Hakusan Park & Shrine is a beautiful place for cherry-blossom viewing in spring and is the venue for the culmination of Niigata's portable shrine festival (part of Niigata Festival) from August 7-9. You can search, choose and reserve your airline tickets and confirm your upcoming flights anytime. There are flights to Sado from Niigata airport and ferries and jet-foils from Niigata to Ryotsu (the main town on Sadogashima).Tel: 025 245 1234 Sadogashima, Niigata Prefecture 新潟県佐渡ヶ島. Just over an hour from Tokyo by bullet train, Niigata is a natural delight, from the popular ski resorts of Echigo-Yuzawa to the terraced rice paddies of Hoshitoge.Beyond the mountains, scenic beaches stretch along the coast and ferries operate to rustic Sado Island.Seafood, rice and sake are local specialties. Sign in and subscribe for the latest Japan travel news and updates. Niigata Prefecture, located in the Chubu Region and skirting the Sea of Japan, is well known for its quality rice, summer fireworks, winter skiing, and year-round onsen. Niigata's most iconic shrine is Minato Inari Shrine which has received the prayers of sailors and their families since the Edo Period. The geese and swans often feed in the rice fields and sleep in the rivers, lakes, and lagoons of Niigata. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know: Copyright © 1996-2021 japan-guide.com All Rights Reserved. Learn about the LLM programs at Niigata University and other law schools in Japan. Murakami is well-known for Murakami Gyu, a type of beef that the locals will say is even tastier than the famous Kobe beef, but Murakami Gyu is much cheaper. Ikanosumi is close to the Bandai exit of Niigata Station. JAPAN SKI RESORTS From north to south, especially around mountainous areas, several hundred ski resorts are scattered across Japan. Top things to do in Niigata 2021.3. Some of the most famous peaks are Mt. The trail provides ocean views and dips down into leafy valleys with two secluded ponds. Hakusan Park is one of Japan's first city parks having opened in 1874. Nonetheless, people from many parts of Niigata Prefecture love to go there in summer to play in the sea and watch the sunset. to transport tributes to Kyoto. A boat tour of the coast starts from Murakami city. The Jetfoil takes 65 minutes to reach Ryotsu from Niigata Port, whereas the slower but cheaper car ferry takes 2 hours and 30 minutes. Check Niigata Airport website for details and flight schedules. Fans of horse racing can enjoy Niigata Race Course while enjoying a picnic and enjoying local sake. Niigata city's main festival, the Niigata Matsuri, takes place in the heat of August and includes parades, floats and folk dances on Bandai Bridge in the evening. Sasagawanagare is the name of a section of coastline north of Niigata city, which is famous for its wild waves, sandy beaches, unique geographic formations, seafood, and sunsets. The trails and peaks mentioned above are accessible all year round, but hiking in the rainy season can be difficult and dangerous. Copyright © 2021. The Murakami Dolls Festival in March is celebrated with much openness and panache and includes displays of Hina Dolls, children in period costume and a steam train. Prefectures. The prefectural capital is Niigata City. Bird watching is superlative in Niigata due to its geographical variety: the wide flat plains of Niigata, long coastline, numerous rivers, thick forests, high mountains, and lagoons. The island of Sado (Sadogashima), located in the Sea of Japan off Niigata Prefecture Sea of Japan coast, is the last stronghold of the endangered Crested Ibis, or toki in Japanese.. Access to the island is basically via the Niigata–Ryotsu car ferry, and there are car hire companies near to the ferry terminal in Ryoto Port. Things to do in Niigata(Destination) - JAL Guide to Japan Inns; Onsen; Feature. Bandai Bridge is illuminated at night. Tel: 025 246 8400, Niigata City Ryokan Co-operativeTel: 025 228 5225. There are many spots attractive to a lot of people in Niigata. Some trains from Niigata to Osaka and Kyoto. Japan Tourist Info. They form the core of the annual mid-summer Earth Celebration that invites indigenous acts from all over the world to Sado in August. The last day of the Niigata Festival has a huge fireworks display over the Shinano River (Japan's longest river at 369 km) and visitors can join in the Folk Dancing Parade (daiminyonagashi) over the Bandai Bridge with