We didn't make it to Sado Island - and honestly, that might be the most interesting part of our travel story. This geological middle child of Japan, nestled in the Sea of Japan under Niigata Prefecture, sits there with its 55,000 inhabitants, probably laughing at our travel itinerary fail. With mountain ranges that look like they were designed by a geographically challenged abstract artist and a climate that plays temperature roulette thanks to the Black Current, Sado Island remains our ultimate travel unicorn.

Spanning a respectable chunk of Japanese real estate as the country's second-largest island, Sado carries a complex history that goes way beyond our missed connection. From its rugged Ōsado and Kosado mountain ranges to the Kakakura plain, the island whispers tales of historical complexity - including its dark chapter as a site of forced labor during World War II. Maybe next time, Sado. Maybe next time.