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Persimmon flowers and baby persimmons from Sado!

by Fujiko M.

(37 reviews)

Last updated : Apr 24, 2022・2 min read

General

Have you ever seen persimmon flowers?

These are the flowers of "おけさ柿”、or "Okesa persimmons". Okesa persimmon is one of the Sado's agricultural products.

The flowers are pretty, aren't they?

From mid May till early June, persimmon farmers are busy picking extra buds on these branches.

Technically, I'm a persimmon farmer and I've been busy working at my orchards picking these buds.

Before...

Many flowers on one branch and...

After!

Only one flower left on each branch. In order to make each fruit bigger, we have to do this fast.

After a week...in early June

Flowers are gone and small persimmons come out!

Again, many baby persimmons on one branch and...

Only one was chosen and thrives with concentrated nutrition.

I've just finished this process this morning! Well done! But...

What comes next? Mowing tall grass!

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Fujiko M.

4.95 / 5

(37 reviews)

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Tours By Fujiko M.

Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo era

Sado

2 hours

Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo era

This small coastal village once prospered as the center of shipbuilding industry during the Edo era. After the Meiji Restoration, the industry fell into decline due to the overall Westernization and the development of other transportation networks like railways. The village was once almost forgotten. However, the descendants stood up to restore the legacy of their ancesters and have been working hard to keep it. Building the exact replica of the old Edo-era sailing ship shows their enthusiasm and solidarity. In this tour, we stroll in the village, visiting one of the ship owner's house called "Seikuro" which is open to the public. You can see the skillfully built houses by ship carpenters. Then we visit Sado-koku Ogi Folk Museum which houses the exact replica of the old sengokubune ship called "Hakusan-maru", thousands of folkcrafts, household utensils, ship carpenters tools and more. Shukunegi was registered as the district of the Groups of Traditional Buildings. Once you step inside, you are in the maze of Edo era. * Special notice: "Seikuro" will be closed until Mar.31 Sado-koku Ogi Folk Museum will be closed on Mondays until March, 2016 Also closed from Dec.29 - Jan.3 for new year holidays. *Special choice: If some of the facilities are closed, we can go to Iwayasan Cove nearby to see 88 stone statues for a short pilgrimage.

Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo era

Sado Gold and Silver Mine: Relics tell you 400 years of history

Sado has been well known as one of the major gold and silver production sites in Japan. It has the history of 1000 years. There are four major minig sites in Sado: Nishimikawa alluvial gold mine, Tsurushi silver mine, Niibo silver mine and Sado (Aikawa) gold and silver mine. Sado gold and silver mine was the biggest of all with 400 years of history. Mining in Aikawa started in the late 16th century and was halted in 1989. In this tour, we first visit Sado Gold and Silver Mine Museum, where we enter the Sodayu tunnel which is open to the public. The Sodayu tunnel was dug manually by thousands of mine workers during the Edo period. You can see the whole process of gold and silver production at that time. Then we see some old buildings and a relic built from Meiji to Showa era. These buildings were used to crush, store and smelt ores. Next, we visit the graveyard of Mushuku-nin(people without register) brought in from Edo and Osaka to work as drainage workers. Then, we walk down the street called Kyomachi-dori, once bustled with mine workers, government officials and towns people. Kyomachi-dori street linked Sado Magistrate Office to mining sites. Aikawa town was developed and divided into communities with same occupation. Along the way, we see old buildings, workshops, local grocery store and cafes. We walk past old bell tower, Sado Hanga-mura Museum(print museum) originally built as a district court and Sado Magistrate Office. Finally, we visit Kitazawa area, developed from Meiji to Showa era with modern Western mining technologies to produce gold and silver effectively. Ruined factories, thermal power plant and a 50-meter thickener have remained. Sado Gold and Silver Mine has practiced cutting-edge production methods of each era and you can see the authenticity here in Aikawa. FYI, walking distance is about 3 kilometers.

Sado Gold and Silver Mine: Relics tell you 400 years of history

Hina Doll Festival in Aikawa (seasonal tour in Sado From Mar.3 to Mar.20)

Mar. 3rd is "Girl's day" called Hina Matsuri (dolls festival) in Japan. Households with girls display their Hina Dolls to pray for the happiness and healthy growth of their children. Aikawa town in Sado prospered from the beginning of the 17th century to the late 20th century along with the development of Sado Gold and Silver Mine. People of many kinds of professions moved to Aikawa from many parts of Japan to make a fortune and brought in colorful cultures and traditions which led to create an unique Sado culture and tradition. During this time of year, hotels, sightseeing spots, cafes, shops and even private homes exhibit their Hina Dolls for the public and visitors can enjoy walking in the town admiring dolls from different eras. In this tour, we walk around Aikawa town and visit places where Hina Dolls are displayed. With diverse historical backgrounds, there are many kinds of Hina Dolls in Aikawa, some of them from the Edo period or older, the others are made by modern craftsmen. FYI, No.1 At some hotels and restaurants, you can enjoy special "Hina Doll Festival" lunch. No.2 This is a walking tour in Aikawa, but some of the places are accessible by taxi.

Hina Doll Festival in Aikawa (seasonal tour in Sado From Mar.3 to Mar.20)

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More about Sado

Persimmon flowers and baby persimmons from Sado!

by Fujiko M.

Have you ever seen persimmon flowers?

The flowers are pretty, aren't they?

Before...

After!

After a week...in early June

Did you like my article?

Fujiko M.

Plan your trip to Sado with Fujiko M.

Tours By Fujiko M.

Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo era

Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo era

Sado Gold and Silver Mine: Relics tell you 400 years of history

Sado Gold and Silver Mine: Relics tell you 400 years of history

Hina Doll Festival in Aikawa (seasonal tour in Sado From Mar.3 to Mar.20)

Hina Doll Festival in Aikawa (seasonal tour in Sado From Mar.3 to Mar.20)

Related Blogs

Taraibune(tub boat) ride in Shukunegi, Sado Island with a craftsman

He is a rower and a craftsman building "たらい舟” tub boats in Sado. He is Keiji Kaneko, one of the few craftsmen left in Sado Island building taraibune tub boats. Until recently he had another job but he has been building the boats for about a decade. Now b...

Dirty but sacred ritual is coming soon in Sado

Quite unique shrine ritual in Sado called "Taasobi shinji". Can you imagine what this is? Is it a commedy show? Actually, this is a sacred shrine ritual held in early February at Kobie Shrine in the precinct of Rengebuji temple in Ogi. "Taasobi" literall...

Feast for the eye in spring in Sado Island

Japanese people admire autumn leaves because of the beautiful colors but... Admiring "新緑 - shinryoku” or spring green is my favorite around this time of year! You can see white dots in between different hues of green. They are "Yamazakura" or wild ch...

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