around 20,000 fellow participants. The coronavirus outbreak is having a large impact on travel to and within Japan. There may be occasional flights to Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Hawks, eagles, owls, herons, woodpeckers, ducks, cormorants, geese, and swans are some of the birds you can spot. Yet, Niigata Prefecture is not as famous as its neighboring Prefecture of Nagano. Niigata Race Course is a short bus or car journey from the center of town. Also on the sake theme is JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station, where a section of the station, named Ponshu-kan, has been set aside for enjoying sake-themed art, tasting sake from all parts of Niigata, eating foods made with sake, and purchasing sake. Het gebied werd echter pas belangrijk nadat er in de 16e eeuw een haven was gebouwd. After all, this area is well-known amongst the Japanese as one of the country’s best culinary hotspots given its fresh and bountiful grains, greens, and seafood. We strive to keep Japan Guide up-to-date and accurate, and we're always looking for ways to improve. Transport & Travel Guide: Niigata Hanamachi Chaya. The Furumachi district of Niigata is considered one of the three most prestigious areas in Japan for geisha, along with Gion in Kyoto and Shinbashi in Tokyo. Tokamachi is located in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture. If you are lucky, you might see herons, woodpeckers, and even the endangered Japanese serow. Kansai Region. It is famous for its high quality rice, beautiful coastal and mountainous sceneries, spectacular firework displays in summer, skiing in winter and hot spring bathing around the year. Winter is an especially good time to view birds because it is the season when millions of Bewick Swans, Middendorf Bean Geese, and various other bird species migrate to Niigata from Siberia. 10 minutes by bus from Muraki Station. From the top of this range, depending on the direction you face, you can see panoramic views of Niigata Prefecture or Yamagata Prefecture. Ryutopia (Niigata City Performing Arts Center; Tel: 025 224 5622) is a modern concert and arts facility on the Furumachi side of the Shinano River in Hakusan Park. Well-maintained hiking trails stretch across various mountain ranges in Niigata, but they are less popular and less crowded than trails in Nagano. It stretches about 240 km along the Sea of Japan, with a coastal plain between its mountains and the sea. The best wine bar that also serves delicious Italian food is Faggoto, which is also near the Bandai exit of Niigata Station. Basically the Dokaben bus crosses Bandai Bridge and goes clockwise around Niigata's main sites, whereas the Inuyasha crosses the Shinano River over Ryuto Bridge and goes anti-clockwise around the city. From Kyoto's temples to Osaka's food-filled streets. A single fare is 200 yen and a one day pass 500 yen and includes reductions on entry to many of Niigata's museums and places of interest. If you like hiking, ask the locals for directions to the hiking trail that leads up a ledge parallel to the Senanami Onsen area. Want a unique destination that's just a 2-hour train ride away from Tokyo in Japan? Naoetsu-ko and Teradomari are both south-west of Niigata on the JR Shinetsu Main Line from Niigata. The former Niigata Customs House, dates from 1869 when the port opened up to western trade and is part of the Niigata City History Museum (Tel: 025 225 6111) - Minatopia, which also includes the the Former Daishi Bank Sumiyoshi-cho Branch built in 1927 and the former Niigata City Hall built in 1909. As a center for food and sake, Niigata continues to attract people from all over the world, as well as Japan. Change at Takisaki for the Nagano Shinkansen line. Immigrant's Cafe serves food from Vietnam, Cambodia and all points east, with friendly English speaking staff. There are also ferries to Ogi on the south-west of Sado from Naoetsu-ko (car ferry is 2 hours, 40 minutes) and a high-speed ferries from Akadomari (on the southern coast of Sado) to Teradomari (1 hour). The prefecture’s capital, Niigata City, represents the largest port on the nation’s Japan Sea coast, home to more than 800 thousand people. Ask for what is in season. The Sakenojin Sake Fair also includes traditional theatrical performances and music. There are also a number of onsen resorts within easy reach of Niigata city including: Sakihana Onsen reached on the delightful SL