Sado Island Kodo Earth Celebration 2025: Music, Traditions, Taste Tour
Dates21 Aug - 25 Aug 2025
From¥383,000~
StatusAvailable
The joy of exploring an authentic and vibrant Japanese culture
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey with exclusive performances by the world renowned Kodo drummers and Noh theater masters during Earth Celebration 2025 event on the remote butterfly-shaped island of Sado, a perfect synthesis of a paradise on earth with its astonishing natural wonders and a melting pot rich with culture, traditions and taste since time immemorial.
Highlights on the tour
Exclusive performances by Kodo drummers and Noh theater masters
Embark on an idyllic journey through the remote butterfly-shaped island of Sado
Gain unparalleled memories of your trip to Japan
Discover a melting pot rich with culture, traditions and taste
Day 1 – Welcome to Sado Island
After checking out from your hotel in Niigata, you will board the one-hour ride on Sado Kisen’s jetfoil ferry to Sado Island. At arrival, meet your local expert guides who will be with you for the entirety of your stay and jump on a private shuttle bus to reach Hotel Azuma or Hotel Oosado.
Here you are going to have a first taste of the local cuisine with a fined lunch prepared by Umami Lab, a group of specialized chefs who makes extraordinary use of Sado local ingredients.
In the afternoon, attend a more than unique Sado`s Noh private performance in one of the most important and well-preserved open stage of the island, the Shiizaki Suwa Shrine.
At the end of the day, you will enjoy your dinner under the starlight of Azuma hotel and here you will assist a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience with an exclusive private Kodo performance.
As you approach the start of the three days main event, learn more about the beginnings and heart of Kodo through the special introduction by Atsushi Sugano, Managing director of Kodo Cultural Foundation.
Back to your room, the hotel welcome you with a dessert with fruits and a special gift message from the Hotel General Manager.
Included attractions
Shiizaki Suwa Shrine
Sado's Noh performance in one of the most important
and well-preserved open stage of the island
Umami Lab
Catering lunch prepared by a group of specialized chefs
who makes extraordinary use of Sado's local ingredients
Kodo private performance
Exclusive private Kodo performance under the starlight of Azuma hotel
Included accommodations
Oosado Hotel
Located at the picturesque Aikawa Kasuga-zaki, it offers majestic views of the Sea of Japan.
Options
Hotel Nikko Niigata — Optional stay the night before
Natural Planetarium Experience — Wine and deck chairs outside for star gazing. Partake in a natural planetarium experience while learning about the constellations and what they meant to traders coming through Sado from greater Asia on their way to the Japan mainland.
Day 2 – Sado Island's Coast
On day 2, navigate through the gentle breeze of the jagged coastline against the bright azure of the internal Sea of Japan. Enjoy the paradisiacal crystal-clear water and the rocks formation of Futatsugame beach, two stars awarded by Michelin’s green guide.
For those instead who want to explore more the island ancient culture and its performing traditions, learn through a certified local Noh performer and instructor the heritage and the elemental movements of this performing art while having the possibility to wear an original Noh Mask.
In the afternoon, visit onboard of a ferry one of the most scenic spot of the island, the Senkakuwan Bay, resembling to the beautiful steep rocks of Hardangerfjord in Norway.
Later during the evening, enjoy the introductory concert of Kodo at Ogi Minami Park.
Included attractions
Senkakuwan Ageshima Yuen
Boat ride experience along the western coast of Sado
Kodo Earth Celebration 2025 - Concert
A three-days concert filled with live music
Included accommodations
Oosado Hotel
Located at the picturesque Aikawa Kasuga-zaki, it offers majestic views of the Sea of Japan.
Options
Futatsugame beach — Michelin’s green guide - two stars awarded beach
Daizen Shrine — Noh open stage experience
Day 3 - Customs and Traditions of Sado Island
On day 3, walk through time by visiting the Kinzan Gold Mine, a recently designated UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site with fascinating gold and silver mining techniques.Later on, visit the old port town of Shukunegi, flourished in the medieval times for its gold shipping industry and uniquely characterised by its traditional building architecture which comprise 100 houses built with plate walls made from ship planks.
