|
A range of 2,000
meter-class steep mountains
Abundant hot springs and ski resorts
Niigata prefecture is situated in the center of the Japanese
mainland, a vertically long prefecture that meets the Japan Sea. It
prospered as a foothold of the Japan Sea transportation from the Edo
period in the 17th and 18th centuries, and after the 19th century,
developed as a trading base with Russia and Korea. With Echigo
Mountain Range in the southeastern part of the prefecture as its core,
2,000 meter-class mountains stand one after another to form a stretch
of highlands. The areas between mountains, which maintain the
beautiful nature, are dotted with ski resorts and hot springs.
Shinano-gawa River, which flows from the mountains to the Japan Sea,
boasts being the longest river in Japan. Around the Shinano-gawa River
basin is a spread of fertile land called the Niigata Plains, and rice
farming is successfully carried out here. On the Japan Sea is the
biggest island in Japan, Sadoga-shima Island, on which much gold was
found during the Edo period.
Niigata is home to many leading sake labels in Japan, and their sake
is made of high quality rice and water. There are many restaurants
where you can take pleasure in the sake with fresh seafood, naturally
making Niigata a region where you can enjoy the Japanese taste and
tradition to your heart's content. The center of Niigata's
administration and economy is Niigata City. It is a beautiful city of
water with Shinano-gawa River running through it and the Japan Sea on
the northwestern side. Since the 19th century it prospered as a port
of trade with foreign countries.
Getting there
About 2 hours from Tokyo Station to Niigata Station by JR Jyoetsu
Shinkansen Line. About 1 hour 5 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport to
Niigata Airport.
-
Echigo-Yuzawa
A hot spring resort surrounded by mountains
Especially popular for skiing and hiking
Echigo-Yuzawa is located in the southernmost of Niigata and
adjoining Nagano and Gunma. It is a historic hot spring resort,
which appears in the well-known novel The Snow Country written by
the Nobel Prize winner Yasunari Kawabata. The place also has a good
transportation service particularly from the metropolitan area so
that it attracts a lot of people for skiing in winter and for hiking
and camping in summer. At the Echigo-no-osake Museum (Sake Museum)
inside of the Echigo-Yuzawa Station, you can enjoy bathing in the
sake spa (a hot spring with sake). And around the station you will
find museums such as Yuzawa-cho Shiro Shirahata (Universal Mountains
Pictorial Museum) that has around 170 landscapes of the world famous
mountains, and also Yuzawa-cho Rekishi Minzoku Shiryo Kan (Folklore
History Museum).
By taking the Yuzawa-onsen ropeway from Sanroku Station (at the foot
of the mountain), you can go up to 1,000 m above sea level. Around
the Sancho Station (at the top of the mountain), there is Alp-no-sato,
the alpine plants garden, where you can enjoy Mizubasho (skunk
cabbages) in the spring, Nikkokisuge (a kind of yellow lily) in
summer and autumn leaves of Japanese larch trees in autumn. Also,
Echigo-Yuzawa is covered in snow in winter and attracts many skiers.
Getting there
By JR Joetsu Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 10 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa Station. From Osaka, by JR Tokaido
Shinkansen Line from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station first, the
journey time to Echigo-Yuzawa in total is 3 hours and 40 minutes.
-
Kasugayama
The ruins of the Castle serve as a place of recreation and
relaxation
A shrine where a branch of the God of Kasuga-taisha Shrine is
enshrined
Kasugayama is located in the hill country of northwest Takada,
in the west part of Niigata. General Uesugi Kenshin had Kasugayama
Castle built in the 16th century and from there he brought almost
every part of Niigata, which was called Echigo in his time, under
his control. The castle's remnants, such as the forts and outer
walls, are preserved almost perfectly and now serve as a place of
recreation and relaxation for the citizens of Takada.
Nearby is Kasugayama-joshi Monogatari Kan, a museum next to the
castle, which exhibits the history of Kasugayama Castle: such as the
life of Uesugi Kenshin, and old drawings of the castle. Around the
museum there are many places that are remembered in connection with
Kenshin such as Rinsen-ji Temple, which was founded by Kenshin's
grandfather, Kasuga-jinja Shrine where a branch of the God of
Kasuga-taisha Shrine in Nara is enshrined and also Gochi-kokubun-ji
Temple, said to have been restored by Kenshin.
Sometime between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of
the 20th century, Kasugayama-jinja Shrine was constructed with
donations in order to worship Kenshin. In the shrine, there is a
treasury where the articles left by Kenshin such as the battle flags
and his battle weapons and armor are kept.
Getting there
By JR Nagano Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 55 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagano Station, then by JR Shinetsu Main Line from
Nagano Station to Kasugayama Station for 1 hour and 30 minutes. From
Osaka, by a Limited Express on JR Hokuriku Main Line from Osaka
Station to Naoetsu Station for 4 hours and 40 minutes then by JR
Shinetsu Main Line for 5 minutes to Kasugayama Station.
-
Mt. Naeba and Akiyama-go
The east side of Mt. Naeba is a popular ski area
Hot spring resorts where oil lamps are still used instead of
electricity
Mt. Naeba is at the border of Niigata and Nagano, the midsection
of Honshu, and is massive 2,145 meters high. The top of the mountain
has a 4 sq. km plateau known for gregarious alpine plants. The east
outskirts of Mt. Naeba have been made into extensive ski resorts
including Naeba, Kagura-mitsumata and Mikuni, that are very popular
especially among families and young people. In the surroundings
there are authentic Japanese style spas such as Kaikake-onsen Hot
Spring, whose history goes back 700 years and also Akayu-onsen Hot
Spring where oil lamps are still used instead of electricity.
The west outskirts of Mt. Naeba have an old hideout area called
Akiyama-go. It is said that Akiyama-go was a haven for soldiers who
lost battles against Genji, the Kamakura Shogunate, and was
established in the 12th century. Akiyama-go is also known as an area
with heavy snow. The twelve villages of Akiyama-go are scattered
around the Nakatsu-gawa River valley and are on the slope of the
mountain with trees that shelters them from snow and this
multi-layered and cultivated land is one of the unexplored regions
of Japan. Also, you can see the tools and daily necessities used
back in 19th and 20th century at the Akiyama-go Minzoku Shiryo Kan
Folklore Museum.
Getting there
By JR Jyoetsu Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 10 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Echigo-yuzawa Station. By bus for 48 minutes from
Echigo-yuzawa Station to Naeba Prince Hotel bus stop and 50 minutes
to Akiyama-go bus stop. From Osaka, by JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line
from Osaka Station to Tokyo Station first, then the same route to
Echigo-yuzawa Station for 3 hours and 40 minutes in total.
-
Mt. Yahiko
From the summit of the observation tower you have a great view
Mt. Yahiko is a volcano, which is located in the central west
part of Niigata close to the Japan Sea shore. Yahiko-mura is located
at the east foot of Mt. Yahiko, right in the middle of the Sado
Yahiko Quasi-national Park. Also Yahiko-mura has been developed as
the front town of Yahiko-jinja Shrine.
Yahiko-jinja Shrine is located on the east foot of Mt. Yahiko. The
palaces of the shrine were rebuilt back in the early 20th century
and its back faces against Mt. Yahiko, which is the object of
worship. This shrine stands in a dense forest and is considered by
many as the best shrine in the Echigo region. The special hen farm
in the precinct keeps a kind of Naganaki-tori hen (Toumaru) and it
is open to the public.
The Yahiko Sanjo Park
has a mini-amusement park and a restaurant with a view. You can take
the ropeway to the park from Sanroku Station, which is an 8-minute
walk from the Yahiko-jinja Haiden, the front shrine. The panoramic
observation tower at the summit goes up and down, slowly turning
around at the same time. From here you can enjoy a great view of the
Echigo Plains and Sado-ga-shima Island.
Getting there
By JR Joetsu Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 50 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Tsubame-Sanjo Station. By Yahiko Line for 20
minutes from Tsubame-Sanjo Station to Yakiko Station. From Osaka,
take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line to Tokyo Station first and then to
Tsubame-Sanjyo Station for 4 hours and 20 minutes in total.
-
Myoko Heights
The hot spring resort in the outskirts of Mt. Myoko
One of the greatest ski areas in the country
Myoko Heights stretches out to the eastern outskirts of Mt.
Myoko in the southeastern part of Niigata. It is a popular summer
resort because of the cool climate. Mt. Myoko is the highest peak of
the Myoko volcano range and is surrounded by the outer rim of the
crater, Mt. Akakura, Mt. Mae, and Mt. Kanna. Jigoku-dani valley
between Mt. Myoko and Mt. Mae is the rich source of the hot springs.
The water of the hot springs is taken from Jigoku-dani Valley and
provided to Myoko-onsen hot spring resort which consists of eight
spas: Akakura, Shin-Akakura, Ikenodaira, Suginosawa, Myoko, Seki,
Tsubame and Matsugamine. Also there are nine skiing grounds on the
grand slope of the foothills of Mt. Myoko that is known as one of
the best ski areas in the country. This place can get very busy and
lively with many skiers during the winter season.
Tenshin Okakura, a
pioneer of Japanese modern arts, and once the president of Tokyo Art
School (today's Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music),
loved Myoko for its richness of nature so much that he built a
mountain villa here in his later years. Within its site, Okakura
Tenshin Do, which imitated Yumedono of Horyu-ji Temple was built and
there is a gold-gilt statue of Tenshin in it.
Getting thereBy JR Nagano Shinkansen Line from Tokyo Station
to Nagano Station. Then by JR Shinetsu Main Line to Myoko-kogen
Station, for a total of 2 hours and 35 minutes. From Osaka, by JR
Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour from Shin-Osaka Station to Nagoya
Station, by JR Chuo Line Limited Express to Nagano Station and by JR
Shinetsu Main Line to Myoko-kogen Station for a total of 3 hours and
35 minutes.