Ban'etsu Monogatari steam locomotive, Senami, Tsukioka, Deyu, Murasagi, Shirone, Odate, Iwamuro and Yahiko. Other historical buildings in Niigata include the Niigata Prefectural Government Memorial House built in 1884, the European-style Niitsu House built by local oil baron Tsunekichi Niitsu in 1881, Enkikan Hall, a merchant house relocated to Hakusan Park and the Former Ozawa Family Residence (Tel: 025 222 0300). The friendly Lone Star has TexMex and Barbecue. The hiking trails turn to lovely snowshoe routes in winter. It is rich in culture and tradition. Mount Yahiko (altitude 638 meters) is known for its autumn leaves and views of Sado Island and the Japan Sea. Niigata is a large city with a population of about 2.22 million, located about two hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen. Niigata is very proud to have the smallest mountain range in Japan, which is named Kushigatasanmyaku. Foreign exchange banks on Akashi Dori and Masaya-Koji streets, near Niigata Station. Immigrant Cafe's branch restaurant, Immigrant's Med, serves Italian food with the same combination of friendly and bilingual staff.Pooja Indian Restaurant (Tel: 025 223 9225) serves authentic Indian food at reasonable prices. 新潟の美味しいお米で育った「夢味豚（ムーミートン）」の生ハムをご自宅にお届け！ 地元のこだわりや、おいしさの秘密を学ぶことのできる、社会科見学をオンラインで！ 香り高く甘みがある生ハム！自宅にいながら新潟を五感で楽しもう！ Niigata is the main port of access for Sado Island (Sadogashima) - an historic place of exile in medieval times, dotted with fishing villages and noted for its unspoiled nature, rich heritage of performing arts, and lively festivals featuring ondeko, or 'devil drumming'. Fukushimagata is the most natural, so it's best for bird watching, but Sagata Lagoon also attracts a lot of wildlife. Shirone is known for its fighting kite-flying festival (tako-age) held in June. ANA Tel: 025 244 5812Aeroflot Tel: 025 244 5935 From Sendai, the bus ride lasts 4 hours and costs approximately ¥ 4,500 one way. Niigata Station Tel: 025 248 5211. Senami Onsen has a number of foot baths, called ashinoyu in Japanese, and they can be enjoyed while taking a circuitous walking tour. Toyonagata, being in the middle of Niigata City is a nice place to walk or jog, but it does not feel very natural. Japan Niigata prefecture travel tourism guide. It is home to the world-famous Kodo Drummers, a taiko drumming troupe (not, however, directly related to the local ondeko) recruited from throughout Japan based in Kodo Village on the southern Ogi peninsula. Hama Rikyu Garden in Tokyo. Tourist guide by the prefectural government. While a large portion of it is eaten at mealtime, it is also used to make some of the finest sake in the land. One of Niigata’s most famous landmarks is the six arches of the Bandai Bridge. Gozu, Mt. About Niigata. All rights reserved. As you walk or drive around Murakami, you are likely to see whole salted salmon hanging from the eaves of homes and businesses, where they have been placed to dry in the wind. Museums & Galleries. The most convenient way to get to the main Niigata sightseeing spots is to take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Niigata Station. 10 am-8 pm, Japan Entertainment: bars, restaurants, clubs, Hotels in Japan - Booking.comHotels in Niigata - Booking.comRyokan in Niigata - Booking.com Such overwhelming volume of ski resorts provides a wide array of options. The price is reasonable. Ferry to Otaru (for Sapporo, 18 hours) run by Shin-Nihonkai Ferry (tel 025-273-2171) Daily, except Mondays. Things to see and do in Niigata. There are many attractive ski resorts that fuse modern facilities and Japanese tradition. The Marinepia Nihonkai Aquarium is 20 minutes by city bus or Loop Bus from Niigata Station. Established on the Shinano river mouth (the longest river in Japan) and crossed by Agano river, the city thrived with international trade in the 19th century. Sankiyu is located close to the Bandai Bridge, but finding it can be difficult, so ask for directions at the Niigata Station information center. Order the garlic bread with the oysters fried in garlic and olive oil. Bandai City Rainbow Tower is a multi-colored tower near Bandai Bridge and has an observation deck at 100m and a revolving restaurant with great views over the city. Toki Messe Niigata Conference Center Niigata Hotels Vacation Rentals in Niigata Niigata Flights Things to do in Niigata Car Rentals in Niigata Niigata Vacations COVID-19 alert: Travel requirements are changing