Ferries in the Prefecture (Sado/Awashima) Niigata prefecture includes two islands -- Sado, which is a city in its own right, a popular tourist destination for Japanese people around the country, and home to around 8 ALTs. There is also the much smaller Awashima, an island hamlet off the coast of Murakami that is home to about 430 people but can be a relaxing weekend getaway. Sado Sado has 3 ferry routes and two types of ferries: the fast and expensive Jetfoil, and the slow and cheaper car ferry (which you can load your car onto for an additional fee). Ryotsu- Niigata City: Jetfoil (1 hour, 6000 yen) & Car Ferry (2.5 hours, 2300 yen) Akadomari- Teradomari (Nagaoka City): Only Jetfoil (1 hour, 2700 yen) Ogi- Naoetsu (Joetsu City): Only Car Ferry (2.5 hours, 2500 yen) For timetables in English, see http://.mijintl.com/sadokisn07.html Awashima Awashima-Iwafune (Murakami City) High-speed: 1 hour, 3600 yen and Regular-speed: 1.5 hour, 1800 yen For timetables (Japanese only but easy to understand), see here. Fares for both destinations may vary somewhat depending on the season. Ferries sometimes shut down for bad weather during the winter months. Long Distance Ferries Those looking for a real adventure can take a long-distance ferry north to Hokkaido or south to Kyushu- the trip time varies from 17 to 21 hours but can be much cheaper than trains or airplanes. These kind of ferries depart from both Niigata and Naoetsu (Joetsu City). For detailed explanations and fares, see here.
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