CITY OF NIIGATA / SADO ISLAND

Niigata is a historic port city on the west coast of Honshu, about two hours from Tokyo Station by shinkansen. Sado Island, which is about an hour from Niigata by jetfoil and 2 1/2 hours by ferry, also boasts several picturesque ports.

One of these is Ogi port, on Sado’s southwestern tip. Visitors can enjoy the nostalgic scenery of the small port town and participate in activities that enable them to experience the history and culture of the island.

One notable activity is a taraibune (tub boat) ride. The taraibune, a traditional fishing boat that has been in use for over 200 years, is still employed in some areas to catch shellfish like abalone and turban, as well as harvest seaweed. These boats have proven to be highly practical and effective in navigating the intricate and rocky coastline of the Ogi Peninsula.

Rides are available at three locations near the port, including Yajima Taiken Koryukan, which is in a quiet cove a five-minute drive from the port. Reservations are not required.

The leisurely ride offers picturesque views of both the sea and shore, and the cove’s waters are so clear that people can see fish and other marine creatures during the ride.

The Sado Island Taiko Center (Tatakokan) offers taiko (traditional Japanese drum) lessons for visitors to enjoy. Reservations are required and the standard program is available for ¥3,000 per adult and lasts for about an hour, with the teaching provided by one of the taiko workshop instructors who belong to Kodo, an internationally acclaimed taiko troupe.

In addition to a large collection of taiko of various sizes, the Tatakokan boasts two enormous taiko hand-carved from a 600-year-old zelkova tree. Playing these drums allows people to feel the sounds, vibrations and rhythms of nature.

The drummers of Kodo, which can trace its roots on the island to the 1970s, conduct tours around Japan and the world, attracting spectators with their dynamic, disciplined and artistic performances.

The city of Niigata is also renowned for its rich culture, particularly its cuisine, which is characterized by its famous rice, a great variety of sake and ramen, and an abundance of fresh seafood.

The prefecture itself boasts the largest number of sake breweries in the country at 89. Some offer tours or tastings, but several provide these services in foreign languages as well.

The Imayo Tsukasa brewery, just a 15-minute walk from Niigata Station, offers tours in English for ¥400 per person with two tasting options — the standard plan that offers a seasonal sake and two types of amazake (sweet, nonalcoholic sake-like beverages) for free, and a premium plan that covers at least 10 premium sakes for ¥1,000.

At Niigata Station, there is a marketplace named Ponshukan that not only sells Niigata delicacies and sake, but also offers a unique sake-tasting experience. For ¥500, visitors receive five coins and a small porcelain cup at the counter in the tasting room. There, they can put the coins into tasting machines to sample up to five kinds of sake from nearly 100 varieties gathered from breweries across the prefecture.

When it comes to fish, the sushi restaurants in the city offer kiwami (ultimate) sets that consist of about 10 kinds of seasonal fish, such as cherry salmon, turban shellfish and black rockfish in spring. While the specific content and presentation may vary slightly from restaurant to restaurant, all ensure that visitors will experience a selection of the finest seafood that Niigata has to offer.

Marui, situated on the opposite side of the Shinano River and about a 10-minute drive from Niigata Station, is one of the restaurants offering this set. Its president, Norio Yokoyama, also offers sushi-making workshops that require reservations to attend.

For ramen fans, Niigata boasts five different kinds: Niigata nōkō miso (rich miso), Niigata assari shōyu (light soy sauce), Nagaoka shōga jōyu (ginger soy sauce), Tsubame se-abura (pork backfat) and Sanjo karē (curry). These local specialties can be found at ramen shops throughout Niigata.

The Joetsu Shinkansen Line linking Tokyo and Niigata is covered by the JR East rail pass, which is sold for ¥27,000 and offers unlimited bullet train rides on designated lines for five consecutive days.

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This article is sponsored by the Niigata and Sado municipal governments. For more information, visit Niigata’s Facebook page or Sado Tourism Navi.

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