Hiking Mt. Kinpoku in Sado Island - October 2022

Back in October, I hiked Mt. Kinpokusan on Sado Island. Although Sado island has only a few mountains, Mt. Kinpku is the highest. I took the most standard and scenic route, starting from Donden Highland Lodge, crossing the peak of Mt. Kinpoku, and ending at Hakuundai. The best time here is said to be May when countless alpine flowers surround the trail. Autumn was also good timing with colored leaves. 

Sado Island is located approximately 32 km away from the main island of Japan. It flourished with goldmines, especially during the Edo Period. The island is still known for its goldmine as a historical heritage and the birthplace of Toki (Asian crested ibis).

I first thought it would not be easy to access the island; however, it was completely the opposite. Ferries go back and forth about ten times a day! There are two kinds of ferries: Jetfoil and car ferry. Jetfoil is faster and more expensive. Car ferries are slow but cheaper. We wanted to carry our car to the island, leaving us no option but to take the ferry. 

The ferry was gorgeous, and I enjoyed the shop's Sado milk ice cream. 

Finding a route to hike Mt. Kinpoku was harder. The only public transportation on the island is buses, but it gets less convenient except in the summer. We wanted to start hiking early, so we stayed a night at Donden Highland Lodge near the trailhead. We first planned to use our tent, but it was raining hard with strong wind, so we asked them if we could stay inside. They kindly offered us a room, but they couldn't add meals since it was very sudden. There are no restaurants nor shops nearby, so we bought our dinner at a shop at the foot of the highland and then drove about 35-40 mins to Donden-Kogen lodge. You can get there by bus during the hiking season, but it wasn't available in November. You need a car or get there by taxi. 

The next morning, we left the lodge at around 6:16 AM. The trail was mostly easy to walk for about an hour, with minor ups and downs. After that, the trail turned to ridgelines with panoramic views. It made sense that I was hiking at a very high altitude. I could see the town of Ryotsu, the shape of Sado island, and the sea of Japan clearly. 

Note that the trail sometimes included steps with slippy rocks, and you need to have wind-protective wear as it may get very windy because there were no trees around to protect us. 

Another thing you should be aware of when using this route to go to Hakuundai, the trail includes paved roads managed by the Self-Defense Forces. They require you to declare that you are passing the area at least a day before. 

After I finished hiking, I had ice cream at the Exchange Center Hakuundai while I waited for the taxi I reserved and took it back to Donden Highland Lodge to pick up our car. Note that there is no public transportation from Hakuundai to Donden Highland Lodge nor Ryotsu Port except summer.