I had 3 Weeks in Japan, so why did I spend 4 days in Niigata which is a relatively unpopular tourist destination while completely skipping popular cities like Hiroshima, Kobe, & Osaka? Because I had the incredible opportunity to have my own personal tour guide – a friend who is a local!
Niigata is both a prefecture (similar to a US state) and a city which is best known for it’s rice. Naturally, they are famous for all things made of rice such as sake & senbai (rice crackers). They are also known for their pork, curry, & sasa dango (mugwort mochi). Want to see What I Ate in Niigata, Japan? Go there.
- Day 1: Arrive and have lunch & sake tasting at Niigata Train Station. Evening jog around the Shinano River followed by beers and ondel in a riverside izakaya tent. Read all about Day 1 in Niigata.
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Day 2: Breakfast at Saffron Bakery followed by grape picking at Shirone Gardens. Day Trip to Murakami for onsen and lunch. Read all about Day 2 in Niigata.
- Day 3: Souvenir shopping at Furusato Village Bazaar. A boat ride to the Befco Bakauke Observatory. Amazing sushi dinner followed by Cherries Jubilee at the Starlight in the Okura Hotel. Read all about Day 3 in Niigata.
- Day 4: Spent the morning Exploring Matsuhama Market. Drank matcha at The Old Saito Residence followed by a ramen lunch. Afternoon sake brewery tour at Imayotsukasa and finally try some sasa dango. Read all about Day 4 in Niigata.
While it’s tempting to say that I covered everything there is to do & see, there is still so much to cover! One place I’d love to have more time to explore is nearby Sado Island which is 3 hours away by ferry and supposed to be lovely.