Rugby World UK – August 2019

From sea views to sushi and straw art
to hot springs, there is a huge variety of
things on offer in the port city of Niigata...

C

The Culture Vulture
September and October are not
just the dates for the World Cup;
it’s also when the Niigata Wara Art Festival
takes place. The festival is held each year
on the large grounds of Uwasekigata Park
and the giant, carefully-crafted sculptures

• often of animals – are made of rice
  straw collected after the harvest.
  There are also around 90 sake
  breweries in Niigata, with the area’s land
  ideal for producing the rice crops needed.
  Head to the Ponshukan Sake Museum
  to taste different varieties.
  And if you’re a fan of anime, check out
  the Niigata Manga Animation Museum.

F

The Foodie
Many sushi restaurants in the
city offer a special ten-piece
kiwami (‘the best’) platter that
includes the chef’s selection
of local seasonal offerings
together with uni (sea
urchin roe), toro
(medium-fat
tuna), and
ikura (salmon

Niigata

roe). Plus, you get a clear soup. A great

way to try the best the area has to offer.

A

The Adventurer

Take a scenic drive along the

Echigo Nanaura coastal route

• there are great views of the sea and
  rock formations on the shore.
  Learn how to make Koshihikari rice, then
  enjoy eating it with other local dishes as
  part of the Hagama Experience. There are
  also lots of sushi-making workshops.
  You can relax in one of the many thermal
  spring resorts – Iwamuro, Tsukioka or
  Senami, for example. The latter faces
  the Japan Sea, where you can swim.

P

The Party Animal

Niigata’s Furumachi Kagai

(geisha district) is a historical

part of the city with a vibrant culture –

and you can buy a TIPSY Pass to sample

local dishes and sake at participating

restaurants and bars, many of which have

been running for more than 100 years.

Stroll around to take in the traditional

buildings and soak up the atmosphere as

well as enjoying the food and drink. It’s a

ten-minute taxi ride from Niigata station.

For more travel information...

nvcb.or.jp/travelguide/en

RW PromotionTravel

There’s plenty to do in the largest city on Honshu’s Japan Sea coast

Get there

You can reach Niigata

City in approximately two

hours by bullet train from

Tokyo. Alternatively, there are

once-daily direct flights with

ANA from Tokyo’s Narita Airport

to Niigata Airport that

take 65 minutes

Draw straws

A Niigata Wara

Art Festival

sculpture

Simply the best

A kiwami platter