PICKUP

Access: Niigata City tour bushttp://www.city.niigata.jp/info/kanko/bus/2004/Access: JR East Websitehttp://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html

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Niigata

I n f o r m a t i o n

NIIGATALocated in Hokuriku region Niigata as a port town developed its own rich and unique culture. While blessed by the beauty of the Japan’s largest Shinano River, gallant ibis birds, hot springs and popular ski tracks, the native people of Niigata also had to develop various techniques to fight against this varied and harsh nature. Enjoy food, nature and various amusing activities in your journey to Niigata!

Niigata flourished as a port town as it was a center of trade for many years. Since it was the only port town facing Japan Sea that Japan-US Amity and Trade Treaty signed in 1858 had applied to, the town was soon internationalised and now shows signs of mix of eastern and western in its architecture.

■ Niigata Prefecture Official Tourism Information Site “Niigata Tourism Navi” http://www.enjoyniigata.com/english/

■ Myoko City Tourism Information DeskTEL 0255-86-3911

■ Sado Tourism Information DeskTEL 0259-27-5000

■ Echigoyuzawa Area Tourism　 Information CenterTEL 025-785-5678

■ Niigata Station Bandai Exit Tourism Information CenterTEL 025-241-7914

■ Niigata Airport Information CounterTEL 025-275-2611

■ Shibata City Tourism Information DeskTEL 0254-26-6321

Stroll through the port city of Niigata in 3-hour course.

Murakami/Niigata

SkiSnowboarding

Murakami/Niigata Area Whole area in Niigata

You can find a unique type of building called “ M a c h i y a ” i n Mu r a kam i . Each house protects Hina do l ls ins ide . The houses open f o r visitors every March.

Sake of Niigata, one of the major sake producers in Japan, brings us together. Enjoy over 500 of different sake brands with a sampling ticket for only ¥2000.

Murakami CityArea

March 1st-April 3rd Season

7-GMAP

JR Uetsu Line.Murakami Station.Access

Niigata CityAreaMarchSeason

5-EMAP

JR Niigata Station.Access

Experience the history of industry in the archives located in Tsubame city famous for its advances in meta l p rocess ing and producing tableware.

Tsubame CityAreaYear RoundSeason

5-EMAP

JR Joetsu ShinkansenTsubame Sanjo Station.

Access

Whole area in Niigata Area WinterSeason

Ski resorts in Niigata

Entrance fee Adult: ¥300Student: ¥200, 6-15 y/o: ¥100 (Exhibition fee is not included)

Entrance fee: Free

Crawling through Niigata region Agano River flows to the Japan Sea. Enjoy beautiful valley from a boat on Agano River Line in Aga Town.

Aga Town Year RoundArea Season 6-EMAP

JR Ban’etsu West Line. Mikawa Station.

Access

Entrance fee: Free(Sampling ticket is not free)

Ship boarding fee：Adult ¥2,500(Yukimibune：Adult ¥2,000)

FromNiigataStation

Niigata City HistoryMuseum Minatopia

Minato-inari Shrine“Wish Granting Koma-inu”Bus

Bus

On foot

On footOn footOn foot

Enjoy Niigata!

Entrance fee: Adult ¥300

Murakami City Tourism AssociationTEL0254-53-2258

Contact

Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewing Association TEL025-229-1218Contact Tsubame City Industry Archives TEL0256-63-7666Contact

Roadside Station “Aga no Sato”TEL0254-99-2121

Contact

A place to rest“Kamadoya Jishiroo”

Tanakaya Head OfficeMinato StudioKotohira Shrine

A history museum themed after the effect waters had on the progress of local people. Experience the rich cu l tu re o f “Wate r C i t y Niigata”.

Niigata CityAreaYear RoundSeason

Niigata City History Museum MinatopiaNiigata City History Museum Minatopia

5-EMAP

A restaurant managed by miso and soy sauce producing company offers home-made rice, soy sauce and miso soup. Experience delicious Niigata flavour.

A place to rest“Kamadoya Jishiroo”

Niigata CityAreaYear RoundSeason

5-EMAP

Koma-inu is a statue of a beast which is supposed to p r o t e c t s h r i n e s a n d temples.You can find a rare rotating type of this beast in Minato-inari shrine. Spin it and get your wish granted!

Niigata CityAreaYear RoundSeason

Minato-inari Shrine“Wish Granting Koma-inu”Minato-inari Shrine“Wish Granting Koma-inu”5-EMAP

A delicious dumpling wrapped in a bamboo leaf is Niigata confectionery speciality. Observe how they are made in one of their best known shops in Japan ‒ Tanakaya.

Check out this shrine for 28 different Japanese ship models which were widely used from Edo to Meiji Periods. Models were presented to shrine by the owners of the actual ships.

Niigata CityAreaYear RoundSeason

Kotohira ShrineKotohira Shrine 5-EMAP

Niigata CityAreaYear RoundSeason

5-EMAP

A place to rest“Kamadoya Jishiroo”A place to rest“Kamadoya Jishiroo”A place to rest

Bamboo leaf dumpling making and listening Experience Fee: ¥1,680 (ingredient fee included)Reserve the inspection of models beforehand, Adult ¥100

Tanakaya Head OfficeMinato StudioTanakaya Head OfficeMinato Studio

ModelCourse

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MurakamiNiigata

Rich scenery of Shinano and Agano rivers can only be seen in Port City N i i g a t a . H i s t o r i c architecture preserved to this day in Murakami. Start a trip to discover a new charm of Japan.

Ski first developed in Niigata known for its name as “snow country” in Japan. You can find varied ski coursesall around the prefecture.

Town of the castle Murakami [Machiya dolls] Agano River Line boat ride

Niigata Sake Camp Tsubame City Industry Archives

Course fees are subject to change without notice.

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/index.php

Half Day Course

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Nagaoka/Uonuma/Ojiya/Joetsu Areas

PICKUP

Sado AreaPICKUP

Niigata is the most famous rice producing area in Japan. Taste its unique cuisine which comes from both sea and mountains.

From traditional craft to Cultural Heritage, variety of Niigata’s artisanry is astounding!

The marketplace in Teradomori boasts a variety of fresh and cheap fish. Don’t miss out on the taste of Hamayaki!

Nagaoka CityArea Year RoundSeason

5-BMAP

JR Echigo Line.Teradomari Station.

Access

Admire the beauty of various flowers, primeval forests and the peak of Mt.Kinpoku, highest in Sado island.

Sado CityArea

April-JuneSeason 2-EMAP

Since Ogi coast has a lot of reefs, a highly mobile “Tarai Bune” was used for fishing there from old times.Try sailing through waters in Tarai Bune!

Sado CityArea Year RoundSeason 2-EMAP

Fest ival of internat ional ar t performed once in a three years on the beautiful Mt.Sato. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy modern art inspired events.

Tokamachi, Tsunan TownArea Year RoundSeason From JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station to Hoku Hoku Line Matsudai Station. Walk 5 minutes.

Access

Uno Hama is a coast area best known for its sea water bathhouses and hot springs. Experience seine fishing here!

Joetsu CityAreaSundays/Holidays during

Early May -Late July andEarly Sept.-Late Oct.

Season

C-3MAP

From Katamachi Station to Hoku Hoku Line Saigata StationAccess

A national park extending to Niigata, Fukushima, Gunma and Tochigi prefectures. Niigata’s vegetation-rich route of Uonuma is recommended for trekking beginners.

Uonuma CityAreaJune-OctoberSeason

7-CMAP

JR Joetsu Shinkansen. Urasa Station. Use tourist bus or boat.Access

Shimmering in golden, red and white colors varicolored carps, thought to have originated in Ojiya region, are adored in Japan. Learn the history of the village in this facility as well.

Ojiya CityArea

Year Round

Fee: ¥450Fee: ¥700

Season 5-CMAP

Joetsu Line. Ojiya Station.Access

Sado is famous for being an island of gold, as its economy was centered on its gold mine for many years. Test your skills at gathering gold dust!

Sado CityArea Year RoundSeason 2-EMAP

Car Ferry: 2 hours 30 minutesHovecraft: 60 Minutes

Ryotu Harbor

Ogi Harbor

Naoetsu Harbor

Port of Niigata

Car Ferry:2 hours 40 minutes

Trial fee: ¥500

Entrance fee: ¥500

Ryotu Harbor Info Desk (Visit Japan Info Desk “FreeSpot”)

Rental car agency

Food Culture http://enjoyniigata.com/english/guide/05.html

http://enjoyniigata.com/english/index.html

353 Ryotu Minato, Sado City, Niigata (Sado steamship terminal)TEL：0259-23-3300 FAX：0259-23-5030E-mail：info@ryotsu.sado.jp

Teradomari Tourism AssociationTEL0258-75-3363

Contact

Ojiya City General Industry Hall SanplazaTEL0258-８３-２２３３

ContactUonuma City Tourism AssociationTEL025-792-7300

ContactEchigo Tsumari Art Field Information CenterTEL025-595-6688

Contact

Oogata Tourism AssociationTEL025-534-4465

Contact

Nigata Fisheries cooperativehttp://www.van-rai.net/nigyoren/index.htm

Niigata Sake Brewers Associationhttp://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/

