohol during the day on Day 1, I strongly recommend renting a car
  • If you use the bus, decide on the times during the planning stage
• We were significantly affected by COVID-related business restrictions
  • There was nowhere to eat at the Northern Culture Museum
  • Throughout Niigata Prefecture, shops closed at 7 or 8 PM
  • We had planned to revisit Ponshukan before heading home on Day 3, but couldn’t
  • Even the souvenir shops inside Niigata Station closed after 7 PM, which was challenging
• We weren’t adequately prepared for the experience tours on Sado Island
  • Book the tub boat experience early.
    The fixed experience times will impose time constraints during your trip
  • For snorkeling, wear long sleeves in addition to swim trunks
    (to protect your skin from rocks)

While there were many points for reflection,
I think it was a good plan for thoroughly enjoying the trip.

Summary

Thank you for reading this far.

In this article, I introduced a model course focusing on Niigata Prefecture, especially Sado Island.

Based on my actual experiences, I hope your travels become even more enjoyable.

If you have any opinions or comments, please let me know.
Also, if you have information like “I traveled on this kind of course!”,
I’d definitely like to use it as a reference!

 

https://gonkunblog.com/travelfukuokaoita/498/

 

https://gonkunblog.com/travel-to-achimura/514/

 

https://gonkunblog.com/minitravel-tochiba/441/

 

https://gonkunblog.com/chiba-travel/1120/