rapidly, including need for pre-travel COVID-19 testing and quarantine on arrival. A combination of Japan’s top rice and the seafood from the Sea of Japan, Niigata sushi has an unparalleled taste Japanese Sake High-grade sake with a smooth and refreshing taste made on the lands of the finest rice in Japan Surprisingly, Japan’s region of heaviest snowfall is not Hokkaido or Shiga, but in fact Niigata. Museums of note in Niigata include the Northern Cultural Museum Niigata Branch housed in a traditional Japanese residence, the Niigata City Art Museum (Tel: 025 223 1622), the Aizu Yaichi Museum showcasing the work of the local poet, calligrapher and historian, Aizu Yaichi (1881-1956), the Tsurui Museum of Art (Tel: 025 247 3311) displaying the porcelain and ceramics collection of Eikichi Tsurui, a wealthy local businessman and the Niigata Bandai Jima Art Museum on the 5th floor of Toki Messe Convention Center. BSN I- Net "Ke-Ya-Ki Club"Yoneyama 2-4-1, NiigataTel 025-243-0211, free10 am-5.30 pm, Shin-DenMandai 2-2-2, NiigataTel 025-243-6500, free The sight of hundreds to thousands of these birds flying just overhead as they return to their sleeping spots each evening is mesmerizing. Japan’s longest river, the Shinano River, runs through it. Young Niigata Woman Enjoying Fresh Sake at the Sakenojin Sake Fair held annually in March. The prefectural capital is Niigata City. The menu has a wide selection of Japanese dishes. Niigata connects to Tokyo by the Joetsu Shinkansen, making it very accessible. Niigata was opened in 927 C.E. Sado Island, with a history of gold mining and exile, is a ferry ride from Niigata City. Hotels . Volgens de Nihonshoki werd er in 647 een fort gebouwd. Hence, witnessing Niigata’s geisha is a must-do! The Wakuwaku Winter Festival on the first weekend of February features making mochi (sticky rice cakes), digging snow caves, watching and hearing a crackling bonfire of bamboo and rice straw, playing ball games, drawing pictures, painting bamboo candle holders, and petting and feeding a friendly nanny goat. Uwasekigata is in a rural rice-farming area of Niigata. In Yahiko, south of Niigata city, Yahiko Shrine holds an annual lantern festival in July. The museum is a fifteen minute walk from Murakami Station. Sankiyu (in kanji 三鬼遊, in hiragana さんきゆ) is a Japanese restaurant and dog café. Things to see and do in Niigata city include the traditional Hon-cho market (10 am-5 pm); Hakusan Koen Park and adjacent Marinepia Nihon-kai aquarium; Shibata Castle and Gardens; tulip festivals in spring; Bandai Bridge - illuminated at night; the Niigata Festival in August with its huge fireworks display and colorful procession; birdwatching, hiking, hot springs and beaches, and watching sports at Niigata 'Big Swan' Stadium, south of Niigata Station in Toyano Lagoon Park - host to J-League soccer team Niigata Albirex. The Niigata City Loop Bus consists of two routes: the Inuyasha Bus via Toki Messe and the Dokaben via Hakusan Park. If traveling from Niigata Airport, take the bus to Niigata Station (about 25 minutes). Niigata Prefecture is one of those hidden gems in Japan that foreign tourists have yet to discover — especially as a foodie destination! Senami Spa, north of Niigata, has views of the sea and is set close to a pine forest. Vladivostok Air Tel: 025 279 5105Korean Air Tel: 025 244 3311China Airlines Tel: 025 227 4158, Japan Railways (JR) Joetsu Shinkansen super-express from Tokyo (2 hours) to Niigata Station. Guide to Japan is the useful content of your stay in Japan presented by Japan Airlines (JAL). Niigata Prefecture (新潟県, Niigata-ken) is located along the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chubu Region.It is famous for its high quality rice, beautiful coastal and mountainous sceneries, spectacular firework displays in summer, skiing in winter and hot spring bathing around the year. Customers are welcome to bring their non aggressive dogs to join the friendly canine staff who greet guests with loving attention. Kamakura Rediscovered: Onari. Buses to Niigata City depart from a variety of cities around Japan, like Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sendai and Kyoto.Departing from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, bus rides last about 6 hours and cost in the region of ¥ 5,250.From Nagoya, the ride lasts 8 hours and costs roughly ¥ 7,800 one way. Salmon dishes are Murakami's other famous food cuisine. National Mar 24, 