Page 307 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

sake caskets, bamboo fishing
poles, and decorative straw THE KODO DRUMMING GROUP
bandori (back packs). Southeast Kodo, one of the most dynamic taiko drumming groups, is
of the castle is the Chidokan, known for perfor mances of drum, flute, song, and dance.
a school for young sam urai. Kodo means both “children of the drum” and “heartbeat.”
The throbbing heart of Kodo is the o-daiko, a convex
Chido Museum wooden drum used in Japanese folk festivals. Kodo
" ⌂ 10-18 Ienakashinmachi spends much of the year performing in Japan and world-
§ (0235) 22-1199 # 9am– wide, and hosts an annual three-day Earth Celebration,
4:30pm daily ¢ Dec–Feb: Wed when international musicians come to Sado to perform.
Chidokan
⌂ 11-45 Babacho § (0235)
23-4672 # 9am–4:30pm
Thu–Tue

0
Sado Island
佐渡島
! E3 ⌂ Niigata Prefecture
g Ferry or hydrofoil from brought an influx of convicts attraction. Based in Ogi, in the
Niigata (city) to Ryotsu who were forced to work in southwest, the group has put
Sado firmly on the map.
the mines.
n 2F Ryotsu port; (025) 927- Buses connect the island’s
5000
small towns, and tour buses Sado Kinzan Gold Mine
Though it receives more than stop at major sites. In the main " ⌂ 1305 Shimoaikawa @ To
a million visitors a year, Sado port of Ryotsu in the east, Aikawa Eigayosho § (0259)
Island still feels remote. For outdoor Noh perfor mances 74-2389 # 8:30am–5pm daily
centuries, this mellow island are held at the Honma Noh
37 miles (60 km) off Honshu’s Stage. In Aikawa, on the west Aikawa Museum
northwest coast was home to coast, the touristy Sado " ⌂ 20 Aikawa Sakashita-
political exiles, including the Kinzan Gold Mine has mech­ machi @ § (0259) 74-4312
emperor Juntoku in 1221, the anical dolls recreating the # 8:30am–5pm daily ¢ Dec
priest Nichiren in 1271, and harsh mining conditions. 29–Jan 3; Dec–Feb: Sat, Sun
Zeami, the Noh actor and Aikawa Museum has exhibits & public hols
play wright, in 1433. Of the 88 on gold mining, ragweaving,
Noh theaters once here, about and the local red­clay pottery. Kodo
35 are left. In 1601 the dis­ The Kodo drum ming group ⌂ 148-1 Kaneta Shinden
covery of gold in Aikawa is the island’s most famous ∑ kodo.or.jp

The wild natural landscape
of Sado Island, with jagged
rocks lining the coastline
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