Sightseeing in Niigata - what to see. Complete travel guide

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You can learn the history of the prefecture by making a tour to the National Museum, which contains a large archive of historical documents.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. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The city has many great observation platforms where you can admire its vibrant streets from a bird's eye view. The most popular of them are the 100-meter-high Rainbow Tower and, of course, Japan Sea Tower. Despite the names of these viewing platforms, they are more suitable for admiring urban landscapes rather than the sea. It is also worth noting that the Rainbow Tower's deck is rotating.

In the vicinity of the city, you'll discover an interesting natural landmark - the beautiful Lake Hyoko. Its water is very clean. Along the shores of the lake, there are many rare species of trees and plants that you can admire in the warm season. It would be nice to visit the reservoir in winter when more than 5,000 Siberian swans come here for wintering. Ornithologists from all over the world visit Niigata to watch this amazing natural phenomenon.

The city's most important entertainment facility is Marinepia Nihonkai, one of the largest aquariums in Japan. It offers a unique collection of marine life: you can observe rare fish, shellfish, sea turtles, and, of course, watch a spectacular dolphin show. The beautifully decorated oceanarium has a large transparent tunnel and many other thematic aquariums with information plaques.

Fans of unusual excursions will have the opportunity to visit the island of Sado, which is 35 km from Niigata's coast. This island is an important historical site, hundreds of years ago it served as a place of banishment for "enemies of the state". A lot of high-ranking officials were exiled to this island. The exiles worked on gold deposits previously discovered here by the local researchers. The Japanese island's old mines, as well as an interesting historical museum, remind of old times.

An unusual tourist attraction is the"Russian Village" theme park located in the suburban area of Suibare. This green park appeared in the midst of the vast cedar grove in 1993. The amusement park was abandoned just a few years after its opening. Currently, there are no official tours of the park, but it doesn't stop many tourists.