Surely, one of the allures of travelling is taking local trains and enjoying scenes that can only be seen in the area, as well as enjoying sightseeing trains that highlight local specialties.
In Niigata Prefecture (新潟県 Niigata-ken), there are stations where one can enjoy magnificent views of the sea, as well as many sightseeing trains that allow one to experience the many gourmet delights Niigata has to offer.
In addition, many stations have shops where one can hunt for souvenirs and purchase goods that can only be found in that region, and there are also other facilities such as art museums and hot-spring hotels right next to many stations, perfect for a quick stopover during one’s journey.
In this article, we would like to introduce a few sightseeing trains and spots that are perfect for your enjoyment of a train journey in Niigata.
1. Ōmigawa Station: The station closest to the Sea of Japan
Facing the Sea of Japan (日本海 Nihonkai), Niigata Prefecture has many spots where visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the sea. One of them is Ōmigawa Station (青海川駅) on the JR Shin’etsu Line (信越本線), which is famous for being the station closest to the Sea of Japan.
As soon as you step off the train onto the platform, the sound of waves can be heard and you are immediately treated to a spectacular view of the beautiful blue Sea of Japan. The station is so close to the ocean that it feels like the splashes of big waves would reach the platform.
It is rare for a station to be this close to the sea in Japan, and the horizon seen from the station platform has come to be noted for its beauty, with Ōmigawa Station now one of the most popular photogenic spots in Niigata.
If the weather is fine, it is good to visit during the daytime when the blue of the sea is even more enhanced, but you can also enjoy a dramatic view if you go there before sunset, when the sky and sea are dyed bright red by the setting sun.
In addition to the view from the platform, the station and the sea seen from the top of the cliffs around the station are also wonderful. Behind the station, there is Yoneyama Ōhashi (米山大橋), a beautiful red bridge with gentle curves, and a 20-minute walk will take you to Nihonkai Fisherman’s Cape (日本海フィッシャーマンズケープ), where you can enjoy Niigata’s gourmet cuisine, and Lovers’ Cape (恋人の岬 Koibito no Misaki), where it is said that love will be fulfilled.
Ōmigawa Station has much to offer, so do take a stroll around the station when you visit, and you may be rewarded with some interesting discoveries!
Ōmigawa Station (青海川駅)
Address: Ōmigawa, Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata 949-3661
Opening hours: None (unmanned station) (Click here for the timetable)
2. Ponshukan: Sample sake from all of Niigata’s sake breweries within the station
Being one of Japan’s top rice producers, Niigata also boasts a huge output of sake and is also known as a prefecture of sake, coming in third in terms of annual sake shipments. For those of you who want to try a wide variety of sake in Niigata, Ponshukan (ぽんしゅ館) is a place you need to drop by at least once.
Niigata boasts the largest number of sake breweries out of all prefectures in Japan with 88 (as of 2022), and there is a wide variety of sake available in the prefecture. With so many types of sake available, one will want to try as many as they can when one visits Niigata—however, it might be difficult to buy many bottles of sake and sample them one by one.
The cost involved will balloon, and no matter how much a sake enthusiast one is, it is simply hard to finish anything more than one bottle alone in one sitting!
This is where Ponshukan comes into play. With outlets conveniently located within Niigata’s major shinkansen stations on the Jōetsu Shinkansen (上越新幹線)—Niigata Station (新潟駅), Nagaoka Station (長岡駅), and Echigo-Yuzawa Station (越後湯沢駅)—you can taste up to five cups of sake from representative brands from all of Niigata’s sake breweries for only ¥500.
When you enter Ponshukan, what immediately catches your eye are the rows upon rows of special machines for pouring sake. It is extremely easy to use the machines—exchange ¥500 at the counter for special coins to use, insert the coin into the slot of the machine, place your choko under the nozzle, press the button, and voila, sake is dispensed!
The machines are labelled with labels of the sake they contain, so you can look for your favourite sake from all that is available. Even if you do not know how to read the labels, you can always choose your sake based on the label designs—and who knows, you might end up with a new discovery or two.
Ponshukan also sells a variety of other souvenirs and foodstuffs, including sweet snacks and rice crackers made with sake, traditional seasonings, soba noodles, dried Niigata specialty products, and made-in-Minami-Uonuma Koshihikari rice (南魚沼産コシヒカリ), considered the finest rice available.
In addition, the Ponshukan at Niigata Station and Echigo-Yuzawa Station offer bakudan onigiri (爆弾おにぎり), an rice ball so big it looks like a bomb!
Made with excellent Koshihikari rice and a filling of your choice, ranging from standards like grilled salmon to more substantial options like chunks of braised pork, one onigiri contains the equivalent of two bowls of rice, and is incredibly filling.
Those who are adventurous can try ordering the large version (available only at Echigo-Yuzawa Station), which is made with a whopping eight bowls of rice and contains five fillings!
In addition, at Echigo-Yuzawa Station, visitors can enjoy a sake bath in which sake is added to the hot water. The amino acids in sake are said to be good for the skin, so a soak in the sake bath is guaranteed to leave your skin smooth and supple.
