kyoto meets the mediterranean : meet japan’s hottest new destination
do you think you’ve seen everything japan has to offer? think again, we at aweventurer have discovered the prefecture that has it all.
japan is one of my favourite countries in the world, and perhaps the one i’ve visited the most. i’ve been planning my first international trip, and japan is still top of my list - where to go, is the trickier question. tokyo and kyoto are rich, multilayered cities that one could spend months in and barely scrape the surface of, but if you’re looking to beat the crowds and venture outside of these tourist hubs, then the lesser known niigata prefecture is well worth a visit. to the northwest of tokyo and stretching some 240km along the sea of japan, niigata is like a macrocosm of the best of the country, boasting both incredible scenery and a rich cultural history. from cherry blossoms, to world class art, to a thriving geisha district, these are the best things to see in niigata prefecture.
image courtesy of ippei and janine naoi
flower fields
come spring, niigata erupts into a thriving floral metropolis. tulips are not oft associated with japan, but the region is the top producer of these bloom in the country. visit tanai and gosen city and you’ll be treated to row upon row of picture-perfect tulips. you’d also be amiss to not visit niigata’s golden sunflower fields, or venture out to the mountains for fields of wildflowers. the region is also one of the best places to see japan’s iconic bloom - the cherry blossom. due to its prime geographical placement, niigata actually enjoys one of the longest flowering periods in the country. we’d recommend visiting takada castle’s sakura road, which boasts more than 4,000 cherry blossom trees.
sado island
once the hub of a gold mining boom, sado island is now a sleepy seaside town known for its crystal clear waters and pristine coastal scenery. tarai-bune, a circular wooden tub boat traditionally used for catching abalone and seaweed, are still used by fisherman today, and are one of the best ways to experience sado island (yes, these are the same boats from that iconic spirited away scene). the island’s warm climate makes it perfect for lazy wandering - visit the island’s old gold mine, now overgrown with vines and a spectacular spot for photos.
echigo tsumari
one of the largest art festivals in the world, echigo tsumari is a celebration of community, nature, and culture. the triennale has been running for over 20 years and takes place in niigata’s echigo tsumari region. the festival rests on the belief that humans are inseparable from nature, and invites artists to create works that serve to highlight the region in which they are placed. famous niigata landmarks that are frequently given the echigo tsumari treatment include the kiyotsu gorge tunnel pictured below.
geisha performance
kyoto is inseparable in the collective imagination from japan’s geisha tradition. niigata too, has its own surviving geisha district, furumachi. indeed, it is perhaps the only place outside of kyoto to experience the an authentic hanamachi, or flower town (geisha district). far less populated by tourists than the streets of kyoto, in furumachi one can have the opportunity to meet, talk to, and play with a geisha. furumachi is home to the ichiyama school of traditional dance, a style of dance idiosyncratic to the region that you won’t find anywhere else.
eat & drink
niiigata has a world-class food and drink scene to rival any of Japan’s more popular metropolises. home to to the largest number of sake breweries in the country, sampling some of niigata’s local sake is a must. imayotsukasa sake brewery crafts its sake using natural spring waters from nearby mt. suganadake, resulting in an incredibly pure alcohol. the region also has some unique foods that it is known across the country for. as a port city, it has some of the freshest and best seafood around. among other must-try dishes are niigata’s take on soba, ‘hegi soba’, and ‘wappameshi’, a traditional lunch box meal of rice flavoured with tea and topped with fresh seafood.
how to get there
thanks to japan’s incredible network of shinkansen (high speed trains), niigata is just a 1 hour 20 minute journey from tokyo, taking you right into the city centre.
flights are also available from most of japan’s major cities.
when to go