An aristocratic culture flourished on the island beginning in the 8th century, through the activities of the people who were exiled there by the government for having lost in a political rivalry or to oppress them for their political ideas and activities. Also during the Edo Period in the 17 and 18th centuries, samurai and trades people who mined gold created a culture unique to the island, including some traditional arts and entertainment such as Mumyoui-yaki (clay pottery), Sado-okesa Dance, Sado-Noh (classic Japanese musical drama) and puppet plays.

Noh is the quintessential performing art of Japan, and many of its plays strongly convey the Japanese view of life and death. Watching Noh is not just a form of entertainment, but it is also considered to be a ceremony to appease wandering souls. Currently one-third of the Noh stages in Japan are concentrated in Sado, which is sacred ground for this art form. Here, Noh was originally entertainment for the governing classes, but its development has been unique in that it has been passed on by farmers. In June of each year, stages are set up at the shrines in each region to host outdoor Noh plays which are dedicated as rituals. These are entertainment for the farmers and at the same time, rituals to please the gods and ceremonies to appease wandering souls. Zeami Motokiyo, who was involved in a power struggle in Kyoto, came to Sado. His soul as well is being purified by the people of Sado.

Sado-ga-shima Island has many attractions, such as the Sado Gold Mine that offers a reproduction of gold mining activities in the 17th and 18th centuries complete with miniatures and electric powered dolls. Other attractions include Senkaku Bay with a beautiful view of the precipitous cliffs, Lake Kamo-ko where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, and Toki-no-mori-koen Park where you can see Japanese crested ibises, a protected species

In August, the island is filled with the sounds of drums and flutes. Enjoy Earth Celebration on the Island of Sado! Sado will be steaming with excitement again in Shiroyama Park. Organized by Kodo, Japan's internationally-acclaimed taiko performance group, and now in its 23nd year, this event brings artists from all around the world.

In the north of Sado is the Osado mountain range, crowned by the 1172 meter high peak of Mount Kinpoku. In the Kosado range in the south, the highest peak, Mount Oochi, has a height of 645 meters. Between these two mountain ranges lies the Kuninaka Plain, famous for its rice.

Traditional handcrafts practiced on Sado include pottery, bamboo work, wax casting, and rag weaving (sakiori) . Mumyoi pottery using the red clay from the gold mines is particularly famous. There are some twenty workshops engaged in the creation of Mumyoi artefacts and one of the potters is a living national treasure.