Ogi Peninsula Moto-ogi Route
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  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 1 – 2 hours

Why are there tub boats in the Ogi area?

Tub boats are small vessels found uniquely on the Ogi Peninsula of Sado Island. Go and discover the reasons for yourself.

  •  Geopark Interpretive Panel
  •  Signs
  • Bus Stop

 Itinerary

  • Moto-ogi Car Park
  • 1Spring Water/Pillow Lava
  • 2Yajima/Kyojima
  • Moto-ogi Car Park

1Spring Water / Pillow Lava

Kobo Water (spring water)

On the Ogi Peninsula, water bubbles up in various places. One site, Kobo Water, is being used by locals for laundry and taking the dirt off vegetables. The water was also fed into motor sailers for drinking water around 1950.

Pillow Lava

When lava erupting from an underwater volcano flows out layer upon layer, rounded pillow shapes are formed. The structure looks like a pile of pillows and features numerous little bubble holes. Kobo Water seeps up through the holes of lava rock, including pillow lava.

(日本語) ジオサイト詳細へ

2Yajima / Kyojima

Yajima (literally: arrow isle) is a great source of high-quality Japanese arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa Japonica). Kyojima (literally: mantra isle) is where Nichiro, a senior disciple of Nichiren (Buddhist monk), drifted to and spent a night chanting mantras because of a storm. He was delivering discharge papers for Nichiren, who had been exiled to Sado.

Trail Path

A trail path, made from rocks uplifted by the earthquake several hundreds years ago, goes around both Yajima and Kyojima. The uplifted seabed was eroded by waves and made flat, so today, the flat surface makes a path to walk on.

Proof of Underwater Volcanoes

When walking on the paths of Yajima and Kyojima, you may find black rocks. They were produced by eruptions of submarine volcanoes more than 10 million years ago. You may also notice black grains of sand around the rock. That is because the black rocks eroded and layers of sand built up in the surrounding area.

Important!
Let's walk on ground formed by underwater volcanoes and the force of waves.
(日本語) ジオサイト詳細へ

Option

Tub Boat Ride

Tub boats, taraibune, are also called hangiri (literally: half cut). You can find many rocks formed by lava that erupted from submarine volcanoes. The sea around the Ogi area is shallow and rocky, and the area has a complex coastline. Thus, these tub boats that can easily be maneuvered in small spaces are being used to catch fish.

Yajima Taiken Koryukan (experience & exchange center) Information

Address

365-1, Ogi, Sado, Niigata 952-0605
TEL

0259-86-2992
Hours

8:30 am – 5:00 pm (*Tub boat ride reception until 4:30 pm)
Admission

Adults: 500 JPY / Children: 300 JPY
*Booking is not required for a tub boat ride. Come to the boarding area.
*A group of more than 10 people must book in advance.

From our geo-guide

Yajima/Kyojima is a famous spot on Sado for tub boat rides. If you see the landscape from the point of view of a geopark, you will know why tub boats are being used in the Ogi area. Come out and walk with us!

Take a stroll in a geopark!

Reserve your spot today

Take a stroll in a geopark!

(日本語) 海の時代コース

(日本語) かつて佐渡は海の底にあった！

(日本語) 海底火山の活動によりできた黒い大地が広がる佐渡島南部を、特徴的な海岸線のスポットを中心に巡るコースです。

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 3～4時間

(日本語) 大陸の時代コース

(日本語) なぜ佐渡で金が採れるのか？

(日本語) 激しい火山活動によって生み出された佐渡島の金銀鉱床について、そのルーツを探るコースです。

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 3～4時間

The History of the Kuninaka Plain and Lake Kamo, From the Past to the Present day　　－Local Specialties, nurtured by the earth－

Let's ponder one of the mysteries of Sado Island – what caused the wide, flat, Kuninaka plain to form at its center?

Sado Island has two distinctive mountain ranges – Osado in the north and Kosado in the south, cradling the wide open Kuninaka plain and Lake Kamo in between. There is a close relationship between the formation of the plain and the formation of Lake Kamo. By the end of this course, participants will understand how Kuninaka Plain and Lake Kamo were formed, and how generations of residents have cultivated the local specialties of Sado Island, such as rice.

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 1 – 2 hours

The Role of the Stone Mill in the History of the Gold and Silver Mines

A miraculous discovery that created an island of gold

The stone mill is one technology among many that resulted in the prosperity of the Sado Gold and Silver Mines. Just like gold ore, the rock used for stone mills was produced on Sado Island, and originally created by the geological activities of the earth!

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 1 – 2 hours

Ogi Peninsula Round Trip Route

Ogi Peninsula Round Trip Route

Approximately 13 million years ago, large-scale volcanic activity occurred on the floor of the Japan Sea. The black lava that erupted during this time formed the land of the Ogi Peninsula. The unique landscape created by uplift and the erosion of the peninsula has been designated a national natural monument and a place of scenic beauty. Enjoy this magnificent scenic landscape. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing when walking on the coast because rocks are exposed in many places.

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 4時間

Aikawa Oma Port and Fukiage Coast Route on foot

Aikawa Oma Port and Fukiage Coast Route on foot

In this walking course, we will learn about the history of the Aikawa Gold and Silver Mines and look for stones that were used to grind ore. If you want to have something sweet, you can stop by Kisuke, a confectionery with a variety of Japanese and Western options. You can also enjoy sweets in the eat-in space. When walking on the coast, you'll find many exposed and sometimes jagged rocks, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes that are easy to move in.

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 2 – 3 hours

Lake Kamo Round Trip Route

Lake Kamo Round Trip Route

Lake Kamo, the largest lake in Niigata Prefecture, is a brackish lake with a mixture of fresh water and sea water. Oyster cultivation is thriving, and many oyster rafts float on the lake. The lake is home to a rich ecosystem. It is possible to get to each point by car, but we recommend going around the lake by bicycle to enjoy the beautiful scenery at your own pace.

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 2 – 3 hours

Lake Kamo and Ryotsu Town Mini Walking Course

Lake Kamo and Ryotsu Town Mini Walking Course

Why not explore Ryotsu town with a Geopark guide for an hour or so before catching your ferry back to the mainland? Ryotsu Minato is a coastal town originally built on reclaimed land. During the short tour, you can enjoy a view of Mt. Kimpoku from the side of the oyster hut lined Lake Kamo, and learn about the long, narrow sand bar that separates the lake from the open sea.

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 1 – 2 hours

Ogi Peninsula Shukunegi Route

Mars here on Sado?!

How did land shaped by the forces of the sea and earthquakes influence people's lives? Walk on the Shukunegi Coast and explore the links between geology and human activity.

  • Beginners
  • Families
  • 1 – 10 people
  • 1 – 2 hours