Murakami Tuishu Business Cooperativehttp://www.chuokai-niigata.or.jp/tuishu/index.html

Kamo Kiritansu Cooperativehttp://www.chuokai-niigata.or.jp/kiritansu/

Ojiya Chijimi Textile Cooperativehttp://www.ojiya.or.jp/rekishi_2.html

Project Tai-guruma 　http://www.taiguruma.com/

Ojiya Tourism Associationhttp://www.ojiyakanko.com/index.html

Niigata Sushi quotient life hygiene trade associationhttp://www.sushi-kiwami.com/index.php

Traditional Industrial Arts

Niigata boasts untouched s cen i c n a t u r e i n Oze , delicious sea food picked from Japan Sea, rice brand of “Koshi-Hikari” and many artistic festivals famous all around the world.

Rich in natural wonders this island area has developed i ts own cul ture and unique entertainment. Japanese puppet shows are especially worth seeing.

Teradomari Fish Market

Mt.Osado Trekking

Tarai Bune (boat)

Earth CelebrationEchigo Tsumari Art Triennial

Uno Hama seine fishing

Oze TrekkingOjiya Varicolored Carps Village

Nishi Mikawa Gold Park

Ryotu Harbor

Ogi Harbor

To Naoetsu Harbor

Port of Niigata

Nagaoka

Uonuma

Ojiya

Joetsu

Salmon cuisine

Salmon is the symbol of Murakami area. Feel the innovation of local people while sampling over 100 different salmon dishes, some of which use even heads and tails of fish effectively.

Murakami CityArea Year RoundSeason

Niigata Tripple Taste Sushi “Highest quality”

Taste the new cuisine introduced in Niigata in 2007 made from a mix of the locally caught fatty tuna, salmon roe and sea urchin eggs.

Nigata CityArea Year RoundSeason

Japanese Sake

Niigata is known for the unique taste and for the large quantity of sake it produces. The secret of its taste is high-quality rice and very clear water.

Whole area in NiigataArea Year RoundSeason

Hegi Soba

The main characteristic of this soba is that it is put into a special bowl called “hegi” which contains seaweed.A delicious taste that even soba loving picky Japanese can’t complain about.

Ojiya CityArea Year RoundSeason

7-GMAP 5-EMAP

7-GMAP

6-EMAP

5-FMAP

5-CMAP

5-CMAP

Course fees are subject to change without notice.

Kamo Kiritansu (Kamo Dressers)

Kamo dressers are made from special wood which gives them refined silk-like beauty. Kamo is the biggest producer of dressers in Japan, producing as much as 70% of the country’s total.

Kamo CityArea

Ojiya Chijimi/Echigo Jofu

The fabric, “Echigo Jofu”, peculiarly made on top of the snow and Ojiya Chijimi known for its unique creasing were recorded in the Reprenstative List of Intagible Cultural Heritage by Unesco in 2009.

Ojiya City Area

Murakami Kibori Tsuishu

A 600 years history having handicraft of Murakami Village. It is made by carving a tree in tiny ornaments and then putting a couple of layers of lacquer on those carvings.

Murakami CityArea

Tai-guruma (Snapper Wheels)

Traditionally the night of Maki district, located in Nishi Kanbara Niigata, was illuminated by toys of the shape of snapper, made from bamboo and special Japanese paper.

Niigata CityArea

4-DMAP

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Hot SpringsFrom calm hot springs to lively ones, enjoy the hot springs heaven Niigata.

FestivalsFrom a festival which was recorded in Guinness Book to firework festivals!

NatureFeel the history of the lands, beauty of the villages and the force of Sea of Japan in Niigata.

History/CultureAs a port town, snow country and a gold production area, Niigata has paved its own unique history.

http://enjoyniigata.com/english/guide/07.html

http://enjoyniigata.com/english/event/index.html

http://enjoyniigata.com/english/guide/01.html

http://enjoyniigata.com/english/guide/02.html

Ryuto promotion　http://www.ryuto-shinko.co.jp/

Saifukuji Kaisando　http://ww5.et.tiki.ne.jp/~hirasawa/ Golden Sado　http://sado-kinzan.com/

Yahiko Tourism Associationhttp://www.e-yahiko.com/contents/spot/frame.html　

Tsukioka Hot Springs Tourism Association　http://www.tsukiokaonsen.gr.jp/

Yuzawa Hot Springs Information Desk　http://www.yuzawaonsen.gr.jp/

Sekikawa Village Tourism Associationhttp://www.vill.sekikawa.niigata.jp/index.html

Tokamachi Snow Festival 　http://snowfes.jp/ Sado Tourism Associationhttp://www.visitsado.com/index.html

Nagaoka Matsuri Council Executive Officehttp://nagaokamatsuri.com/index.html

Matsunoyama Portal Site Executive Committeehttp://www.matsunoyama.com/index.php

Iwamuro Hot Springs Tourism Associationhttp://www.iwamurokankou.com/iwamuro.html

Ttsukioka Hot Springs

Known by the names of “hot springs where one can turn into a beauty” and “immortality bath” Tsukioka’s hot springs boast sulfuric water which is top class in Japan.

