Niigata

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Niigata (新潟) [1] is the capital of Niigata prefecture, Japan and the largest city on the Japan Sea coast.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

Niigata is the terminus of the Joetsu Shinkansen line to Tokyo. The fastest trains take just over 2 hours and cost ¥10,270 one-way. The Shinkansen is also a fast and cost-effective way to access Niigata from Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe (5 hours and about ¥22,000 each way, with a change of trains in Tokyo).

A cheaper way to reach Niigata from Tokyo is to take the Moonlight Echigo from Shinjuku, which makes a 6-hour run leaving Tokyo at night and arriving in Niigata very early in the morning. The train costs ¥5,910 each way, but is more popular during Seishun 18 Ticket seasons when the price can be as low as ¥2,000.

The Hokuetsu limited express runs from Toyama and Kanazawa five times a day (3.5 hours, ¥8,280 one way from Kanazawa).

Trains to and from the north are fewer and farther between. The most convenient service is the Inaho limited express to Akita, which runs three times a day (4 hours, ¥7,020 one way). Local trains also run up and down the Japan Sea coast, but only run every two hours or so toward the northern part of the prefecture.

[edit] By plane

Niigata Airport handles international flights from the Russian Far East (Vladivostok twice weekly on Vladivostok Air; Khabarovsk twice weekly; Irkutsk once weekly), Korea (Seoul daily on Korean Air), China (Shanghai and Xian three times weekly on China Eastern, Harbin four times weekly on China Northern), and Guam (twice weekly on Continental). There are also frequent domestic flights from Osaka (¥25,100 one way), Sapporo (¥28,700 one way), Fukuoka (¥31,700 one way), and other cities.

[edit] By bus

Niigata Transit runs highway buses to Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo (5.5 hours, ¥5,250 one way), Nagoya (7.5 hours, ¥7,800 one way), and overnight to Osaka and Kyoto (8 hours, ¥8,450 each way), as well as to a number of other cities.

[edit] By boat

Sado Kisen operates frequent services to Ryotsu on Sado Island. Rapid ferries cost ¥5,960 and cover the distance in one hour, while larger car ferries cost just ¥2,060 but take 2.5 hours.

Ferries to Vladivostok appear to be discontinued until further notice, but as of 2005 there are still regular services from Toyama.

[edit] Get around

They have a bus system that is very good, but also its very easy to walk everywhere, most of the main attractions are all within walking distance from each other.

[edit] See

Niigata is a large city but it has few attractions for the tourist in itself. Tourists may head for the close Sado Island.

There is "Echigo hillside park" in Nagaoka, near Niigata city. It is a national park and it costs 400 yen for adults. You can see beautiful Japanese flowers, trees and garden. Also, it has great restaurant and BBQ place.

Nagaoka is famous for fire works. Nagaoka festival is held in August 1 to 3 every year. On August 1, an eve event is held, on 2 and 3, fire works is launched. About twenty thousands fire works are launched aroud Shinano river side for 2 days.

In Niigata, you can enjoy Shinano River Cruise. You can see the scenery of Niigata City from the waterbus that runs along the Shinano River. There is also an open-air deck where passengers can relax and enjoy the view from the river outside. There are three cruises a day.

It has an excellent museum, the Northern Culture Museum, which was originally a wealthy family's home, built 1885-1887. The museum comprises several buildings, and a few restaurants/cafes. Documents and art collections including paintings and sculptures from former households are on display. It is worth at least a half day visit.

[edit] Do

There are many things to do in Niigata, it has a wonderful shopping area, the rainbow tower, the ocean is not that far away, it has a beautiful theater, ferry rides down the river, museums, in the winter you can watch the swans come in and much much more. Just check out their site and you can see that there are many things you can do as a tourist

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

Niigata area is famous for their rice, Niigata has the best rice in the country.

[edit] Drink

Along with hundreds of Izakayas and other Japaneses bars, there are a number of foreigner-run bars in the city. These include: Hot Spot, Northern Lights Canadian bar, Shame and Immigrants Cafe, which also does great food at reasonable prices.

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Get out

Niigata prefecture is an area rich in natural resources and it's natural park area ranks second in the nation. Niigata-ken also has the second most bathing beaches in Japan, the third most ski resorts and the fourth most hot springs (onsen) in the country.WikiPedia:Niigata, Niigata