Niigata

The largest city on Honshu's Sea of Japan coast, home of Koshihikari rice and sake, with Bandai Bridge, sake breweries and seafood markets—and the gateway to Sado Island.

Niigata is the capital of Niigata Prefecture and the only designated city on Honshu's Sea of Japan side. It sits at the mouth of the Shinano, Japan's longest river, and was one of the five ports opened to foreign trade at the end of the Edo period, earning it the nickname "City of Water." This is the land of Koshihikari rice and sake—Niigata Prefecture has more sake breweries than any other—so seafood, rice, sake and local comfort food such as soy-sauce ramen and "Italian" yakisoba are the highlights. The city center has three main areas. On the right bank of the Shinano, the Bandai district has Bandai Bridge, the Toki Messe convention center with its free Bandai-jima Building observation deck, and the Pia Bandai seafood market. On the left bank, the Furumachi area is the old town and geisha district, with Hakusan Shrine, old residences such as the Former Saito Family Villa, and the Minatopia port history museum. Around Niigata Station you'll find Ponshukan, where you can sample sake from breweries across the prefecture, and the old Imayotsukasa brewery. On the Sea of Japan coast, the Niigata City Aquarium is near a spot for watching the sunset over the sea. In the southeastern suburbs is the Northern Culture Museum, a wealthy farmer's estate, while Fukushimagata lagoon to the northeast draws large numbers of swans and geese in winter. About 30 km southwest are Yahiko Shrine, Echigo Province's most important shrine, and the Mt. Yahiko ropeway, and farther south is the Teradomari fish market street. Climate: summers are hot and humid; winters bring lots of rain, snow and strong sea winds. The best times to visit are April for cherry blossoms at Hakusan Park and Yahiko, and October–November for autumn colors at Yahiko Park and the new rice and new sake season. Getting there: the Joetsu Shinkansen reaches Niigata Station from Tokyo in about 1 hr 40 min; Niigata Airport has domestic routes and a few international flights. Get around the city by bus and on foot; reach Yahiko on the JR Echigo Line with a transfer to the Yahiko Line, or by car. Niigata Port is the gateway to Sado Island, with jetfoils reaching Ryotsu Port in about an hour. Plan on 1–2 days, plus another 2–3 days for Sado Island.

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