FACILITY INFO
WELCOME TO SADO ISLAND TAIKO CENTRE (TATAKOKAN)
Sado Island Taiko Centre—nicknamed "Tatakokan"—sits on a hill overlooking the Sea of Japan, nestled beside the forest surrounding Kodo Village.
Built with locally grown timber, Tatakokan has a large hall, cafe, exhibition room, and meeting rooms.
Our team warmly welcomes visitors for taiko experiences, concerts, and a wide range array of fun activities. Tatakokan is also used by the local community and visitors to Sado Island for workshops, music and performing arts practices, and a range of events.
※The main hall, cafe, exhibition room, and meeting rooms are all fully air-conditioned. The ground floor (main hall and cafe) is barrier-free. There are Western-style toilets and a wheelchair-accessible restroom equipped with a baby changing station and infant chair. Visitors are welcome to use the free Wi-Fi and the microwave oven in the cafe.
ACCESS
SADO ISLAND TAIKO CENTRE (TATAKOKAN)
Open: 9:00–17:00 (For evening use,
advanced bookings are required)
Closed: Mondays (When Monday is a public holiday, the Centre will be closed on Tuesday instead.), year-end and New Year holidays, Peak Winter Period (January–February)
*Please check our News page for updates, including the exact dates for upcoming holiday periods.
150-3 Ogi Kanetashinden, Sado, Niigata, Japan
Tel. 0259-86-2320
https://tatakokan.jp/en
※Sado Island Taiko Centre is managed by Kodo Cultural Foundation.
GETTING TO SADO ISLAND
There are two ferry routes connecting mainland Niigata and Sado Island: Niigata Port–Ryotsu Port and Naoetsu Port–Ogi Port.
Recommended Train Routes from Tokyo/Osaka
[Tokyo Stn. → Niigata Stn.] Joetsu Shinkansen (2 hrs)
[Tokyo Stn. → Joetsu-Myoko Stn.] Hokuriku Shinkansen (2 hrs)
[Osaka Stn. → Joetsu-Myoko Stn.] Limited Express Thunderbird → transfer at Kanazawa Stn.→ Hokuriku Shinkansen (4 hrs total)
Buses from Train Stations to Mainland Ports
Niigata Stn. → Niigata Port (15 mins)
Joetsu Myoko Stn. → Naoetsu Port (30 mins)
Naoetsu Stn. → Naoetsu Port (6 mins)
*Notes:
(1) Shinkansen = Bullet train
(2) All times are approximate.
Please see the Sado Kisen website for information about ferry travel to Sado Island, including timetables, ticket reservations, and boarding procedures, etc. Ferry timetables are subject to change and ferries may be canceled due to weather conditions, so please check for updates before you travel.
TRANSPORT ON SADO ISLAND
Public transport options on Sado Island include buses, taxis, and sight-seeing buses. If you don’t want to worry about timetables, bringing your own car to Sado or renting one here is a great option. If you want to rent a car, advanced reservations are recommended, especially in summer. For further details about sightseeing and transport on Sado, please visit the Sado Tourism Navi website.
Please Note: Sado Island Taiko Centre is no longer connected to Ogi by public transport. The nearest bus stop is Ogi Town, which is a 90 min. walk or 15 min. drive away. We recommend using a taxi, rental car, or bicycle (e-bike) to make your way to the Centre.
Island Transportation Inquiries
Niigata Kotsu Sado Head Office (Local Bus Services)
Tel. 0259-52-3200 (9:30–17:00)
*Japanese assistance only
For assistance in English, please use this Contact Form
FACILITY HIRE
Designed with the resonant sound of taiko in mind, our timber hall is also well suited to acoustic instruments, choirs, and dance practices and performances. Beyond the arts, corporate and community groups use the Centre for diverse activities, ranging from cooking classes to exhibitions, seminars to symposiums. We look forward to discussing your needs.
Hall ¥2,000
Exhibition Room ¥300
Japanese-style Room* ¥300
Meeting Room ¥300
T’s Cafe ¥1,000
*This room has tatami flooring. All other rooms have wooden flooring.
| Facility Hire (per hour) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall | T’s Cafe | Cafe Deck Area | Exhibition Room | Japanese-style Room | Meeting Room | |
| Standard | ¥2,000 | ¥1,000 | ¥1,000 | ¥300 | ¥300 | ¥300 |
| Evening | ¥3,000 | ¥1,500 | ¥1,500 | ¥450 | ¥450 | ¥450 |
| Commercial | ¥4,000 | 20% of sales | 20% of sales | ¥600 | ¥600 | ¥600 |
| Air Conditioning | ¥500 | ¥500 | ¥500 | ¥500 | ¥500 | ¥500 |
| Kitchen | - | ¥500 | - | - | - | - |
| Taiko | ¥500 per person | - | - | - | - | - |
*Advance bookings are required.