2021. The kanji used to write Niigata in Japanese is 新潟、which can be translated as new lagoon. The Japanese ibis became extinct in Japan, but ibises from China are being introduced to Sado Island. Nature,culture,food,gourmet,history,hot spring,sake,ski,golf etc… Many new experiences await you in Niigata. Niigata Prefecture (新潟県, Niigata-ken) is located along the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chubu Region. Niigata bloeide als havenstad en werd een van de vijf havens die geopend werden voor internationale handel in het vriendschaps- en handelsverdrag tussen Japan en de USA in 1858. Niigata has four large lagoons: Fukushimagata, Toyonagata, Uwasekigata, and Sagata. The Shinogawa Water Shuttle offers cruises along the Shinano River from Toki Messe. Niigata is located two hours of Shinkansen from Tokyo and is the biggest port city on the Sea of Japan. Tokamachi is one of the nicest winter destinations in Japan where you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding, onsen, winter firework displays, and the spectacular Tokamachi Snow Festival. Get info about scholarships and LLM tuition and discuss with other applicants Iyoboya is what salmon are called in the dialect of Murakami. Explore Japan. The prefecture's location on the Japan Sea also means connections to Korea, China and Russia. Niigata also has bus links to Sendai, Kyoto, Nagoya and Osaka. Geschiedenis. If you want to learn more about the local customs regarding catching, preparing, and eating salmon in Murakami, visit the Iyoboya Salmon Museum. The mountains of Niigata are high, steep, and lush. Bandai Bridge is a symbol of the city of Niigata and the six-arch bridge was opened in 1929. Flights from Osaka (Itami) (8 daily), Tokyo, Nagoya, Sapporo, and Okinawa as well as Seoul (daily), Taipei, Shanghai, Harbin and Guam. You will not be disappointed. When you're done, you can download your Niigata travel guide to your phone or tablet, or print it as a PDF. Niigata city is a beautiful port city surrounded by a grand sea and vast cultivation fields. Niigata Restaurant Guide; Stay. Niigata Prefecture has some interesting and fun festivals. Guide to Japan Culture Travel Apr 30, 2021 While the number of overseas nishikigoi enthusiasts is growing rapidly, there are concerns that demand … The Japan Sea Tower (Sea of Japan Tower; 日本海タワー) to the south of Marinepia Nihonkai Aquarium also has a revolving restaurant and offers fine views. Sign In. This is the official tourism guide provided by the Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association. These include places where you can eat fresh seafood, establishments where you can drink tasty local sakes distinctive of a rice-producing region, streets brimming with the atmosphere of a snow country, ski resorts, hot springs and more. ... Niigata Nagano Yamanashi Shizuoka Aichi Gifu Toyama Ishikawa Fukui. Bicycles can also be hired at various places around Niigata and there is also a Velotaxi service. Niigata is known to produce some of the best rice in Japan. Hotels on Sado Island - Booking.com. The Sakenojin Sake Fair held at Toki Messe also in March allows visitors for a small fee to sample a variety of Niigata Prefecture's renown sake. In addition, koshihikari rice, Japan’s finest variety, is produced in Niigata. In winter the International Snowball Fight Festival takes place in Koide and features participants dressed in wacky costumes enjoying a snowball free-for-all. Long-distance bus services from Ikebukuro (Tokyo) to Niigata (6 daily). Find your destination. Uwasekigata's claim for fame is the annual autumn straw art festival during which huge sculptures are created using dried rice stalks. Sinds de Jomonperiode wonen er mensen in Niigata. View of the urban sprawl of Niigata city. "i" Information Center (8.30 am-7 pm; tel 025 241 7914) outside the Bandai exit of Niigata Station has English language information on Niigata city attractions, Niigata Prefecture and Sado Island. Search japan-guide.com Search japan-guide.com. Choose your fish live from a pool in Essa in the basement of the WITH Building on Higashibori. The 125m-tall, 31 floor Befco (Tel: 025 240 1511), which is part of the Bandaijima Building, is out near the Sado Kisen Ferry Terminal and Toki Messe (Niigata Convention Center). The festival concludes with a huge fireworks display along the Shinano River as illuminated boats carry the portable shrine of the god of the sea.