Saturday 29th April, 2017.

Niigata to Sado Island.

Two and a half hour car ferry trip across the Sea of Japan to Ryotsu port on Sado Island.

                                      Waiting in the back of the Rolls Royce

Sado Island consists of two mountain ranges with flat areas in between. The island was a designated penal colony for political dissidents during the Imperial Court of the Nara Period in the 18th century.

The discovery of gold in the 17th century brought positive socioeconomics from other regions. The combinations of aristrocratic, samurai and commercial exchanges, have fused together to form a unique culture.

On arrival at the port we drove through many villages and the locals were out in force, waving and taking photographs. 

During lunch (at the north end of the island) there was heavy rain and a rush to put hoods and tops on before everything got soaked. There was thunder and lightning so departure to the first Regularity of the day was delayed by 30 minutes. There were supposed to be four regularities today but the second was cancelled due to snow blocking the road.

Regularity Four was on a little used road, covered in a lot of debris such as fallen branches and leaves and one very large pot hole.

Before dinner a group of young school children came and performed a dance to the beating of a large drum.

One of the waitresses at dinner at worked in this hotel for 60 years (she was 75!)