Don`t you think that one of the most fascinating things about traveling is enjoying unique scenery or the specifics of an area by riding a train? Since Niigata Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan, there are stations with breathtaking views of the sea and sightseeing trains where you can enjoy food or sake unique to the region. Traveling by a train is also pretty convenient, since you can stop a museum or other attractions located right next to the train station. So let us introduce you to some of the best spots and sightseeing trains to enjoy a railway journey and some fun-filled days in Niigata.
Echigo Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, MonET – A venue for world-class art events
Echigo Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, MonET is located in Tokamachi in southern Niigata Prefecture. It is a 10-minute walk from Tokamachi Station on the JR or Hokuhoku lines, which makes it a perfect stopover during a train trip.
It just reopened in 2021, so visitors can enjoy exhibits of contemporary art and special exhibitions. Designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara, the building has an otherworldly atmosphere with a pond in the center.
The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT) is one of the largest art festivals in the world and has been held once every three years since 2000 in Tokamachi City and Tsunan Town. During the event period, Echigo Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, MonET becomes the main venue. Different artworks by domestic and international artists are exhibited, and various performances are held here during that period. Before COVID-19 in 2018, about 540,000 visitors visited and enjoyed this art event.
The 8th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2022, held from April 29 to November 13, 2022, featured 95 new artist groups from 13 countries and regions with over 300 works on view. There are many hands-on works based on picture books that can be enjoyed not only by adults but also by children, so even small children can have fun!
Hours of operation: 10:00-17:00, last admission 16:30 (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; if Tuesday or Wednesday falls on a consecutive national holiday, the museum will be closed on the following business day. Opening hours may change during winter and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.)
Address: 6-1-71-2 Honmachi, Tokamachi City
Kairi – A train to enjoy Niigata’s food and scenery
The “Kairi” is a sightseeing train featuring a color scheme that evokes the image of a setting sun and fresh snow. This sightseeing train travels from between Niigata Station and Sakata Station in Yamagata Prefecture.
The train was designed around the concepts of the cuisine of the Niigata and Shonai (north of Yamagata Prefecture) regions and of the beautiful views of the Sea of Japan. While enjoying the spectacular views outside the window, guests can also enjoy gourmet foods unique to Niigata and the Shonai areas, which is known as the food capital of Yamagata Prefecture.
The train is composed of only four cars, and the meal you get depends on the outbound and inbound routes, the time of year, and your seat on the train. For those who wish to enjoy a luxurious trip, we recommend you take Car No.4.
Seating on the Kairi is limited to 24 persons. You will be served Japanese cuisine prepared by Niigata‘s major restaurants and an assortment of Italian dishes prepared by Japan’s top chefs in a luxurious dining room. Dishes are served on tableware created by Ohashi Yoshokki, a long-established tableware brand in Niigata. Please enjoy not only the food but also the beauty of the tableware, which incorporates traditional Japanese craftsmanship!
If you want to enjoy a casual train trip, we recommend Cars No. 1 and No. 2, which do not include meals, but you can purchase a limited boxed lunch box filled with the specialties of “Niigata food” and “Shonai food” at the store located in Car No. 3. During the 20-minute stop at Kuwagawa Station, you can go outside. (Please note that depending on the route the train may not stop). Spend a wonderful time by going near the sea or buying an ice cream at a store in the area.
Operation status: Refer to the timetable
Operation section: From “Niigata Station” to “Sakata Station” of JR EAST
Buy tickets: JR EAST PASS, good for five days of unlimited rides on JR East through Tokyo, Nagano and Niigata.
Koshino Shu*Kura- A sightseeing train featuring specialty Niigata sake
Niigata Prefecture boasts the nation’s top sake production, thanks to its soil and water suitable for producing rice, the raw material for Sake.
“Koshino Shu*Kura” is a rare sightseeing train with a theme of “Japanese sake” which Niigata is so proud of. The biggest feature is that you can enjoy Niigata‘s sake and food while gazing at the beautiful countryside and the Sea of Japan outside the train window. There are three courses that start at Joetsu Myoko Station and run to Tokamachi Station, Echigo-Yuzawa Station, and Niigata Station.
Along with special snacks made from local ingredients, passengers can compare five different types of carefully selected Niigata sake and enjoy free local sake tasting services in Cars No. 1 and No. 3. Alcoholic beverages and desserts also can be purchased at the service counter located in the car. There are many different types of sake, so try some brands that you have never heard of to have the best sake experience!
There are several stops along the route. A Particularly beautiful view can be seen near the Sea of Japan at Omigawa Station, which is said to be “the closest station to the sea in Japan”.
There are four types of seats: “Rakuraku Box Seats” with a table for four people, “Observation and Relaxation Pair Seats” for enjoying the view outside, “Reclining Seats” for two people sitting next to each other, and “Free Space” with a sofa seat.
