Soaking Up The Sun At Sado Island’s Earth Celebration 2012

This summer my big adventure was visiting Sado Island in the Niigata Prefecture to see the famous Earth Celebration.  In 2012, the Earth Celebration took place from August 17 to 19 and it is a festival I could not recommend more highly. Many people asked me why I was willing to travel such a great distance for a festival when there are so many festivals in Japan, particularly in the summer. Why, they asked me, would you go to all the trouble of getting there via numerous trains, ferry rides and buses when there are plenty of great festivals in Fukui?  It was relatively straightforward to me.  Now in its 25th year, the Sado Island Earth Celebration is Japan’s longest running music festival, and when I read that it had been described by the New York Times as “Japan’s leading music event” there was no doubt in my mind that I had to go.

Kodo Taiko Performance at Earth Celebration 2012

ABOUT THE EARTH CELEBRATION

The stunningly beautiful Sado Island with its breathtaking landscapes sets the stage for Earth Celebration, an annual summer taiko music festival held to celebrate global culture. It’s a three-day festival held in mid to late August in the very quaint Ogi Town. The internationally acclaimed Kodo taiko group, who perform in collaboration with different guest artists every year, hosts the Earth Celebration. This festival has gained great popularity in Japan and also amongst the international community; as a result in recent years thousands of people flock to Sado Island to enjoy the charms of this festival. We met a man at the festival from Tokyo who had been coming for over 10 years, talk about commitment to an amazing festival!  

Traditional Japanese Dancing at the Earth Celebration

The festival lasts three days (This year it was August 17-19) and each evening at the Shiroyama Park located in the mountains a taiko performance is held on the main stage. The first night features the Kodo taiko drummers, the second night features the guest artists and the final night is a collaboration featuring both Kodo and the guest artists. We had originally decided to attend the first evening but after seeing and loving it so much we also purchased tickets for the final evening’s performance. It was worth altering our travel plans, the concert blew us all away and I wonder if I will ever see a music concert again in my life where I am so in awe of the performers.

Taiko Drumming

During the day, prior to the grand stage taiko show, at Ogi Harbour you can soak up the sun while listening to great mini performances at a smaller stage. Be sure to bring some spending money because you’re likely to be tempted by the Harbour Market which showcases dozens of small shops and food stands that create a small tent city where you can shop and enjoy different kinds of food from around the world.

SADO ISLAND TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Having come such a great distance to see the Earth Celebration my friends and I were excited to travel around Sado Island after the festival. Here are my travel recommendations for what else to see:

Number 1: Take a boat ride around Ogi Harbor in a taraibune

A taraibune is a tub-shaped boat that is famous on Sado Island. Ladies in traditional fisherfolk clothes will row you around and maybe even let you try your own hand at using the single flat paddle to move the boat. It costs 400yen and it was an amusing way to pass the time while waiting for the big evening taiko performance.

It’s more difficult than you would think, you'd never know it by the way the ladies make it look effortless. My friend and I could only laugh at our pitiful attempts to propel the boat when given the chance.  

Number 2: Take a scenic drive up the Northern Coast 

Beautiful Coastline

The highlight of our trip to Sado Island for me was taking a scenic drive up the Northern Coastline of the island stopping to see Futatsugame, two islands that are said to look like the backs of two turtles, and hike the One-game, one of the three largest rocks in Japan. Whenever I think back to Sado Island what I remember is this coastline's natural splendour with its craggy rocks reaching up to the azure blue sky above and the clear saphire-coloured ocean below.

Number 3: Stroll leisurely through the Cedar Forest 

On the north side of the island is the beautiful Osado Ishina Natural Cedar Forest. Walking through this forest of 200-400 year old cedar trees was like walking in a scene straight out of a fairytale. The unusual and twisted shapes of the cedar trees and the mist created a very mysterious atmosphere.

Number 4: Visit the Toki Bird Sanctuary

Everywhere you go on Sado you will see the area’s famous character: the adorable toki bird. Toki birds (Japanese Crested Ibis) are famous on Sado Island.  Formerly, toki birds could be found living throughout Japan, but due to excessive hunting and destruction of the natural environment, the toki bird faced imminent extinction in the early 1980s, with only five birds alive, all of which were on Sado Island. These five surviving birds were the first members of the Sado Island Toki Sanctuary. Since then, the inhabitants of Sado Island have gone to great lengths to restore the environment and make it suitable for toki to live in again safely.

Number 5: Frolic in the sunflower field

Along the west coast there was a beautiful sunflower field that we spotted while driving. I simply adore sunflowers so I was happy as a clam here.  It was a beautiful spot to stop and get out of the car after a long drive along the coast. You can relax, get a drink and take some pictures that will make your friends back home green with envy.

Number 6: Explore and tour the old Sado Island goldmine

Historically it was the discovery of a goldmine that brought Sado Island to the attention of Japan.  Tokugawa Ieyasu promoted the development of this goldmine and secured it under the shogunate’s control.  The mine was most prosperous at the beginning of the 17^th century, boasting the highest gold production in the world.

At this gold mine you can take a tour underground and try your hand at gold panning. 

Number 7: Wander through the old fishing village 
Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Ogi is Shukunegi a delightfully charming old fishing village that looks, for the most part, untouched by time. It was like walking directly into Sado's past as this village is a relic from another era.  Many of the wooden houses here are 200+ years old and there is just a pervading sense of timelessness while wandering the gloriously not-tourist-filled streets. Shukenegi is still an active fishing village today.