Sado Kisen Announces "Ship Watching" Parent-Child Cruise Experience Event for Elementary School Students and Guardians

Sado Kisen Co., Ltd. has begun accepting reservations for "Ship Watching," a participatory cruise experience event designed for elementary school students and their guardians. The event will be held on the following dates: Niigata departures on Saturday, July 25, 2026, and Sunday, July 26, 2026; Naoetsu departure on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

This event is organized by the Hokuriku-Shinetsu Maritime Public Relations Association and the Japan Maritime Public Relations Association as part of the "Encountering Ships" initiative. Its purpose is to foster maritime awareness and promote the conservation of marine and coastal environments among children who will lead the next generation. Participants will travel by ship from the mainland to Sado Island. (For the Niigata route on July 25th only, a rope-tying experience will be offered onboard the car ferry during the outbound journey.) A full subsidy for children's fares and partial subsidy for adult fares will be provided. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy an affordable cruise and create summer vacation memories.

1. Details of Niigata Departure "Ship Watching"

① Dates and Capacity

- Saturday, July 25, 2026: Capacity 60 people

- Sunday, July 26, 2026: Capacity 40 people

② Event Content

- Travel on the 2nd class car ferry for the outbound journey and the jetfoil for the return journey.

- Rope-tying experience available only on July 25th, in the event plaza on the outbound car ferry.

- Maritime-related materials and goods included.

- Free time for exploration on Sado Island.

<Schedule>

- Niigata Port (Reception starts 8:20 AM / Departure 9:25 AM) ~ 2nd Class Car Ferry ~ (Arrival 11:55 AM) Ryotsu Port... Free time on the island... Ryotsu Port (Departure 5:55 PM) ~ Jetfoil ~ (Arrival 7:02 PM) Niigata Port

*This event is a day trip, but participants can extend their return journey up to the third day from the outbound travel date if desired.

③ Participation Fee

- Elementary School Student: ¥0 (Free). This applies to a maximum of two elementary school students per accompanying adult.

- Adult: ¥8,720. This applies to a maximum of two adults per elementary school student.

*For reservations exceeding these limits, the following fees will apply:

- Additional Elementary School Student: ¥5,090 per person

- Additional Adult: ¥10,720 per person

- Preschool children require a fee of ¥3,600 per person only if they occupy a separate seat on the return jetfoil.

④ Conditions

- Applications must be made with at least one elementary school student and one adult.

*Participation is not possible with only elementary school students, only adults, or only adults and infants.

2. Details of Naoetsu Departure "Ship Watching"

① Dates and Capacity

- Saturday, July 25, 2026: Capacity 50 people

② Event Content

- Round trip on the 2nd class car ferry.

- Maritime-related materials and goods included.

- Free time for exploration on Sado Island.

<Schedule>

- Naoetsu Port (Reception starts 6:10 AM / Departure 7:10 AM) ~ 2nd Class Car Ferry ~ (Arrival 9:50 AM) Ogi Port... Free time on the island... Ogi Port (Departure 5:25 PM) ~ 2nd Class Car Ferry ~ (Arrival 8:05 PM) Naoetsu Port

*This event is a day trip, but participants can extend their return journey up to the third day from the outbound travel date if desired.

③ Participation Fee

- Elementary School Student: ¥0 (Free). This applies to a maximum of two elementary school students per accompanying adult.

- Adult: ¥6,560. This applies to a maximum of two adults per elementary school student.

*For reservations exceeding these limits, the following fees will apply:

- Additional Elementary School Student: ¥3,200 per person

- Additional Adult: ¥6,920 per person

④ Conditions

- Applications must be made with at least one elementary school student and one adult.

*Participation is not possible with only elementary school students, only adults, or only adults and infants.

3. Reservation Acceptance

- Online reservations (Please apply from the link below).

Niigata Departure: https://www.sadokisen.co.jp/trip-top/plans/jos-watching202607/

Naoetsu Departure: https://www.sadokisen.co.jp/trip-top/plans/jos-watching202607-2/

*If you wish to change your return date to a later day, please enter your desired date and boarding time in the message field on the customer information input screen. (This is a request-based service. For the Niigata route, it will be the jetfoil; for the Naoetsu route, it will be the 2nd class car ferry.)

*If the number of elementary school students exceeds two per adult, or if the number of adults exceeds two per elementary school student, please select the corresponding option (additional persons) on the option selection page.

*Reservations will close once capacity is reached.

4. Other Information

Activities onboard the ship and on Sado Island are at your own discretion (Rope-tying experience available only on July 25th on the outbound car ferry for the Niigata route). Staff will not accompany participants.