Ponshukan @ Niigata Station (ぽんしゅ館 新潟驛店)
Address: 1-96-47 Hanazono, Chūō-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata 950-0086
Nearest staton: JR Niigata Station (新潟駅)
Access: Within Niigata Station
3. Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art (MonET): The main venue for a world-class art event
The Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art (越後妻有里山現代美術館), or MonET (Museum on Echigo-Tsumari), is located in Tokamachi City (十日町市) in southern Niigata Prefecture. A 10-minute walk from JR Tōkamachi Station (十日町駅), it is the perfect stopover during a train trip.
The museum just reopened after renovation in 2021, and visitors can enjoy exhibits of contemporary artworks, as well as special exhibitions. Designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara (原広司), the building has an otherworldly atmosphere, with a pond in the centre of the building.
The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (大地の芸術祭) is a world-class art event held every three years that spans the entire area of Tokamachi City and neighbouring Tsunan Town (津南町). During the festival, MonET is the main venue for the event, with artworks by artists from Japan and abroad exhibited, as well as various performances carried out at the museum. In 2018, before COVID-19, 540,000 visitors came to enjoy the art event.
The eighth edition of the festival, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2022, was held from 29 April to 13 November, and featured 95 artists from 13 countries and regions, with over 300 artworks displayed.
With many hands-on artworks based on picture books as well, even young children can enjoy themselves, making the festival fun for people of all ages, as well as for parents with their young in tow.
Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art (越後妻有里山現代美術館)
Address: 6-1 Honmachi, Tōkamachi-shi, Niigata 948-0003
Nearest station: JR Tōkamachi Station (十日町駅)
Access: 10-minute walk from JR Tōkamachi Station (十日町駅)
4. Koshino Shu*Kura: A sightseeing train based on the concept of sake
Now that we’ve looked at some of the spots that can be visited while on a train journey, let’s have a look at some of the sightseeing trains in Niigata!
Niigata is one of the nation’s top sake producers, thanks to its soil and water suitable for producing rice, the raw material for sake.
The Koshino Shu*Kura (越乃Shu＊Kura) is a rare sightseeing train based on the concept of sake, the pride of Niigata. Passengers on this train can enjoy Niigata’s sake, food, and scenery while looking out of the train windows and enjoying the beautiful countryside scenes and the views of the Sea of Japan that unfold before their eyes.
The train travels from Joetsu-Myōkō Station (上越妙高駅) to Tōkamachi Station, a distance of approximately 127.6 km, in around 2.5 hours.
Along with special drinking nibbles made from local ingredients, passengers can sample five different types of carefully selected Niigata sake, and enjoy free sake tasting in Cars 1 and 3.
Alcoholic beverages and desserts can also be purchased at the service counter located in the car. There are many different types of sake available, so try one that you have never had before, and you may find something new that you like.
The train stops at 12 stations along the way, and among them is the aforementioned Ōmigawa Station, said to be the station closest to the sea in Japan, and making for an unforgettable experience with its spectacular view of the Sea of Japan.
There are four types of seats, a box seat that can sit up to four people with a table, pair seats along the windows to enjoy the view outside, reclining seats for two people to sit next to each other, and a free space with sofa seats for all to use.
You can also read more about the Koshino Shu*Kura here—click to read an account of Carissa’s ride on this Joyful Train, together with her colleagues Julia and Sue Lynn!
Koshino Shu*Kura
Runs on: Mainly Fridays to Saturdays, and selected public holidays
Operating hours: Click here for the timetable of the Koshino Shu*Kura.
Operating section: Between Joetsu-Myōkō Station and Tōkamachi Station
Writer’s note: Other routes for the Shu*Kura are also available, such as one that runs between Joetsu-Myōkō Station and Niigata Station (Ryuto Shu*Kura), and one that runs between Joetsu-Myōkō Station and Echigo-Yuzawa Station (Yuzawa Shu*Kura). Check the above link for more details.
5. Setsugekka: A resort train that incorporates many of Niigata’s charms
The Setsugekka (雪月花), a resort train operated by Echigo Tokimeki Railway (えちごトキめき鉄道), is a sightseeing train that runs in the Jōetsu region (上越地方) of Niigata. Through their ride on this train, passengers can enjoy the scenery of the sea and mountains, the train interior filled with the traditions and techniques of Niigata, and meals that use a wide variety of ingredients produced in the prefecture.
The train connects Joetsu-Myōkō Station to Itoigawa Station (糸魚川駅), passing by Myōkō-Kōgen (妙高高原駅) and Naoetsu Stations (直江津駅) along the way, taking approximately 3 hours.
The train passes through various scenic spots along the way, including the Hayakawa (早川) railway bridge where you can enjoy views of both the Northern Alps and the Sea of Japan at once, the area near Arimagawa Station (有間川駅) where you can feel the great expanse of the Sea of Japan, and Katakai (片貝) where you can view the majestic mountains of the Myōkō mountain range.
At some of the scenic points, the train will slow down to allow passengers to enjoy the scenery.
