Savor High-grade Sake in Niigata - Kingdom of Local Sake

There are farmers' markets with fresh vegetables, restaurants, inns and a convenience store. You can purchase Niigata specialties like rice and sake and fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan. The station also offers travel and traffic information.

Takada Castle Site Park stands on the grounds of Takada Castle, which was built as the residence for Tokugawa Ieyasu's sixth son, Matsudaira Tadateru, and is now a designated historical site. The present park was created in 1907 by breaking up many of the earthen mounds and filling in much of the moat.

Covering roughly 50 hectares, Takada Castle Site Park is among the largest urban parks in Japan. It includes cultural facilities like the restored three-story castle turret, a history museum, art museum, and library, along with sports facilities such as an athletics field, baseball field, and grass field, plus a promenade around the outer moat. Other notable features include the residence of renowned Japanese painter Kobayashi Kokei, and the restored Gokuraku Bridge, which connects the Honmaru and Ninomaru areas.

Takada Castle Site Park is also renowned for its seasonal transformations. In spring, it is covered with around 4,000 blooming cherry blossom trees. Combined with the illuminated turret and paper lanterns, the scene is considered one of the three best nighttime cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. The Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party is held when the cherry blossoms are at their best.

In summer, visitors can witness the entire moat covered in lotus blossoms, heralded as the "best in Asia." The Takada Castle Site Park Lotus Blossom Viewing Party is held in mid-July to late August to celebrate.

The oldest winery in Japan still in operation today. During the harvest (from September to October), you may be able to see the wine brewing. You can enjoy a wine tasting at the shop.

Koshino Shu*Kura is a resort train that serves local Niigata sake! Connecting Joetsumyoko Station and Tokamachi Station, passengers can sample all kinds of sake while enjoying beautiful Sea of Japan views. The train also stops for a few minutes at Omigawa Station, which is known for its stunning ocean vistas beyond the platform.

The drink menu includes five types of carefully selected local sake from Niigata Prefecture. If you purchase a ticket with a meal plan, you can also relish a light meal made from regional ingredients that pairs excellently with the sake. The train also has its own exclusive sake, called the Koshino Shu*Kura Original Daiginjo, which makes for a one-of-a-kind souvenir. It’s brewed using the “yamahai” method of nurturing the lactic acid bacteria that live in the brewery, allowing you to taste the natural goodness of Niigata.

The Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art / KINARE was reopened as the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET on July 22, 2021 with a new permanent collection. The museum features 15 permanent works, including eight additions in 2021, along with a museum store. It also serves as a base for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field.

Permanent Collection: Artists include Asai Yusuke, Leandro Erlich, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Carlos Garaicoa, Ryota Kuwakubo, Koichi Kurita, Nicolas Darrot, Marnix de Nijs, Michiko Nakatani, Kohei Nawa, Carsten Nicolai, Massimo Bartolini feat. Lorenzo Bini, Me, Moriyama Daido, and Gerda Steiner & Jörg Lenzlinger.

The first-floor corridor also hosts a community space, designed and supervised by Muji, used for various events.

Themed around the "exchange between urban and rural areas," this comprehensive cultural facility uncovers and shares the region's abundant resources. A 2-km stretch of "satoyama" rural landscape, from Matsudai Nou-butai, the base facility, to Matsudai Castle atop the mountain, showcases approximately 40 art installations. Take a leisurely stroll to immerse yourself in the local nature and culture.

Designed by the Dutch architectural group MVRDV, Matsudai Nou-butai is not only a base facility but a work of art itself, featuring rooms designed by various artists. Explore the Matsudai Nou-butai Field Museum to tour these unique artworks, gaining insights into the satoyama landscape, the enduring farming culture of snow country, and the lifestyles of the local community. Whether on foot, by rented bicycle, or by car, you can explore the area based on the length of your stay and your specific interests.

In the snowy Uonuma Basin, timeless wisdom derived from living in harmony with nature has been passed down over the generations, creating a community that cherishes the beauty of each season.

Uonuma no Sato, nestled in a serene rural village at the base of Mt. Hakkai, was built with the desire to share the essence of the good old-fashioned Uonuma lifestyle and traditions of “snow country” Niigata. Based around the renowned sake brewery Hakkaisan, visitors can explore and unwind at spots like Hakkaisan Yukimuro, which has a cafe, store, and kitchenware shop; Sobaya Nagamori, a soba noodle restaurant; and Satoya, a confectioner.

The Hakkaisan Yukimuro (Snow Chamber) can be entered on free guided tours. The chamber stores approximately 1,000 tons of snow each year, maintaining a temperature of around 4°C. This allows for year-round storage of sake and food while preserving their distinct flavors.