Prefecture guide
Niigata
新潟県
A long Sea of Japan prefecture of rice fields, deep snow ski resorts, Sado Island and some of Japan's most famous sake.
- places to see
- 38
- town guides
- 2
- protected local foods
- 3
- traditional crafts
- 12
- Japan Heritage stories
- 5
Map of Niigata
Tap a pin to see the place, or a town name for its guide. You can switch on places to eat and stay too.
Places to see in Niigata
Shimoko Site
下国府遺跡A historic site in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Chojagadaira Site
長者ヶ平遺跡A historic site in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Matsuo Shrine
松苧神社A Shinto shrine in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
- Nagaoka
Shirayamahime Shrine
白山媛神社A Shinto shrine in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Sanjo City Museum of Historical, Folkloric and Industrial Materials
三条市歴史民俗産業資料館A museum in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Furutsu Hachimanyama Site
古津八幡山遺跡A historic site in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
- Joetsu
Miyaguchi Kofun Group
宮口古墳群An ancient burial mound in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Sekiyama Shrine
関山神社A Shinto shrine in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
- Joetsu
Kasugayama Shrine
春日山神社A Shinto shrine in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
- Joetsu
Mizushina Kofun Group
水科古墳群An ancient burial mound in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Okinohara Site
沖ノ原遺跡A historic site in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
- Nagaoka
Takashi Akiyama Poster Museum Nagaoka
秋山孝ポスター美術館長岡A museum in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Town guides in Niigata
The towns with the most to see, each with its own guide.
Taste of Niigata
Foods whose names are protected in Japan. If the label carries the name, it really comes from here.
Traditional crafts of Niigata
Officially recognised crafts that are still made by hand. A good place to start when you look for souvenirs.
Weather in Niigata this week
Today
24 Oct
Cloudy
High 19°CLow 13°C
Sun
25 Oct
Rain
High 21°CLow 15°C
Rain 80%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 19°CLow 12°C
Rain 80%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 20°CLow 11°C
Rain 60%
Mild: long sleeves or a light cardigan. Bring a thin jacket for the evening.
Explore by interest
Japan Heritage stories
Local history told as a route you can follow, with the places that go with it.
Good to know
- Echigo-Yuzawa is reachable from Tokyo by Shinkansen, making it a popular ski trip.
- Sado Island is reached by ferry or jetfoil from Niigata port.
- Niigata's Koshihikari rice and its sake are famous across Japan.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Niigata?
From Tokyo, the Joetsu Shinkansen serves Echigo-Yuzawa, just over an hour away, and Niigata City; the Hokuriku Shinkansen serves Myoko. Coming from Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya by train, change in Tokyo or Kanazawa. Highway buses run from Tokyo in about five hours, and Niigata Airport has domestic and some international flights.
When is the best time to visit Niigata?
Winter for skiing and snowboarding at Echigo-Yuzawa, Myoko and other resorts, with hot springs after the slopes. Early April brings the Takada cherry blossom festival, and August has the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's biggest, plus the Fuji Rock music festival.
What should I eat and drink in Niigata?
Niigata is famous for Koshihikari rice and for sake, made by many breweries thanks to its cold winters. Try hegisoba, soba made with seaweed and served in small bundles on a wooden tray, sasa dango sweets wrapped in bamboo leaves, and fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan.
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Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.