Top 10 recommended scenic spots in Niigata Enjoy the Sea of Japan, rice terraces and remote islands!

Top 10 recommended scenic spots in Niigata Enjoy the Sea of Japan, rice terraces and remote islands!

1. Kiyotsukyo / Tokamachi City

Located in Joshinetsu National Park, along with Kurobe Gorge and Osugi Valley, "Kiyuzukyo" in Tokamachi City is said to be one of the three major gorges in Japan. The area around the Kiyotsukyo Tunnel was renewed in April 2018, and many people are still visiting it as a hot spot to see beautiful scenery at the "Art Festival of the Earth". Let's enjoy the surrounding cafes and footbaths while enjoying the superb view.

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Address: 2126 Koide, Tokamachi-shi (Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel Management Office)

Phone: 025-763-4800 (Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel Management Office)

Opening Hours: 8:30-Last Entrance 16:30 Until (with winter break)

2. Hoshitoge Rice Terraces / Tokamachi City

In the deep and quiet mountains of the Echigo-Tsumari area (Tokamachi City, Tsunan Town), there is a landscape called "Hoshitoge Terraced Rice Fields" that can be called the original scenery of Japan. Rice planting in spring, fresh greenery in summer, rice ears in autumn, snow scene in winter. No matter what season you visit, there is a magnificent view that cannot be seen anywhere else. Let's also appreciate contemporary art at the "Art Festival of the Earth".

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Location: Echigo-Tsumari (Tokamachi City, Tsunan Town)

Phone number: 025-597-3442 (Matsushiro/Matsunoyama Onsen Tourist Information Center)

Access: (train) Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line Get off at Matsudai Station, car, About 20 minutes by taxi

(car) 1513 Tokamachi-shige Toge (car navigation setting, toilet in Tanada) Parking available

*Please see the official website of Tokamachi City Tourism Association as there are precautions when viewing (Hoshitoge Tanada Section)

3. Sasakawa flow / Murakami city

Located in the northernmost part of Niigata Prefecture, "Sasagawa Nagare" has a beautiful landscape that extends for about 11km along the coastline. It is a scenic spot designated as a national scenic spot and natural monument, with mountains approaching and strange rocks created by erosion such as rough seas. The calm and blue coast is beautiful, you can enjoy various terrain and scenery along the sea, and we also recommend a sightseeing boat and the setting sun over the Sea of   Japan.

There is a salt refinery in a single house on the cliffs of Sasakawa flow, and a terrace with a superb view cafe. You can also try salted soft serve ice cream while looking out at the Sea of   Japan.

Photo courtesy of Murakami Tourism Association

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Location: Along the coastline of Murakami city

4. Hyoko/Agano City

Wetland "Lake Hyaku" registered under the Ramsar Convention. From around October of every year, you can see the swans that came from Siberia until around March of the following year, but more than 5,000 swans will fly especially in late November. There are mainly two types of swans that come to Lake Hira, the whooper swan and the swan. Let's take in the wonderful scenery with Mt.

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Location: Agano City

Access: (train) 30 minutes walk from Suwon Station on JR Uetsu Main Line, 5 minutes by taxi.

(Car) About 15 minutes from the Banetsu Expressway Niitsu IC

5. Mount Yahiko

The entire mountain is considered to be a sanctuary and Mt. Yahiko is designated as Yahiko Sado Yoneyama National Monument. It stands behind the Yahiko Shrine, which is famous as "Echigo Ichinomiya". There is a panoramic tower near the top of the mountain, overlooking the Echigo Plain, Sadogashima Island, and the Sea of   Japan! At the top of the mountain is the shrine to the shrine at the back of Yahiko Shrine, which enshrines Tenkayama Mikoto (Ameno 

Kagoyama Mikoto) and Jukuhoya Himemikoto. 

6. Ryukokubo / Nakauonuma-gun

Tsunan Town is located on the prefectural border between Niigata Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture, known for its sunflowers in summer, autumn leaves in Akiyamago, and heavy snowfall areas in winter. In such a town of Tsunan, there is "Ryugakubo," which was selected as one of the 100 famous waters in Japan. It is recommended to take a walk while looking at the beautiful and clear pond. About 43,000 tons of water springs out every day, which is enough to replace all the water in the entire pond in one day.

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Address: Taniuchi, Tsunan-cho,

Nakauonuma -gun Phone: 025-765-5585 (Tsunan-cho Tourist Association)

Access: (train) 15 minutes by car from Tsunami Station on the JR Iiyama Line

( taxi ) Kanetsu Expressway Echigogawaguchi About 60 minutes from IC or Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC

7. Naena Taki / Myoko City

The Naena Falls, which is one of the 100 Best Waterfalls in Japan, spans the Seki River between Niigata Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture, between Kurohime and Myoko. The roaring sound of water as it falls is a powerful sound that echoes. Let's take a splash and see the falling waterfall. There is also a Sabo dam in the downstream, and this waterfall is also impressive. Since it is the starting point of the Myoko Kogen Nature Trail, let's enjoy nature while taking a walk.

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Location: Suginosawa, Myoko-shi

Phone number: 025-586-6536 (Naena Takien)

Access: About 15 minutes from the Joshinetsu Expressway Myoko Kogen IC to the parking lot

* About 15-minute walk from the parking lot to the waterfall 20 minutes

8. Takanami Pond / Itoigawa City

Itoigawa City is located at the western end of Fossa Magna and has many valuable places, so it is the first in Japan to be certified as a UNESCO Global Geopark.  It's a mysterious pond with a depth of about 13m on the plateau with an altitude of about 540m, but you can see a very beautiful view from the trim observatory!

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Location: Otaki, Oita, Itoigawa, Japan (inside the Hakuba Sanroku National Recreation Area)

Access: (train) Hokuriku Shinkansen, JR Oito Line, Echigo Tokimeki Railway From Itoigawa Station, about 40 minutes by taxi, or from Otaki Station 20 minutes by taxi

(car) 40 minutes from Itoigawa IC on the Hokuriku Expressway

9. Awashima/Murakami City

Awashima is a small remote island with abundant greenery and a circumference of about 23 km. Most of it is covered with untouched nature, and you can enjoy fishing, camping, rocking, trekking and much more. One of the attractions is fishing, which is enjoyed by many tourists. There are many points for fishing, and you can rent fishing rods, so why not give it a try?

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Location: Awashima, Murakami City

Access: JR Niigata Station-Murakami Station-By bus, car or taxi to Iwafune

Port Iwafune Port-Regular ferry "New Awashima" or high speed catamaran "awaline Kirara" (required) (Time: 90 minutes for ordinary ship, 55 minutes for high-speed catamaran)

*Free parking available at Iwafune Port

10.Senkakuwan/Sadogashima

 It is a collective name for the five bays, and is named because it is said to be comparable to the Gorgeous Gorge of the Hardanger Fjord in Norway. The view of the coast can be seen from the observatory of Senkaku Bay Yangshima Yuen, so it is recommended. You can also board an underwater see-through boat (glass boat) and enjoy the spectacular view of the cliffs from the sea side.

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Location:

Hokutan, Sado City to Himezu Phone: 0259-27-5000 (Sado Tourism Association)

Access: (Bus) Short walk from Senkakuwan Yangshima Amusement Park bus stop

(car) About 60 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port