Niigata City新潟市

A beautiful "City of Water" facing the Sea of Japan. Niigata prospers both as a port town and the Japan's largest agricultural city.

Niigata is the largest among the cities situated on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu, the largest of Japan's four main islands. It is a beautiful "city of water" whose northwest part faces the Sea of Japan, with the Shinano-gawa River, Japan's longest, running through its center. Niigata is a port city with a population of 810,000 that has been thriving on trade with foreign countries for a very long time. It is also the largest agricultural city in Japan with vast nature and fertile soil. The city incorporates one of the major grain-growing regions in Japan and sophisticated city functions, being the first government ordinance-designated city on the Sea of Japan side. It also serves as a hub city for transportation with a seaport, airport, Shinkansen stations and highways.

The city branches into two districts, the new township near Niigata Station on the south side of the Shinano-gawa River and the old town on the north side of the river where the government and municipal offices lie. Bandai-bashi Bridge, designated as an Important National Cultural Asset, connects the two towns.

In the new town is an international convention facility called Toki Messe. From its observatory, the highest spot in the city, you can see the Shinano-gawa River, the Sea of Japan, and Sado-ga-shima Island in the distance.

In the old town is the Niigata City History Museum, called Minatopia, which exhibits the history of Niigata. In the premises is the former Niigata Customs House (an Important National Cultural Asset), which is the only customs house that exists as it was among those built in the five port cities which opened for trade with foreign countries in 1858, namely: Niigata; Yokohama; Kobe; Nagasaki; and Hakodate. Also located there is the Niigata Prefectural Government Memorial Hall (an Important National Cultural Asset), which has a veranda modeled on the Houses of Parliament in England, with an octagonal spire in the Renaissance style.

Outside the city area, there is a city aquarium, called Marinepia Nihonkai, the largest aquarium found on the Sea of Japan side, where you can see approximately 20,000 sea creatures of 450 varieties, such as dolphins and sea otters.

Various sightseeing spots are scattered throughout the suburbs, such as the Northern Culture Museum. This building used to be the mansion of a wealthy farmer who was the greatest landowner in Niigata. Also located there is the Iwamuro-onsen Hot Spring, a hot spring resort with a long history and charming atmosphere.

Niigata is proud of its rich variety of wonderful foods, such as the plentiful seafood nurtured by the Sea of Japan and freshwater fish from the large river, and vegetables and fruit gown in the fertile soil. Niigata rice, sake and seafood are particularly well known. The finest tastes of Japan are available in Niigata.