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GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Several scenes of Sado Island in 2016

Fujiko M.

by Fujiko M.

(30 reviews)
Last updated : Sep 15, 20223 min read

General

Time flies!

We only have 2 more days in 2016.  Looking back, I've taken so many photos this year and I'd like to show you some of them.

First, this is a rock in Toyooka village with a tiny shrine on top.  I felt something spiritual when I went there.

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Seisuiji temple in the snow.

 In Sado Island we have less snow than you expect. Snow clouds just pass over the island and snow falls at mainland Niigata with high mountain ranges.

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It was a beautiful autumn day.  Cosmos field near Iwayaguchi.

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Shimafumi, the bakery cafe in Mano!

It's just relaxing sitting on a chair and having coffee and delicious breads.  Osado mountains and Mano Bay spread in front of you.

blog image Sado mascot, Sadokky!

Yes, it's a combination of "Sado" and "toki", the endangered bird protected mainly in Sado.

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 Famous cherry tree at Hojobo, small temple in Osaki, Hamochi.

blog image Mirror-like water!!

It's sooo clear and completely calm sea water in Tochu, Aikawa.

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Huge turtle-like sole rock, Onogame with "Kanzo", a type of day lily in 50% bloom.

There is a torii gate and you go up to the top  to find a small shrine.  The view from the top is spectacular!

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One of the 35 Noh stages in Sado.  This is Kusakari Shrine in Hamochi on a festival day.

The shape of thatched roof looks perfect, doesn't it?

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Nature, the great sculptor

"Jinmen-iwa" or side view rock created by nature and beautiful sunset.

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"Shimebari Villa" in autumn!

Lying on a platform built by Jun-san, the owner of the villa, you just blend into nature!

This is one of the gorgeous experience in Sado.

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White and red "Higanbana" or "Lycoris radiata" or "Manjusaka" in full bloom in Shukunegi

It's quite rare to see white higanbana which blooms around "Higan" week in mid- to late-September.

Flowers encircle paddy fields and bring photographers every year.

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Finally, sushi!

"Chozaburo" restaurant in Niibo serves not only fresh and delicious sushi but also other dishes like ramen or set menu.

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Do you have many wonderful memories in 2016?   Me?  Yes, I have.  A lot.

There were many changes worldwide this year, some good and others not.

There are still lingering uncertainties here and there but let's hope for the best!

I wish you a Happy New Year!

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Fujiko M.

Fujiko M.

4.97 / 5
(30 reviews)

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Tours By Fujiko M.

Niigata City one day tour of your choicescover image

Niigata City one day tour of your choices

Niigata
7 hours

Located on the Japan sea side of mainland Honshu, about 2 hours bullet train ride from Tokyo, Niigata city has been flourished as one of the major port towns for centuries. Along with this historical background, Niigata city is now well known for delicious "koshihikari" rice, varieties of tasty sake, fresh products from both land and sea. In this tour, you can choose 3 or 4 places to visit for 7-hour sightseeing tour. We mainly use public transportation networks like Niigata city loopline bus service ( one-day ticket JPY 500 ) and taxi if necessary. The places of choices are as follows: 1. Niigata City Aquarium "Marinepia Nihonkai" Displaying both marine and fresh water fish in the region and aquatic animals. Dolphin shows are performed daily. JPY 1500 Closed from Dec.29-Jan.1, Mar.3,4 2. Pia Bandai Fish and vegatable market with restaurants popular for locals and tourists. 3. "Imayotsukasa" sake brewery There is a guided tour and you can sample tasty sake. 4. The Niigata Saito Villa Built about 100 years ago, this gorgeous villa and Japanese style garden attracts visitors all year round. JPY 300 Closed on Mondays, from Dec.28-Jan.3 5. Minatopia with Former Niigata Customs House There are also Former Daishi Bank building and Niigata City History Museum by the Shinano River. 6. Former Ozawa Family Residence Authentic machiya-style house with beautiful garden from the Meiji Period. JPY 200 Closed on Mondays, from Dec.28-Jan.3 7. Honcho Market Located on the bustling Furumachi ( old town ) district, vendors sell all kinds of food with reasonable prices. * vendors are less on Sundays 8. Strolling Furumachi district for 1 hour Furumachi was once known as geigi (geisha) district like Kyoto and there are many restaurants, temples, old and new buildings in this area. * you can combine this choice with the Saito Villa or/and the Ozawa Residence (both in Furumachi district). Please choose places you'd like to visit and email me. Let's have fun in Niigata city!

FROM$165/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Fujiko M.
Fujiko M.
4.97 / 5
(30 reviews)
Murakami city Sake Sake one day tourcover image

Murakami city Sake Sake one day tour

Niigata
6 hours

Murakami city is located in the northern part of Niigata Prefecture. The city was flourished during the Edo period as a castle town governed by the Murakami clan. It is famous for "鮭-sake-salmon", "酒-another sake-Japanese sake", "Tsuishu" lacquer ware, Machiya houses, Murakami beef, Murakami green tea, Hina doll festival and more! In this tour we visit several must-see places in this diverse city. 1.Kikkawa: A shop selling salmon products. You will be surprised to see so many dried salmons hung from the ceiling of the shop. 2.Taiyo Sake Brewery: You can sample some of its products like "Taiyozakari". 3.Machiya houses open to the public ( some of them are shops selling salmon products, green tea, blacksmith, restaurant and so on. 4.Iyoboya Kaikan (salmon museum): You can learn why Murakami city became famous for salmon. Murakami city has succeeded in preserving old-style Japanese houses and you can enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere it produces. It is mostly a walking tour(about 3-4 km) and we may use loop bus or taxi accordingly. You can take Uetsuhonsen line from Niigata to Murakami, about 1-hour by local train.

FROM$165/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Fujiko M.
Fujiko M.
4.97 / 5
(30 reviews)
Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo eracover image

Shukunegi - the village of sengokubune, sailingship of Edo era

Sado
2 hours

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.

FROM$53/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Fujiko M.
Fujiko M.
4.97 / 5
(30 reviews)
Sado Gold and Silver Mine: Relics tell you 400 years of historycover image

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

Sado
2 hours 30 min

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.

FROM$73/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Fujiko M.
Fujiko M.
4.97 / 5
(30 reviews)