Discover Niigata from Tokyo. Let’s Go!【Activity】

Explore the different charms of Niigata

【Yuzawa•Uonuma, Tokamachi City 】

Take a ride on the Longest River in Japan   Shinano River Rafting

Sign up for an unforgettable rafting adventure full of shrills, big splashes and thrilling bumps along the longest river in Japan! The river flows through Tokamachi City before feeding into the Sea of Japan in Niigata Prefecture. While you are here, make sure to take a good dip in the river too!
Event period: mid-Apr to 28 Oct
Fee: 6,000 JPY (Elementary school students), 8,000JPY (Middle school students and above)
Address: 4197 Miyanaka, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture
Web: www.tokamachishikankou.jp/sports/other/rafting/ (Japanese)

【Niigata•Aga, Agamachi】

Traditional Japanese River Fishing   Mikawa Yanaba

「Try catching a meal with your bare hands using yana (やな, fish trap), a traditional Japanese fishing platform made of method which comprises bamboo reeds that are laid across a river. Observe how small fishes swim through the gaps, while bigger ones get caught in between the crevices. Grill the fish right away and taste the freshness of Niigata instantly!
Event period: 8 Apr – 7 Nov
Access: 7-minute bus ride from Mikawa Station on JR Banetsusai Line
Address: 2598 Ikazawa, Higashikanbaragun Agamachi
Web: http://hotel.mikawa.com/tourism.html (Japanese)

【Yahiko•Sanjo, Tsubame City】

A Peak into a Copper Artisan’s Studio Gyokusendo

Well-known for its metal-processing industry, Tsubame City is the birthplace to Gyokusendo, a major copper craftsmanship studio with over 200 years of history. Get a glimpse of how professionals work there, as artists tirelessly hammer and shape copper into elegant cups, vases and kettles—all by hand.
Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm, Closed on Sun & PH
Factory tour: 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3:10pm
Access: 3-minute walk from Tsubame Station on Yahiko Line or 5-minute drive from Tsubame Sanjo Station
Web: www.gyokusendo.com (Japanese)

【Murakami•Shibata Awashimaura Village】

Outdoor Seaside Activities in Niigata  Awashima

With a small population of less than 400 people, Awashima is an island touted as a natural oceanic paradise, offering not just incredibly fresh seafood, but also various fun activities like fishing, water sports, cycling and bird watching. If you are looking for the perfect summer getaway, look no further!
Access: Take a boat from Iwafune Port to Awashima Port (55-minute ride on high-speed catamaran Awaline and 90-minute by boat)
Web: awa-isle.jp/ (Japanese)

【Yuzawa•Uonuma, Tokamachi City】

Niigata Specialty Soba   Soba served in a
Traditional Wooden Dish

When in Niigata, you cannot afford to miss the chance to savor one their local delicacies — Hegisoba. Served on a wooden dish, the noodles are sectioned into bite-sized portions. Hegisoba has a smoother and firmer texture compared to ordinary soba.
Many restaurants in Tokamachi City have this dish on their menu.
Web: www.niigata-kankou.or.jp/sys/data?page-id=15117&noicon=1 (Japanese)

There’s more to discover in Niigata!

Discover Niigata from Tokyo [Nature]
Discover Niigata from Tokyo [Festival]