Travel Guide to Niigata, Japan

Niigata is one of the largest prefectures of the country and the leading manufacturer of rice. That is why the prefecture is sometimes called "rice basket". As the forest industry is also well-developed here, numerous furniture factories and industrial wood processing plants have recently appeared in this city. Niigata is also known as an important center of land and sea transport, and the local port accepts merchant ships from Korea and China.

Travelers are traditionally attracted by the great nature of this place. Many areas of the prefecture have been turned into national parks. Besides this, there are several hot springs and modern spa centers in this region. In summer guests can enjoy walking and visiting the local places of interest, and in winter Niigata turns into a large and famous ski resort, which is not only popular, but also magnificently equipped. Besides this, there are so many remarkable places in this resort, so that the choice of excursion routes is more than impressive.

The temple of Hakusan, which was founded 400 years ago, is one of the oldest monuments. Among the modern buildings we recommend visiting Gokoku Shrine, which is particularly popular among young couples. The reason for this is in the fact the temple is dedicated to the god, who protects family. Nature lovers should make a walk in the park, which is sometimes called "Danish". It really looks like one of the parks in Denmark and this is a favorite place for both locals and visitors. You can learn the history of the prefecture by making a tour to the National Museum, which contains a large archive of historical documents. You can also enjoy the works of local artists in the following museums - Museum of Tsuri Art, Art Museum, Museum of Natural History and Nittsu Museum.