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Niigata
Prefecture capital and Designated city in Chūbu, Japan

Niigata

Niigata is a city located in the northern part of Niigata Prefecture.

Plan a trip to Niigata→From Natori

It is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, and one of the cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, located in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the most populous city on the west coast of Honshu, and the second most populous city in the Chūbu region after Nagoya. It faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island. As of 1 September 2022, the city had an estimated population of 779,049, and a population density of 1,072 persons per km2. The total area is 726.45 square kilometres (280.48 sq mi). Greater Niigata, the Niigata Metropolitan Employment Area, has a GDP of US$43.3 billion as of 2010.

See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Minatopia - Niigata City History Museum
  2. 02
    Northern Culture Museum

    Built as a wealthy family's home in 1885-1887.

  3. 03
    Toki Messe Observation Deck

    Toki Messe is a modern multi-use convention center.

  4. 04
    Bandai Bridge

    Built in 1929 at the site of the first bridge to cross the Shinano River, this bridge is a nationally Important Cultural Property.

  5. 05
    Denka Big Swan Stadium

    Home of the Albirex Niigata football team.

Do

Things to do

Niigata has a wonderful shopping area. The ocean is nearby. There is a beautiful theater, ferry rides on the river, several museums, and in winter you can watch the swans come in. Shinano River Cruise. You can see the scenery of Niigata City from the waterbus that runs along the Shinano River. There is also an open-air deck where passengers can relax and enjoy the view from the river outside.

Eat

Where to eat

Like many areas in Japan, Niigata area is both well known for its rice, and some locals claim it's the best rice in the country. It's known for the following specialties: Uonuma koshihikari rice. Shoyu (soy-sauce) and yofu (western-style) katsudon. Shoyu sekihan. Noppe stew. Wappa-meshi (seafood and rice steamed in a bamboo basket).

  1. 01
    Sushi Kappo - Marui
  2. 02
    Bancho
How locals move

Getting around Niigata the local way

  • Get inRapid ferries cost ¥5,960 and cover the distance in one hour, while larger car ferries cost ¥2,060 but take 2½ hours.
  • Get inShin-Nihonkai Ferry(06-6348-1120) operates a daily service between Otaru and Niigata (18 hours, from ¥6,200).
  • Get inFerries to Vladivostok appear to be discontinued until further notice, but as of 2018 there are still regular services from Toyama.

From Wikivoyage: Niigata, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.