Hours of operation: Refer to timetable
Train section: Running section “Joetsu Myoko Station” – “Tokamachi Station,” “Echigo Yuzawa Station” or “Niigata Station”
Buy tickets: JR EAST PASS, good for five days of unlimited rides on JR East through Tokyo, Nagano and Niigata.
Omigawa station – The closest station to the Sea of Japan.
Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan, Niigata Prefecture has many spots where visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the sea. One of them is Omigawa Station (meaning “blue ocean river”) on the JR Shinetsu Main Line. This station is famous for being the closest station to the Sea of Japan.
As soon as you step off the train onto the platform, you can hear the sound of the waves, and the beautiful blue Sea of Japan is right there. The station is so close to the sea, that if a big wave were to come in, it would probably splash onto the platform.
It is rare to find a station so close to the sea in Japan, so the horizon seen from the station platform has attracted much attention for its beauty. And now it has become one of the most popular photogenic spots in Niigata Prefecture.
If the weather is nice, visit this spot during the daytime when the color of the sea is even more beautiful. But if you go there before sunset, you can enjoy a dramatic landscape view with the sky and sea dyed red by the setting sun.
In addition to the view from the platform, you can also enjoy the view of the station and the sea from the top of the cliff around the station.
After visiting Omigawa Station, take a look at the red land bridge Yoneyama Ohashi, or walk about 20 minutes to the Nihonkai Fisherman’s Cape, a famous local fish market. Lover’s Point, or Koibito Misaki in Japanese, a spot where thousands of couples have declared their love, is also nearby. As you can see, you may find some interesting discoveries if you take a stroll around Omigawa Station.
Hours of operation: None, as the station is unmanned.
Address: Aomi River, Kashiwazaki City
The Ponshukan – Sake from all of Niigata’s sake breweries
Niigata Prefecture is the third largest “sake prefecture” in terms of annual sake shipments. For those who want to try a wide variety of sake in Niigata, we highly recommend The Ponshukan Complex!
Niigata boasts the largest number of sake breweries in Japan with 88 (as of 2022), and there is a great variety of sake available in the prefecture. If you come to Niigata, we bet you will want to try as many different brands of sake as you can. However, it may be a bit difficult to go out of your way to buy bottles of sake and try them one by one.
The Ponshukan Complex, located in Niigata, Nagaoka, and Echigo-Yuzawa Stations, is a perfect place to do so. For 500 yen, you can enjoy a set of up to five cups of sake from brands representative of all Niigata sake breweries.
Inside the complex, there is a special machine for pouring sake. Insert the coin that you can get at the reception desk, and press the button to pour a cup of sake. Each machine is labeled with a sake brand. Even if you don’t know the difference between brands of sake, you can try to choose one based on your preference of the label design to encounter a whole new taste.
The Ponshukan Complex’s marketplace also sells a variety of souvenirs and foodstuffs, including premium Koshihikari rice from Minamiuonuma, rice snacks and a wide selection of Niigata sweets and gifts.
In addition, The Ponshukan Complex at Niigata and Echigo-Yuzawa stations offers the famous “Bomb Onigiri” (approximately twice the size of rice balls at convenience stores) made with excellent Koshihikari rice and plenty of other ingredients. Furthermore, at Echigo-Yuzawa Station, visitors can enjoy a “sake bath” in which sake is added to the hot water.
Hours of operation: 11:00-21:00 (hours are subject to change)
Address: 1-96-47 Hanazono, Chuo-ku, Niigata City (Ponshukan Niigata Station
Setsugetsuka – A resort train traveling a wonderfully scenic route in Niigata Prefecture
Echigo Tokimeki Resort Setsugetsuka train is a resort train that runs in the Joetsu region of Niigata Prefecture. Passengers can enjoy the scenery of the sea and mountains, as well as a meal made from the best of Niigata ingredients.
The train runs through Joetsu Myoko Station, Itoigawa Station, and Myoko-Kogen Station for a total of three hours. On the way, the train passes through various scenic spots, such as the Hayakawa railway bridge where you can enjoy both the Northern Alps and the Sea of Japan. Near Arimagawa Station you can view the majestic Sea of Japan, and the snow-covered Myokosan (Mt. Myoko) will come into view when passing the Katakai area. At some spectacular viewpoints, the train will slow down so you can take your time to enjoy the scenery.
The Setsugetsuka is manufactured under the slogan “made in NIIGATA.” That means that everything from the car body to the smallest metal parts are made at a factory in Niigata Prefecture. The interior furnishings of the train also are richly decorated with Niigata‘s world-class technology and traditions. Many of the items you see are Niigata‘s own specialties.
Furthermore, the ingredients for the meals served on the train are carefully selected from Niigata Prefecture. A variety of courses are available, such as wine pairing courses, courses where you can enjoy hot kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot), and courses that use a variety of seafood. Enjoy local food while admiring the beautiful ocean and mountain scenery to create a lifelong memory.
Hours of operation: Refer to the operation days
Address: JR East Japan “Joetsu Myoko Station” to “Itoigawa Station
