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Niigata
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Niigata Stadium After an hour's ride on the Joetsu Shinkansen super-express, you traverse a long tunnel. This tunnel, connecting the Pacific and Sea of Japan sides of Japan, takes you into the snow country of Niigata Prefecture, which was the setting for a novel by the Nobel Prize-winning writer Yasunari Kawabata. Today, deep snow in winter has become an asset for the mountainous areas of Niigata often referred to as a skiers' paradise. Passing through this mountainous area, you are soon welcomed by the vast expanse of the Echigo Plain renowned as Japan's best and largest producer of rice and sake. The terminal is Niigata City, built around the mouths of two large rivers - the Shinano and the Agano. The prefectural capital and the largest population center on the Sea of Japan coast, Niigata City is another venue for the 2002 World Cup. Off Niigata City lies the beautiful island of Sado, a major tourist destination famous for its gold mine and rich in history. Niigata Prefecture has four distinct seasons. Its land on the mainland side stretches north to south along the Sea of Japan and is blessed with many scenic natural attractions such as the sea, its plains, mountains and rivers as well as hot springs. Wherever you go, you are bound to encounter great food and better sake. A delightful time is assured here. Worthy of its gentle natural setting, the locals of Niigata have enjoyed a reputation for their warm hospitality. Access
Tourist Information
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Places of Interest - Niigata City and Vicinity -
This elegant-looking bridge, crossing the Shinano River that flows through the center of the city, has long been the symbol of Niigata, dubbed the Waterside Capital. On both the eastern and western sides of the bridge are centers known for shopping and nightlife. This park in the Dutch go-round-style is Japan's first urban park. Enki-kan, a Japanese-style house once owned by a rich merchant, has been moved here, and tea service is offered for a nominal fee. In the adjacent area stand the Prefectural Memorial Hall (built in 1883 as the prefectural assembly hall and designated a national Important Cultural Property) and the Ryutopia (the Niigata City Performing Arts Center) which houses an indoor arena, theater and a Noh hall. Is an aquarium housing some 20,000 fish mainly from the Sea of Japan. Attractions include the Marine Tunnel, the outdoor Marine Safari pool with sea lions and seals, and a large rookery of Humboldt penguins as well as the popular Dolphins' Show. This complex showcases the prefecture's tourist attractions and specilties. The Apeal-kan Hall introduces the culture, history and up-to-date tourist information, and the Bazaar-kan puts specialty foods and crafts on display and a street lined with eating establishments is an ever popular attraction. In the old days, there were great landlords, called "gono," in various parts of the fertile Echigo Plain. Their mansions, "gono-no-yakata," are open to the public today, and include houses of the Ito (the Northern Culture Museum), Sasagawa, Ichishima and Watanabe families. Built at the foot of Mt. Yahiko some 1,300 years ago, this shrine (an Important Cultural Property) is the primary shrine for Echigo (ancient name for Niigata Prefecture) Province. Its scenic natural setting enhanced with festivals and traditional events make the shrine a major tourist spot. The top of the mountain provides a stunning panorama of the Echigo Plain and the Sea of Japan. An 11-kilometer breathtaking coastline along the Sea of Japan as you travel northward from Niigata toward the prefectural border with Yamagata. The contrast between the sea and the rugged rock formations created by wave erosion is enchanting. Niigata abounds in hot springs. Near Niigata City are the Tsukioka, Yahiko, Iwamuro, and Aganogawa "Rhein" hot spring resorts. Facilities where bathing can be enjoyed on a day trip are also plentiful. In
ancient times, nobles and influential persons were exiled to Sado for
political reasons, bringing their aristocratic cultures to the island.
During the Edo period, the island thrived with gold mining and combined
samurai culture from Edo (now Tokyo) with merchants' culture. These
underlie the rich and unique culture of Sado. Time-honored temples,
historic sites, traditional performing arts (folk songs/dances, Noh,
Ondeko drums, etc.) can be found aplenty.
A 7-min. ride on one of the world's largest ropeways (capacity for 166 passengers) takes you to this alpine kingdom containing 1,000 varieties of high mountain flora. The site of Takada Castle, built by the Matsudaira clan - a direct descendant of the first Tokugawa shogun - has been turned into a park. Over 3,000 cherry trees burst into blossom in spring and their illuminated view at night is one of the best in Japan. Lotus flowers are also famous here. Local Delicacies "Koshihikari" rice (a Niigata specialty); sake (known as the sake kingdom with 103 breweries); Noppei (a stew of seafood and vegetables - a traditional food peculiar to Niigata); seafood dishes (crabs, shrimp, sashimi, sushi); rice crackers; Sasa-dango (dumplings wrapped with bamboo leaves). Accommodations A wide range of accommodations are available in major urban areas, from affordable business hotels to first-class city hotels. In other tourist areas around the prefecture, a stay at a ryokan can be enjoyed to experience a more traditional Japanese way of life.
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Japan Embassy of Ireland Ireland House 5F, 2-10-7 Kojimachi, Chiyoda -ku, Tokyo1020083 Tel : ++81 3 32630695 Fax : ++81 3 32652275
Korea Embassy of Ireland Daehan Fire and Marine Insurance Building, 15th Floor, 51-1 Namchang-Dong, Chung-Ku, 100-778 Seoul Tel : ++ 82 2 7746455 Fax : ++ 82 2 7746458
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