Shibata CityArea

Iwamuro Hot Springs

It is said that these mysterious hot springs were discovered as a wild goose with a wound on its wing had miraculously recovered after soaking in their water.

Niigata CityArea

Echigo-Yuzawa Hot Springs

An old village that was described in the novel “Snow Country” by Yasunari Kawabata, a Nobel Prize winner in literature. You can enjoy both bathing and skiing in this resort.

Yuzawa TownArea

Matsunoyama Hot Spring Village

A hot springs resort located in mountains. Because of its high concentration of salt it does not get colder on winters and its healing abilities go up on the season.

Tokamachi CityArea

Echigo Sekikawa Taishita-mon Snake Festival

Festival to reminiscence about a flood disaster that struck this village in 1967 August 28th and to bring its snake legend back to life. The 82.8m long snake that participates in the parade is recorded in the Guinness Book.

Sekikawa VillageArea End of AugustSeason

Nagaoka Grand Firework Festival

About 20,000 of fireworks are shot every year during this 2 days long Nagaoka City festival first held at 1946. The night sky of Niigata ends up lit up in various colors.

Nagaoka CityArea August 2nd , 3rd Season

Tokamachi Snow Festival

Check out the hand-made large scale snow sculptures and the extravagant stage event “Carnival on the Snow” in this winter festival said to be one of the finest in Japan.

Tokamachi CityArea 3rd Friday-Sunday of FebruarySeason

Sado Takigi No

Rare even in the Japanese culture the traditional entertainment of “Noh Plays” was passed down for generations in Sado City. The plays are shown in about 30 different locations on the island.

Sado CityArea May-OctoberSeason

祭 祭

祭 祭

From JR Uetsu Line Murakami Station to JR Kuwagawa Station.Walk 15 minutes.

Access

A 11km long coastline situated in the northern part of Niigata prefecture. Admire the beautiful scenery of reefs poking out of the blue sea. Pleasure cruise available.

From Echigo Yuzawa Station to Matsudai Station on JR Hoku Hoku Line, then 20 minutes car ride.

Access

Hoshitoge Rice Fields

The scenery which fills the hearts of Japanese with nostalgia (Satoyama) can be seen in the rice fields of Tokamachi city.

JR Hokuriku Line. Itoigawa StationAccess

Itoigawa Geo-park

You can observe the geological features which show the present state of Japan in this geo-park. Don’t miss on the Fossa Magna and the dislocation dividing Japan into two.

Itoigawa CityArea Year RoundSeason

Murakami CityArea Year RoundSeason Tokamachi CityArea Year RoundSeason

Sado steamship car ferry or jetfoilPort of Niigata→ Ryotsu Harbor

Access

Senkaku Bay

2km long coastline found in Niigata’s Sado Island. The humongous cliff standing in Sea of Japan is said to not lose to Norway’s Hardanger gorge in sheer splendor.

Sado CityArea Year RoundSeason Year RoundSeason Year RoundSeason

Year RoundSeason Year RoundSeason

Furumachi Geigi (Geiko)

This social status as well as a traditional culture of Niigata boasts 200 years of history. Perfected performance and style, and also hospitality will touch your heart.

Niigata CityArea Year RoundSeason

Yahiko Shrine

A high social status shrine located at the foot of Mt.Yahiko. Yahiko Chrysanthemum festival is held there every autumn.

Yahiko VillageArea Year RoundSeason

Saifukuji Temple Kaisando

This carving was carved by the hands of Ishikawa Uncho (1814～83) who is called Echigo Michelangelo in Japan. You will feel overwhelmed by its artistic power.

Uonuma CityArea Year RoundSeasonSado Gold Mine

400 years of mining has been carried out in this gold mine located in Sado. It was a big source of finances for Tokugawa clan which ruled Japan from Edo period.

Sado CityArea Year RoundSeason

6-GMAP 5-BMAP

1-BMAP 2-EMAP

6-FMAP 5-EMAP

5-BMAP 5-BMAP

7-FMAP 5-DMAP

5-BMAP

5-EMAP 5-EMAP

6-CMAP 2-EMAP

Sasagawanagare

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