Today lunch's location is located in a historical buidling surrounded by a charming and beautifully arranged Japanese Garden. At Anaguchi-tei, the chef will serve you an Italian/French cuisine by using local fresh ingredients from Sado Island.
After your lunch, you will take a leisure ride along the rocky and otherworldly shore on a tarai bune (washtub boat), a fisherman boat made by cedar and bamboo grown in Sado Island.
In the evening, enjoy the second concert of Kodo at Ogi Minami Park and, back at Azuma Hotel, learn the local Okesa Bon dance,
a traditional dancing style practiced by each member of the community as an important cultural heritage to bring people together in a joyful atmosphere.
Included attractions
Kinzan Gold Mine
The Sado Gold Mine was discovered in 1601. Gold veins spread east to west for more than three kilometers and north to south for more than 600 meters.
Tarai Bune Ride
Offerring a unique experience, where visitors paddle traditional tub boats along the island’s scenic coastal waters.
Kodo Earth Celebration 2025 - Concert
A three-days concert filled with live music
Included accommodations
Oosado Hotel
Located at the picturesque Aikawa Kasuga-zaki, it offers majestic views of the Sea of Japan.
Day 4 – People and nature of Sado Island
On day 4, start your day visiting the Myosenji temple, an ancient buddisht temple erected originally in 1278 by Nichiren Shonin, founder of the Nichiren School of Buddhism who was exiled to Sado. The temple features a majestic five-story pagoda and castle town elements as it used to be also a samurai residence of the notorious Takeda Honma clan, deputy governor of Sado.
Receive a Goshuin, an honorable red seal from the head of the temple, as special souvenir of your visit and enjoy a delicious lunch at Sado Udon Aoi, a traditional Japanese restaurant famous for its Udon, Tempura (battered, fried seafood and vegetables) and Japanese Sashimi (raw fish).
After your lunch, you will be guided to a special observation deck dedicated to admiring the once became extinct crested Ibis species named Toki. This beautiful white bird, decorated with pink feathers, was reintroduced in Japan thanks
to a breeding program in collaboration with China, and now can be seen only in Sado Island.
Your next stop will be the Hokusetsu sake brewery where you will have a taste of its exclusive sake supplied to every Nobu Restaurant around the world and selected by the famous Hollywood actor Robert De Niro.
For the evening, gather yourself once again at Ogi Minato Park for the spectacular finale of the three days concert of Kodo. At the end of the concert, you will be guided to Hotel Oosado for a final get together, where you will receive the special blessing by Onidaiko, a friendly deity that, despite its demon appearance, from past times is warding off evil by dancing and playing the Taiko drum as part of a folk entertaining performance.
Included attractions
Myosenji temple
An ancient temple connected with Nichiren Shonin (founder of the Nichiren School of Buddhism who was exiled to Sado), which evokes a sense of medieval times
Kodo Earth Celebration 2025 - Concert
A three-days concert filled with live music
Onidaiko Blessing
A friendly deity from Japanese Folk entertainment dancing and playing the Taiko drum in a private exclusive performance.
Hokusetsu Sake Brewery
Have a taste of its exclusive sake supplied to every Nobu Restaurant around the world and selected by the famous Hollywood actor Robert De Niro.
Sado Ibis Toki watching
Admire the extremely rare crested Ibis specie of Sado Island
Included accommodations
Oosado Hotel
Located at the picturesque Aikawa Kasuga-zaki, it offers majestic views of the Sea of Japan.
Day 5 – Back to the mainland
On your last day in Sado Island, following your final buffet breakfast, we have a late check out from the hotel and visit Yuzuru, a beautiful restaurant built next to the Sado History and Legend Museum featuring a fresh seafood dining experience where you can enjoy the view of a beautiful Japanese garden and its great pond inhabited by Japanese Koi carps.
After a delicious lunch here, your wonderful time in Sado Island will come to an end as we head back to Ryotsu port to catch the 15:30 jetfoil back to Niigata.
Enquire now
Join an exclusive group tour experience that we have arranged for a limited time
Don't want a group tour? Let us help customize the perfect private experience
