Summer Itinerary for 3 areas in Niigata Prefecture from Tsubame Sanjo: 7 recommended activities & spots

Located in the central part of Niigata prefecture, Tsubame Sanjo Area can be visited in about 2 hours by bullet train from Tokyo Station. There are 3 areas with different features around it: “Niigata&Aga Area” where Japan’s leading rivers, Shinano and Agano River, flow, “Nagaoka&Kashiwazaki Area” famous for ‘Echigo Fireworks Festival’ held between July to September every year, “Yuzawa&Aga Area” well-known as the great rice-producing area. You can visit the main stations in each area in about 30 minutes by bullet train, so how about stopping by there? This time, we’re going to introduce 7 recommended activities and spots for summer from among ones in 3 areas.

■Niigata&Aga Area

Take a walk on Japan’s longest Shinano River -“Shinano River Water Shuttle” showing us history of Niigata City, the port town with 150 years of history

With a length of 367 meters, Japan’s longest river “Shinano River (信濃川)” played an essential role as a waterway for transporting goods and people from 1600s to 1800s. Near the mouth of the Sea of ​​Japan is Niigata Port, which was opened in 1869 by the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Trade. At that time, it was a flower district that was full of political and business leaders and literary figures, and the arts and hospitality culture that developed them were well developed. Why don’t you follow the history of Niigata while enjoying a leisurely water walk on the Shinano River Water Shuttle? You can also see tourist spots such as the Bandai Bridge, a nationally designated important cultural property with beautiful stone arches, and the Toki Messe, a landmark of Niigata City. You can board from 6 locations around Niigata Station, so it might be a good way to travel around the city.

Opening Hours	Please check Water Shuttle Schedule on the official website.
Boarding Point	MINATOPIA, TOKI MESSE, Bandai Bridge West, Bandai City, In front of Niigata Prefectural Office, NIIGATA FURUSATO VILLAGE
Access	The nearest boarding point to JR Niigata Station: Bandai City A 10-minute walk from Niigata Station
URL	https://www.watershuttle.co.jp/

Explore Agano River creating the beautiful valley selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Scenery with the boatman -“Agano River Rhine Cruise”

The Agano River (阿賀野川) that flows through Aga-machi is located between Niigata City and Aizuwakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture. Like the Shinano River, it was used as a waterway to transport goods from Aga-machi to the Sea of Japan. The magnificence and beauty of the endless scenery of trees growing on both banks is such that it has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Greatest Views. At “Agano River Rhine Cruise,” you can enjoy the scenery while hearing a fun talk about the history of the Agano River by a boatman. In summer, it will be wrapped in dark green trees and you will feel refreshed.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 3:00PM (Pleasure boats departure every one hour)
Boarding Point	Roadside station “Aga-no-sato” 430 Ishima, Aga-machi, Higashikambaragun, Niigata Prefecture
Access	A 15-minute walk from JR Higashishimojo Station where it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes by the Banetsusai line from Niigata Station
URL	https://aganosato.com/

The natural monument covered with countless lotus flowers in summer -“Lake Hyoko” known as a swan paradise

“Lake Hyoko (瓢湖)” is a wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention, where duck and other water birds inhabit. Originally, it was an agricultural irrigation land that was created over 13 years as a measure against the drought that frequently hit Agano City during the Edo period. Today, more than 5,000 swans come here in November, so it’s designated as a natural monument. From late July to mid-August, the pink lotus flowers that fill the water surface of Lake Hyo are in full bloom. If you are lucky, you may be able to find swans that swim elegantly.