The Setsugekka, manufactured under the slogan “made in NIIGATA,” is characterised by the fact that everything from the car body to the smallest metal parts are all made at a factory in Niigata Prefecture.
The interior furnishings of the train are also richly decorated with Niigata’s traditions and world-class technology, and many of the items on the train also incorporate characteristics unique to the prefecture , creating a space that is not unlike a Niigata pavilion.
Furthermore, the food served aboard the train is made with ingredients produced in Niigata, and there is a wide variety of courses to choose from, ranging from a wine pairing course, a course where you can enjoy hot kamameshi (釜飯), or claypot rice, and a course that use plenty of seafood that Niigata is well-known for.
Enjoying a meal that makes the most of local seasonal ingredients while gazing at the beautiful ocean and mountain scenery is a luxurious experience, and is something you can look forward to when you take a ride on the Setsugekka.
Setsugekka (雪月花)
Runs on: Weekends and selected public holidays
Operating hours: Click here for the timetable.
Operation section: Between Joetsu-Myōkō Station and Itoigawa Station
Writer’s note: Apart from the plans mentioned above, there are also other seasonal plans, like one featuring crab cuisine, as well as one that includes a tour of Takada Castle and lunch at an old Japanese restaurant. Check the above link for more details.
6. Kairi: A train to enjoy Niigata’s food and scenery
The last train we will introduce in this article is, unlike the other two mentioned in this article, one that takes you beyond the borders of Niigata. The KAIRI (海里), with its train cars coloured to resemble the setting sun and fresh snow, is a sightseeing train that connects Niigata Station with Sakata Station (酒田駅) in Yamagata Prefecture (山形県), a journey of 168km that takes about three hours to complete.
The concept of KAIRI is “the cuisine of Niigata”, “the cuisine of the Shōnai (庄内) area”, and “the scenery of the Sea of Japan””. Passengers can enjoy the spectacular view of the Sea of Japan from the train windows while enjoying exquisite cuisine representative of Niigata and the Shōnai area, which is also known as the food capital of Yamagata Prefecture.
The train has 4 cars, and the meals available vary depending on the outbound and inbound journeys, the time of year, and the seats reserved.
For those who wish to enjoy a luxurious trip on the KAIRI, Car 4 is recommended. This car is limited to 24 luxurious seats, and the food served includes Japanese cuisine prepared by Niigata’s famous ryotei restaurants, as well as Italian cuisine and an assortment of desserts prepared by Japan’s top chefs.
The food is presented in serving dishes, created by Ōhashi Yōshokki (大橋洋食器), a long-established Niigata tableware brand, making it a feast not only for the palate, but also for one’s eyes, with the beautiful tableware incorporating traditional Japanese craftsmanship in its design.
For those who want to enjoy a more casual trip, we recommend Cars 1 and 2, which do not include a meal like in Car 4, but you can purchase a boxed lunch containing Niigata and Shōnai specialties at the store located in Car 3.
The train stops at 11 stations along the way, including Kuwagawa Station (桑川駅) where one can catch magnificent views of the Sea of Japan, as well as the Sasagawa Nagare (笹川流れ), a series of rocky formations in the sea.
During the 20-minute stop at Kuwagawa Station, you can exit the station to spend some time outside taking in the scenery, as well as stop by the roadside station located within the station to get a limited soft-serve ice cream that is sold only when the KAIRI stops by at the station.
For more information on the KAIRI, as well as the sightseeing that can be done at both its Niigata and Sakata terminals, do check out Julia’s and Carissa’s articles on this Joyful Train!
KAIRI
Runs on: Mainly Fridays to Sundays, and selected public holidays
Operating hours: Click here for the timetable
Operation section: Between Niigata Station and Sakata Station
Enjoy Niigata
For more information on these exciting spots to enjoy during your rail journey in Niigata, visit the Niigata Prefecture Official Tourism website “Enjoy Niigata”! If this article has yet to sate your curiosity and you wish to find 6 more spots to experience in Niigata, click HERE!
Getting around with the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)
The JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) is an affordable pass offering unlimited rail travel on JR East lines (including bullet trains and Joyful Trains like the Koshino Shu*Kura) in the valid area for 5 consecutive days.
The pass costs ¥27,000, and pass holders can make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, here. The JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) can be used for automatic ticket gates, and foreign passport holders living in Japan are also eligible to use this pass.
If that’s not good enough for you, we have a way to cut down the cost of your JR EAST PASS even further! JAPAN RAIL CLUB is now running a special discount campaign on the JR EAST PASS for all omiyage box subscribers! Simply purchase a 3, 6, or 12-month membership plan and you’ll be entitled to 15% OFF all purchases of the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) made on our website.
Take note, though, that the Setsugekka train mentioned above cannot be boarded with this pass, as the train runs on a section of Echigo Tokimeki Railway’s lines not covered by the pass, and the tickets have to be purchased separately.
Additionally, for the Koshino Shu*Kura and KAIRI, the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) is applicable only for non-dining plan options—for those who wish to experience the dining plans, travel packages have to be purchased.
This article is written in collaboration with Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association.
Header image credit: Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association