DISCOVER SADO ISLAND
When viewed from above, Sado Island looks like a stylized letter “S” or a lightning bolt. The island’s central Kuninaka plains are home to vast grain fields. From there, the Osado Mountain Range stretches to the north, and the Kosado Mountain Range to the south.
The 38th parallel north, or latitude 38° N, passes through the center of the island. Here, the seasonal winds and ocean currents foster native vegetation found in northern and southern Japan, making Sado Island a microcosm of the Japanese isles.From the upstairs viewing deck at Sado Island Taiko Centre, you can enjoy extensive views of the northern Osado region and Mano Bay, sweeping into the central plains.
Northern Osado is home to stunning natural scenery, including Mt. Kinpoku—Sado’s highest peak; Mt. Donden—home to groves of 300-year-old Japanese cedar trees and grassy plateaus; and Onogame—a giant turtle-shaped rock where daylilies grow en masse every summer.
In central Kuninaka, people often see a thrilling sight: flocks of toki—the successfully reintroduced Japanese crested ibis—soaring through the sky. Along with more beautiful nature, Southern Kosado offers a wide range of chances to be mesmerized by craftsmanship.
Visitors can enjoy strolling around renowned historic buildings such as Watatsu Shrine and Rengebuji, Chokokuji, and Shokoji temples; the village of Shukunegi, a designated Important Preservation Area for Traditional Buildings and Architecture; and the Iwakubi Shoryu rice terraces.
Sado Island is a veritable treasure chest of performing arts, holding regular festivals and events that uphold and celebrate its distinct folk traditions. The island is home to one third of Japan’s Noh stages and local enthusiasts perform Noh plays on a regular basis.
There are around 120 villages and they all hold their own annual festivals tied to seasonal, spiritual rituals. Each village has its own form of Sado’s iconic onidaiko, a demon deity drum dance that locals perform to ward off evil spirits, pray for good health and crops, and bring the community together.
ABOUT OGI PENINSULA
The Ogi Peninsula, at the southernmost tip of Sado Island, is renowned for its unique geographical features and stunning scenery. Formed by underwater volcanic activity around 13 million years ago, this area is home to sea caves and pillow lava rock formations created by submarine volcanic upheaval. Today, Sado’s Ogi Coast is designated by Japan as a National Monument and a Place of Scenic Beauty. There are a wide range of things to see and do in this part of the island. You can stroll through the charming historical port towns of Ogi and Shukunegi, and try fresh seafood and seaweed caught the traditional way here: on a taraibune (tub boat) using the isonegi fishing method—leaning over the side with an aquascope box and a spear. The peninsula is home to many of Sado Geopark’s geosites, which you can explore by land or sea. There are plenty of activities that let you enjoy the natural scenery, such as cycling, diving, kayaking, or taking a tub boat ride.
Ogi Port Area
Ogi Port is Sado Island’s southern gateway. Historically, Ogi was a lively port town that served as an important shipping hub for the Sado Gold Mine and a stop for the kitamaebune (northbound trade ships) on the Sea of Japan. The quaint main street runs parallel to the curved bay, mimicking its shape. It is lined with unique buildings with protruding upper floors, which are collectively designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Visitors can head to Marine Plaza Ogi for sightseeing advice, maps, and e-bike rentals at Minami Sado Tourist Information Center on the ground floor. Across the road, you’ll find the pier for tub boat rides and sightseeing boats, alongside Ogi Port Park—the main venue for Earth Celebration, the annual international arts festival hosted by Kodo and Sado City.
Shukunegi
Shukunegi is a historic village nestled in a small cove on the Ogi Coast, which developed as a port of call for the kitamaebune (northbound trade ships) sailing the Sea of Japan from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period. The village has over 100 traditional wooden houses along its narrow, maze-like alleys. Designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, Shukunegi has a few houses that are open for visitors to step inside, along with museums sharing its rich history. It’s a popular place to take a relaxing tub boat ride, offering great views of the rugged, rocky coastline.
Yajima & Kyojima
Between Ogi and Shukunegi, there is a quiet bay with two islands connected by a red arched bridge—Yajima and Kyojima. The high-quality bamboo that people use to make arrow shafts grows on Yajima, which means “Arrow Island.” Legend has it that the arrow that master archer Minamoto no Yorimasa used to defeat the mythical Nue in The Tale of the Heike was made with Yajima bamboo. Kyojima means “Scripture Island.” It was named after Nichiro, a disciple of the monk Nichiren, who arrived on the island during a storm and spent the night chanting scriptures. Today, this idyllic spot, with its striking bridge and clear waters, is the perfect place to take photos and a traditional tub boat ride.
Kotoura
Kotoura is home to Ryuo-do, the largest lava cave on Sado Island. It is also known as Sado’s Blue Grotto. Just like Italy’s Blue Grotto, the sea glows a beautiful blue when the sun shines into the cave on a clear day. Enjoy this magical view from a sea kayak, or go diving to experience the cave along with the seasonal wonders beneath the surface.
