Getting to Sado Island involves a combination of train, bus and boat travel. From Tokyo Station, take the Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train) to Niigata Station. From there, catch a bus to Niigata Port. The last leg of the trip is best completed by a ride on the jetfoil, a type of hydrofoil, out to the island.

When you arrive at Sado Island's Ryotsu Port, check out the Sado Tourism Information desk in the Ryotsu Port Terminal 2F Waiting Area. There you can pick up some useful tools in English like the Transportation Guide, Walking Tour Guide, Cycling Map, and a bus schedule. They also have a map with lots of useful information for foreign visitors called "All Live on Sado Island".

On the first floor of Ryotsu Port Terminal, there are rental car and rental bike desks, the taxi stand, and the bus terminal. Hop on the number 1 bus, and in about an hour you'll arrive at one of Sado Island’s top sightseeing areas, Aikawa.

Until its closing in 1989, the Aikawa Gold Mine was a top-producing mine for centuries. During the Edo Period, Aikawa prospered under the control of the Shogunate, and there are still traces from that time scattered about the area today. Particularly, there is a massive scar left over from the mining. Called Doyu no Wareto, it looks as though the mountain was cleaved in two with a giant axe, and this split mountain has become the symbol of the Sado Gold Mine. Also in this area are the remnants of the once thriving mining town where the miners lived. The area around the mine and town is covered in different flowers that bloom each season, so this is a great place for nature walks.

From September to November 2009, service on the number 1A bus route will be extended on weekends and holidays, and the final stop will be the mine. Before reaching the mine, this bus will stop at the Sado Hangamura Museum, which specializes in woodblock prints, and the Aikawa Traditional Crafts Museum where you can try out pottery and weaving. Be sure to check out this really convenient special route!

Fifteen minutes north of the Aikawa bus stop by the number 9 bus is Senkakuwan. Considered as beautiful as Norway's world famous Hardanger Fjord, this bay was named after the direct translation of that fjord's name. With jagged cliffs and stone reefs framing the coast, the scenery is amazing. Iwayuri lilies grow on the rock faces, creating a dichotomy of nature's harsh and soft sides and making this landscape all the more moving.

About 20 minutes south of the Aikawa bus stop on the number 6 bus, you can find more breathtaking scenery at Myotoiwa on the Nanaura Coast. This area is popular for two large rocks nestled close together in the water. The name of this area, Myotoiwa, actually refers to these rocks and literally translates to "husband and wife rocks".

On the number 1 bus from Aikawa, on the left just past the Sawata bus stop, is popular conveyor belt sushi restaurant Benkei. Under the direct management of a fish store, they serve up the freshest seafood caught that same day in the waters off Sado Island. This type of restaurant, where you can choose and eat what you like, is popular with everyone, including visitors from overseas.

Also on the number 1 bus from Aikawa, you can find the Ryotsu Yamaki Hotel right in front of the Akitsu Higashi bus stop. Built above Ryotsu Bay, all the rooms of this ryokan have views of Kamo Lake and the Ryotsu inlet. You can relax in an outdoor bath filled with natural hot spring water gushing from 1500 meters underground.