Popular Winter Activities in Niigata, Japan | Gourmet Food & Fireworks

Niigata Prefecture in Japan is known as one of the world’s heaviest snowfall areas. In some places the maximum snow depth exceeds three meters (nearly 10 feet)! For this reason Niigata Prefecture offers many winter delights. In addition, visitors can enjoy sake stored in snow chambers, and winter fireworks illuminating the snowfields. Check out these three popular winter activities in Niigata Prefecture.

Uonuma no Sato – A place to experience the culture of Yukiguni (snow country) in depth

Sake brewery Hakkai Jozo is located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, a city known for its rice production. The brewery is famous for producing Hakkaisan, a sake so popular that it is said that there is not a single sake lover who does not know about it.

This Uonuma-no-sato, which Hakkai Brewery is a part of, is a facility where visitors can immerse themselves closely in the culture of the snow country.

Located at the foot of Mt. Hakkaisan, the spacious premises include restaurants, cafes, souvenir stores, and kitchen general merchandise stores. The surrounding area is a scenic walking trail where you can enjoy a stroll through nature and spend the whole day at your leisure! It is easily accessible from Echigo Yuzawa Station, a popular hot spring, skiing, and outdoor destination, making it a great stopover spot.

One of the most noteworthy features of Uonuma no Sato is the Hakkaisan Snow Cellar, which was built in 2013. As the name suggests, this is a sake cellar where the cold air from the snow cools the inside of the cellar. The cellar requires 1,000 tons of snow to keep the inside temperature below 4 degrees Celsius at all times. It is said to be one of the largest snow chambers in Japan for the purpose of storing sake. Vegetables and other items also are stored in the available space.

By making a reservation on the day of your visit, you can take a tour of the snow chamber. It is cold inside, so don’t forget to bring warm clothes!

Since Uonuma-no-sato offers sake tasting services, it is recommended to take a cab from the station. Uonuma-no-sato is a 15-minute drive from Urasa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line.

Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (varies by facility)
Address: 459 Nagamori, Minamiuonuma City

Winter fireworks – A charm you simply won’t find in summer!

When you think of winter fun in Japan, skiing, hot springs, and gourmet food probably come to mind. But in fact, if you come to Niigata Prefecture in winter, you also can enjoy stunning fireworks.

“Hey, aren’t fireworks in Japan supposed to be done in the summer?” Those who know Japan well may think so. In fact, the Nagaoka Matsuri Grand Fireworks Festival held in summer in Niigata Prefecture is so famous that it is counted among the “three major fireworks festivals in Japan.

But in fact, fireworks displays in Niigata also are held in winter! In most cases, winter fireworks displays are not as large as those held in summer, but they offer plenty of attractions not found in summer. For example, you can see fireworks glowing against a field of snow, or enjoy illumination along with the fireworks.

Nagaoka Fireworks Winter Fantasy, for instance, is held in December at Echigo Hillside Park in Nagaoka City. Here, many tourists come to watch the winter-themed fireworks, which are launched with musical starmines. The event’s venues are decorated with illuminations and Christmas decorations, which can be enjoyed in combination with the fireworks.

In addition, New Greenpia Tsunan, a ski area located in Tsunan Town in Niigata Prefecture, offers a Sky Lantern Experience from December to March. The lanterns floating in the night sky are truly spectacular!

Besides the above, a variety of other fireworks events are held in various locations in Niigata Prefecture. For details, please visit Niigata Prefecture‘s official tourism website.

Hours of operation: Varies by location
Address: Varies by location

A night tour on the NASPA Ski Garden Snow Buggy!

NASPA Ski Garden is located in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, right next to the New Otani Hotel, making it the perfect spot to play in the snow while staying overnight.

Take a part in the Snow Night buggy Tours held here to ride on the slopes at night to the top of the mountain using a snow buggy. A vehicle itself is operated by a guide, so even people who do not ski or snowboard at all, and small children (3 years old and up), may enjoy the snowy mountains.

The excitement of riding a snow buggy through a field of snow is beyond your imagination! The powder snow has just the right firmness and feels as good as if you were riding on a wave. Riding uphill in a spray of snow, admiring Niigata‘s spectacular natural scenery, and savoring the atmosphere of the snowy mountains at night … you will experience winter from a whole new perspective.

NASPA Ski Garden also offers a snowmobile driving experience. Children 3 years old and up to fourth grade need to ride with their parents, but children from fifth grade and up can drive by themselves.

In addition, NASPA Ski Garden also offers snow rafting, where you can slide through the snow on a boat. This activity can accommodate up to eight people, so families and groups of friends can enjoy the ride together and make great memories.

Hours: Snow night buggy tours are available from 18:00 to 21:15 (about 30 minutes per tour)
Address: 2117-9, Oaza Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun