Sado-ga-shima, one of Japan’s largest offshore islands, lies about 50km off the coast of Niigata Prefecture.

Due to its remote location, historically, Sado-ga-shima served as a destination for political exiles. These days, traces of the culture and religion that these forced residents brought with them remain. To mainland Japanese, Sado still brings forth an image of remoteness and unease.

It’s a bit of a mission to get here, so you’ll want to stay at least one night, probably two. There are infrequent buses and no trains, so to make the most of your visit, rent some wheels.

You’ll want to drive the Ōsado Skyline scenic road and drop into scenic Senkaku Bay on the northern coast.

To Japanese, Sado is known for its Kinzan, formerly one of the most productive gold mines in Japan. The mine is open to the public and has a good museum.