-
Niigata City
At the aquarium you can see around 450 kinds of 20,000 sea creatures
The Tsurui Museum of Arts exhibits masterpieces of Japanese modern
art
The city of Niigata is located in the northern part of the Chubu
region and is the capital for both the economy and politics of
Niigata Prefecture. It is a beautiful city, which faces the Japan
Sea on the northwest side. Niigata city has population of 500,000
and has flourished as a trading port with foreign countries since
19th century.
The city branches into two districts, the new township near Niigata
Station and the old town where the government and municipal offices
lie on the north side of Shinano-gawa River. The Bandai-bashi Bridge
connects those two towns. From the Bandai City Rainbow Tower in the
new town you can see entire view of Niigata from 100 m above ground.
The new township also has the Tsurui Museum of Arts, which exhibits
masterpieces of Japanese modern art. In the old town on the other
hand, there are places where many historical documents of Niigata
port are displayed. One of those is the Niigata-shi Godo Shiryokan
Folklore Museum that was established in 1869 and which has become a
national important cultural asset in its own right. There is also
the Niigata Kensei Shiryo Kan Memorial Hall of Politics which has a
veranda modeled on the Houses of Parliament in England and the
octagonal spire in the Renaissance style. Moreover, there is a city
aquarium called Marinpia Nihonkai where you can see around 450 kinds
of 20,000 sea creatures such as dolphins and sea otters, and it is a
very popular place for visitors of the city.
Getting there
By JR Jyoetsu Shinkansen Line for 2 hours from Tokyo Station to
Niigata Station. An hour and 5 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport to
Niigata Airport.
-
Oku-Tadami and
Ginzan-daira
An silver mine lies at the bottom of Japan's largest man-made lake
Mt. Hakkai is a scenic spot and a sacred place of mountain worship
Oku-Tadami is located at the upper stream of Tadami-gawa River,
which has Oze-numa marsh of Gunma as its source, and forms a part of
the Echigo Sanzan Tadami Quasi-national Park. In the middle of the
Edo era in the 18th century, the silver mine in this area was the
backbone of the economy, together with the gold mine in Sado.
Ginzan-daira is located at the west tip of Lake Oku-tadami-ko and it
was once a town for the excavation of silver and had more than 1,000
houses. However, they made the largest man-made lake in the country
here, Lake Okutadami-ko, and the village now lies at the bottom of
the lake.
There are sightseeing boat tours of 40-minutes from the Oku-tadami-dam
to Oze-guchi. The cable car like Slope Car runs between the last bus
stop and the dam. In the surroundings, you will find Mt. Komaga-dake
on the west of the Kurobe Canyon and Mt. Hakkai, which is a scenic
spot and a sacred place of mountain worship, hot spring resorts such
as Tochiomata-onsen or Komano-yu-onsen, and skiing grounds such as
the Oyu-onsen ski area.
Getting there
By JR Jyoetsu Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 35 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Urasa Station. By JR Jyoetsu Line for 8 minutes to
Koide Station from Urasa Station. Then by the Echigo-Kotsu bus from
Oku-tadami Silver Line Koide Station to Oku-tadami dam for 40
minutes. From Osaka, by JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 4 hours and 5
minutes form Shin-Osaka Station to Urasa Station, transferring at
Tokyo Station.
-
Sado-ga-shima Island
The biggest island in the country known for the gold mine
Merged culture with aristocracy, samurai and tradesmen
Sado-ga-shima Island is located 45 km west of Niigata, in the
northern part of the Chubu region. It is the biggest island in Japan
and its periphery is around 227 km and it has an area of about 857
sq. km. It consists of two parallel mountain ranges: the Kimpoku and
Kunimi Mountains and between them lies the Kuninaka Plains. Together
they form a part of the Sado Yahiko Quasi-national Park. On the
island, the aristocratic culture had flourished since the 8th
century, because people who had lost due to political rivalry or who
were oppressed for their political ideas and activities were exiled
here by the government. Also during the Edo era in the17 and 18th
centuries, samurai and tradesmen who worked by mining gold created a
culture unique to the island, including some traditional arts and
entertainment such as Mumyoi-yaki (earthenware of clay with carbon
dioxide), Sado-okesa Dance, Sado-noh Dance and puppet play.
Sado-ga-shima Island has
many exhibitions, such as the Sado-kinzan (gold mine) that shows the
reproduction of gold mining in the 17th century and 18th century
with miniatures and electric-powered dolls. Senkaku Bay has a
beautiful view of the precipitous cliffs. Also there is Lake Kamo-ko
where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring. Niibo-mura village
has Toki-no-mori Koen Park where you can see rare Japanese crested
ibises.
Getting there
By JR Jyoetsu Shinkansen Line for 2 hours from Tokyo Station to
Niigata Station. From Osaka, fly for 1 hour and 5 minutes from Osaka
Itami Airport to Niigata Airport and then fly for 25 minutes from
Niigata Airport to Sado Airport. Or, take the Jetfoil for 1 hour
from Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port.
|
Chubu
Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
