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Niigata

Niigata (新潟) is the capital of Niigata prefecture, Japan and the largest city on the Japan Sea coast.

Get in

By train
Niigata is the terminus of the Joetsu Shinkansen line to Tokyo. The fastest trains take just over 2 hours and cost ¥10,270 one-way. The Shinkansen is also a fast and cost-effective way to access Niigata from Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe (5 hours and about ¥22,000 each way, with a change of trains in Tokyo).

A cheaper way to reach Niigata from Tokyo is to take the Moonlight Echigo from Shinjuku, which makes a 6-hour run leaving Tokyo at night and arriving in Niigata very early in the morning. The train costs ¥5,910 each way, but is more popular during Seishun 18 Ticket seasons when the price can be as low as ¥2,000.

The Hokuetsu limited express runs from Toyama and Kanazawa five times a day (3.5 hours, ¥8,280 one way from Kanazawa).

Trains to and from the north are fewer and farther between. The most convenient service is the Inaho limited express to Akita, which runs three times a day (4 hours, ¥7,020 one way). Local trains also run up and down the Japan Sea coast, but only run every two hours or so toward the northern part of the prefecture.

By plane
Niigata Airport handles international flights from the Russian Far East (Vladivostok twice weekly on Vladivostok Air; Khabarovsk twice weekly; Irkutsk once weekly), Korea (Seoul daily on Korean Air), China (Shanghai and Xian three times weekly on China Eastern, Harbin four times weekly on China Northern), and Guam (twice weekly on Continental). There are also frequent domestic flights from Osaka (¥25,100 one way), Sapporo (¥28,700 one way), Fukuoka (¥31,700 one way), and other cities.

By bus
Niigata Transit runs highway buses to Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo (5.5 hours, ¥5,250 one way), Nagoya (7.5 hours, ¥7,800 one way), and overnight to Osaka and Kyoto (8 hours, ¥8,450 each way), as well as to a number of other cities.

By boat
Sado Kisen operates frequent services to Ryotsu on Sado Island. Rapid ferries cost ¥5,960 and cover the distance in one hour, while larger car ferries cost just ¥2,060 but take 2.5 hours.

Ferries to Vladivostok appear to be discontinued until further notice, but as of 2005 there are still regular services from Toyama.

Get around

They have a bus system that is very good, but also its very easy to walk everywhere, most of the main attractions are all within walking distance from each other.

See

Niigata is a large city but it has few attractions for the tourist in itself. Tourists may head for the close Sado Island.

There is "Echigo hillside park" in Nagaoka, near Niigata city. It is a national park and it costs 400 yen for adults. You can see beautiful Japanese flowers, trees and garden. Also, it has great restaurant and BBQ place.

Nagaoka is famous for fire works. Nagaoka festival is held in August 1 to 3 every year. On August 1, an eve event is held, on 2 and 3, fire works...



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Hotels in Niigata
 Court Hotel Niigata Score 7.5 from 1 reviews
2-3-35 Benten 7.5/10
Parking : 7 parking spaces (1,000 yen/night) ... more
 
More hotels in Niigata

Kyoto Morning Tour (from Osaka) - Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle 6 hours

Kinkakuji Temple - Golden Pavilion Enjoy a morning tour of Kyoto, departing from Osaka!

Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. Enjoy this morning tour to see some of the main highlights of this wonderful city, steeped in culture.

Tour highlights include:

  • Nijo Castle
  • Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
  • Kyoto Imperial Palace
  • Kyoto Handicraft Center

Please see the information in 'Itinerary' for details about visiting each place. Click here for more information and Booking Details


Tokyo Walking Tour - Now and Then 8.5 hours

Akihabara Electric Town

Zojoji Temple -The gate, the oldest wooden structure in Tokyo, has been designated by the State as an important cultural property. Its name -Sangedatsumon- means a gate (Mon) for getting deliverd (Gedatsu) from three (san) earthly states of mind greed, anger and stupidity.

Imperial Palace East Garden - The ground was once the site of old Edo Castle. The garden includes a tea pavillion, a Japanese garden, moats and stonewalls

Mitsuo Aida Museum - As a Zen Buddhist, brush-and-ink calligrapher and poet, Mitsuo Aida continued to pursue his own words and his own calligraphy. you can feel the value of his works physically and emotionally.

Transfer to Ameyoko Shopping Mall and Akihabara Electric Town. The Akihabara electronics district has become a magnet for "Otaku" lovers of comic books, animated cartoons and videogames from around the world!! Maid cafes and beauty parlors staffed by women in suggestive lacy maid costumes have been attracting attention. Ameyoko Shopping Mall, the famous discount market between JR Ueno station and JR Okachimachi Station.

Click here for more information and Booking Details


Hiei-Zan Enryaku-ji and the Experience of Zazen from Kyoto 6.5 hours

Mt. Hiei Enryaku-ji Saito/Jodoin - Enryaku-ji Kaikan (Experience Zen Meditation)

Experience seated Zen Meditation practices at one of the first Buddhist temples in Japan before visiting Hieizan Enryaku-ji This temple on Mt. Hiei is one of the Three Great Temples of Japan, and is the principal seat of the Tendai School of Buddhism. The temple was founded by the great Buddhist monk, Dengyo Daishi Saicho. The temple is divided into three areas, the Todo (Eastern Pagoda), the Saito (Western Pagoda) and Yokawa.

Click here for more information and Booking Details




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