How to get there

From the Tokyo area: The Joetsu Shinkansen makes frequent trips daily to Niigata and takes about 2 hours. Bus access to the Sado Kisen Niigata Port leaves from the terminal #3 at JR Niigata Station, Bandai Exit. (Note: The terminal will be relocated on Match 31, 2024. The new terminal will be #17 found on the 1st floor of JR Niigata Station.) English speaking staff members at Tourist Information on the 2nd floor at JR Niigata Station (025-241-7914) will help you if you need the language assistance. 

From the Osaka/Kyoto area: JR West offers daily rail service to Naoetsu or Joetsumyoko. Access buses leave from Naoetsu Station and Joetsumyoko Station East Exit bound for Sado Kisen Naoetsu Port.

Value Pack Passes for JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area) or Japan Rail Pass Holders (As of March 1, 2024, conditions may be subject to change without notice. )

Sado Niigata Pass (8,000 yen): Exclusively available to holders of the above passes. The pass includes:

・A set of roundtrip coupons for Sado Kisen ferry (Niigata – Ryotsu)
・One three-day bus pass on Sado
・A set of roundtrip tickets for bus services between JR Niigata Station and Sado Kisen Niigata Port)
・A One-day Pass for Niigata City Loop Bus

For detail information, visit Sado Niigata Pass.

Highway and overnight buses are usually the less expensive way to travel.
https://www.kosokubus.com/en/ (Kosokubus.com) is an on-line search engine for express bus services.

Sado Kisen runs ferry services daily from Niigata to Ryotsu (2hrs and 30min, or 67min by jetfoil) and seasonally from Naoetsu to Ogi (75min by jetfoil).
Phone: 025-245-1234 (Niigata Information Office)
Phone: 0255-44-1234 (Naoetsu Information Office)
Sado Kisen Ferry Schedules in English

JR East Infoline, 050-2016-1603, is a telephone-based service providing JR East transportation information in English, Chinese and Korean from 10am to 6pm, daily except during the new years’ holidays. https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/infoline.html

The other offices below provide multilingual information services:
http://www.itcj.or.jp/en/index.html

・Tokyo Station: 7:30am – 8:30pm
・NRT Airport: 8:15am – 7:00pm
・HND Airport: 6:45am – 6:30pm

・ Japan National Tourist Organization Tokyo Information Center
Phone: 03-3201-3331 (9:00am – 5:00pm daily)
The organization gives you comprehensive information of touring throughout Japan.
JNTO Tourist Information Centers (throughout Japan)