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tinou
Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:56 pm

Re: Sado-ga-shima (Niigata-ken) [E]
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Nice great post sanji!  8) 

I would like to add a few hints about this often forgotten secret place of Japan. 

Sado Island is not such a good destination when it comes to hiking if you compare with other Japanese major spots. However, a few trails do exist and if you feel like enjoying Sado's wildlife, well then you should definitely take your boots and gears with you.

Trails are located on the northern side of Sado and run west to east along the whole northern mountain range, from Myouken-san　妙見山 to Dendan-sanデンダン山. The most comprehensive map describing the area is provided by the Tourist Information Center. 

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7420/getmapaspxkz6.gif

The trail entrance to Myouken-san is on the so-called Oosado Skyline 大佐渡スカイライン, only accessible by private bus. I mean, no public bus run on this part of the island so you need your own transportation as suggested by Sanji. Or you can rely on cab, but then you will have to book it the day before as the service is very scarce on Sado. It would cost you like 3500 yen from the junction between the main road linking Ryotsu to Aikawa and the Oosado Skyline. It takes roughly 20 minutes to reach Myouken-san. 

After reaching Myouken-san, it is just 1h30~2h to Kinpoku-san　金北山, the summit of Sado Island at 1170 meters. Even if it's not very high, winds can be pretty strong in spring and autumn, so take warm clothes. Snow can also be a problem until mid-May. The path actually follow a military secured area in the last section of the track so you must call the base prior to engage on the road (ie the day before). You can reach them by phone : 0259－63－4111. Remember, this is sort of mandatory. Sado Island is a sensitive area since Cold War as it was a famous place where Japanese got abducted to North Korea. Actually the top of Kinpoku-san is a military radar. 

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6674/dsc0042kj2.jpg

Past Kinpoku-san it's a steep descent to connect with the ridge that run along the northern part of Sado Island. Often muddy and covered with snow even in late spring so be careful, it's quite slippery. 

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6375/dsc0046kz6.jpg

After a couple more hours, you'll reach an intersection. Dendan-san is 3~4 hours from here and if you're tired, you can choose to follow the fairly nice descent until the coast, exiting the trail near Nyuukawa 入川. It still take 2 hours or so, and be careful to keep to the track.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/741/dsc0053mr6.jpg

There is no mountain hut on Sado and the only campsite in the mountain is near Dendan-san, running rom early July till September. Be careful also, anywhere on Sado Island, it will be very difficult to find minshuku type accomodation off-season. Especially on the remote northern part of Sado Island. And the whole area between Aikawa and the northern tip of Sado, Futatsugame 二亀 is not covered by cell phone network, including of course the mountainous backcountry.