Adress	313-1 Suibara, Agano City, Niigata Prefecture
Access	5-minute taxi ride from Suibara Bus Stop where it takes about one hour from Niigataekimae
URL	http://www.city.agano.niigata.jp/site/kankou/8395.html

■Nagaoka&Kashiwazaki Area

An 1-minute walk from the nearest station! -“Kujiranami Beach” with transparency that the Ministry of the Environment recognizes

Reference from Enjoy Niigata『鯨波・西鯨波海水浴場』

The coastline of the Nagaoka&Kashiwazaki area facing the Sea of Japan has a total length of 40 km or more. There are 16 beaches in Kashiwazaki City alone, and among them, “Kujiranami Beach (鯨波海水浴場)”, which has been selected as one of the ‘100 best beaches in Japan’, surrounds you with a relax and calm atmosphere created by its highly transparent sea. It receives the highest AA rating in the Ministry of the Environment’s water quality survey, so it is safe for those with young children. How about spending time while doing what you want such as marine sports and SUP, sea kayaking, caving, observing sea anemones and fish at a craggy place, etc?

Adress	Kujiranami, Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture
Access	An 1-minute walk from JR Kujiranami Station where it takes about 50 minutes by the Shinetsu Main line from Nagaoka Station
URL	http://www.uwatt.com/spot/152

Get and savor fresh fish caught in the sea of Niigata for reasonable prices -“Teradomari Fish Market Street” familiar with local people

Reference from Enjoy Niigata “Teradomari Street Market (Sakana no Ameyoko)“

“Teradomari Fish Market Street” is located along the overseas coast of Teradomari Town, where fishery has long been popular. A lively voice can be heard from the seafood stores that line up the eaves, and it is a place where you can cheaply obtain fresh, high-quality local fish such as snow crab, rock oysters, and blackthroat seaperch caught off the coast of Sado. In addition to shopping, you can enjoy shellfish and scallops lined up at the store on the spot and have them eat raw, and the seasonal grilled fish and squid on the beach.

Opening Hours	8:30AM – 5:00PM *On sunday, from 8:00AM *Please check the official website because opening hours and closed days vary depending on each store.
Adress	Shimoara-machi, Teradomari, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture
Access	Take a bus at Nagaoka Station, get off it at Teradomariekimae and transfer to other bus. It takes about 5 minutes on foot from the last bus stop.
URL	https://www.teradomari-kankou.com/

■Yuzawa&Uonuma Area

The hot topic on social media – “Gorge Kiyotsukyo Tunnel” allowing you to come in contact with nature and art

“Gorge Kiyotsukyo (清津峡渓谷),” where high-quality snowmelt flows, is one of the three major canyons in Japan. You can feel the strong power of nature from the dynamic scenery created by the reef with countless small polygonal columns and the emerald green river. Speaking of the best photo spot in Gorge Kiyotsukyo, it’s “Gorge Kiyotsukyo Tunnel (清津峡渓谷トンネル)” designed by an artist. At the innermost panorama station, you can take a shot of the stunning scenery of the gorge reflected on mirror-like processing walls and the floor filled with water.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 4:00PM
Adress	Koide, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecure
Access	A 30-minute walk from Kiyotsu Iriguchi where it takes about 25 minutes by bus from JR Echigo Yuzawa Station
URL	https://nakasato-kiyotsu.com/en/

The art of rice fields unique to the area producing the highest quality rice -“Hoshitoge Terraced Rice Fields” fascinating you with water mirror, sea of clouds and green ocean

Uonuma is known as the area producing one of Japan’s leading branded rice, Koshihikari from Uonuma. You can not only taste the rice but also look at the picturesque scenery created by rice fields. “Hoshitoge Terraced Rice Fields (星峠の棚田)” is the most popular, and it is a woodland close to the village selected as one of ‘100 Best Japanese Villages.’ Large or small terraced rice fields cover the slopes of the mountains. From May to June, the water filling them becomes a water mirror, and in summer when rice grows, this place becomes a prairie. If the weather conditions are met, the sea of clouds will appear early in the morning and the fantastic scenery will spread out.

Adress	Toge, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture
Access	A 20-minute taxi ride from Matsudai Station which is 3 stations away from JR Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu rapid line
URL	https://www.tokamachishikankou.jp/natural/tanada/hoshitoge/