Have you taken the Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線) before? The Shinkansen route offers travellers direct Shinkansen access from Tokyo to Kanazawa (金沢) in Ishikawa Prefecture, and allows them to discover the beauty of the Hokuriku Region (北陸地方). Better yet, the route is extending further to Fukui in March this year, providing travellers better access to the prefecture.
With the opening of the extension to the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, travelling to locations along the line is now even more convenient. When considering a trip along the newly extended line, rail passes like the Hokuriku Arch Pass, or the JR東日本鐵路周遊券（長野&新潟地區） are very convenient.
Here, we cover some recommendations on locations and activities found along the Hokuriku Shinkansen for the upcoming spring season, starting with Nagano.
Nagano Prefecture (長野県)
Nagano covers a wide range of latitudes from north to south, and coupled with significant elevation changes, gives rise to a picturesque prefecture that truly comes alive during the spring season. Cherry blossoms can be seen throughout the prefecture from early April through Golden Week in May. There’s no better time to explore the wonders that Nagano has to offer, and here are some must-visit sites in Nagano for an unforgettable springtime experience:
Chikuma City: Anzu no Sato
Anzu no Sato (あんずの里 Apricot Village), located in Chikuma City (千曲市) in Nagano, is a delightful destination renowned for its apricot blossoms (あんず anzu) and various activities centred around this beautiful flower.
The apricot trees typically bloom earlier than cherry blossoms, from late March to early April, depending on the weather conditions. Visitors can stroll through the orchards and marvel at the delicate light pink flowers that blanket the trees, creating a picturesque scene that epitomises the arrival of spring.
From the Kamidaira Observatory (上平展望台) and the nearby Morikuboyama Tenbo Park (窪山展望公園), you can see the Northern Alps and the Togakushi Mountain Range alongside the “100,000 trees in a single view” of Anzu no Sato.
Anzu no Sato (あんずの里)
Address: 1220 Mori, Chikuma, Nagano 387-0005
Access: 10-minute taxi ride from Shinano Railway Line Yashiro Station (屋代駅). Note: A shuttle bus service is available during the Apricot Festival (あんず祭り Anzu Matsuri), typically around end-March to early April.
Iiyama City: Nanohana Park
Iiyama City (飯山市), located in northern Nagano, is renowned for its stunning fields of nanohana (菜の花) in Japanese, and the best place to view these vividly coloured flowers is Nanohana Park (菜の花公園).
The flowers typically bloom from late April to early May. During this time, the fields are transformed into a sea of vibrant yellow flowers, creating a spectacular sight against the backdrop of the surrounding Sekida mountains and countryside. Visitors can take a leisurely walk or rent a bicycle to visit the fields, immersing themselves in the natural beauty and tranquillity of the area. The contrast of the bright yellow flowers against the blue sky and green hills is truly mesmerizing.
Nanohana Park
Address: 495-2 Mizuho, Iiyama, Nagano 389-2322
Access: From Iiyama Station (飯山駅) on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, there are multiple buses headed to Nanohana Park.
Skiing in Spring
Skiing in Nagano during the spring offers a unique and enjoyable experience for snow sports enthusiasts. While the weather begins to warm up and the snow starts to melt in lower elevations, Nagano’s higher-altitude ski resorts often continue to offer excellent conditions well into the spring months.
Nagano’s ski resorts are known for their abundant snowfall throughout the winter season. Even in the spring, many resorts maintain good snow coverage at higher elevations, providing skiers and snowboarders with quality snow conditions. The snow tends to be softer in the spring, making for enjoyable and forgiving skiing experiences. With the end of the ski season approaching, lift tickets also become cheaper.
Springtime in Nagano also brings longer daylight hours and milder temperatures compared to the peak of winter. Skiers can enjoy more time on the slopes without the bitter cold of winter, making for comfortable skiing conditions. The warmer temperatures also create a more pleasant environment for outdoor activities. Driving from resort to resort is also more convenient with a lower occurrence of frozen roads.
Some of the locations with ski resorts opening way into Spring and around the Golden Week period include Shiga Highlands, Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba Valley, all of which are accessible via the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
- Shiga Kogen (志賀高原): Rental car drive from either Nagano Station (about 1 hour) or Iiyama Station (about 40 minutes)
- Nozawa Onsen (野沢温泉): Rental car drive from Iiyama Station (around 20 minutes)
- Hakuba Valley (白馬): Rental car drive from either Nagano Station (around 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on road closures)
Wild Vegetables and Japanese Sake
As the snow begins to melt in spring, the mountains come alive, and restaurants begin to offer a wide range of wild mountain vegetables. To pair with the slight bitterness of these vegetables, look no further than Nagano’s alcohol.
Depending on the region, butterburs (ふきのとう) start popping up in early March through the gaps in the snow. When it comes to eating them, fuki miso (ふきみそ) and tempura fuki are common. They are characterized by a rustic aroma and bitterness.
Thereafter, other varieties start to spring up from April through June, such as yomogi (ヨモギ Japanese mugwort), kanzō (かんぞう butterbur stalks), seri (セリ Japanese parsley), and taranome (タラの芽 aralia sprouts) are available up to May, and then kogomi (こごみ ostrich fern), warabi (ワラビ bracken fern), zenmai (ゼンマイ fiddlehead fern), and yamabuki (ヤマブキ goldthread rhizome), until June.
Japanese sake is a good complement when consuming mountain vegetables, and in particular, sake produced in Nagano Prefecture. Local sake is traditionally crafted to complement the cuisine of its region. While various types of sake have emerged due to changes in dietary habits and technological advancements, Nagano’s classic sake, known for its subtle aroma and rich flavour, is perfect for mountain vegetables.
Unlike most other areas in Japan, spring in Nagano lasts longer, ending around June. When embarking on a spring journey, why not seek out Nagano’s mountain vegetables and sake for a delightful experience, while enjoying a trip on the Hokuriku Shinkansen?
Niigata Prefecture (新潟県)
As the winter chill dissipates and cherry blossoms begin to bloom, Niigata Prefecture emerges as a captivating destination for springtime exploration. With its blend of natural wonders, cultural treasures, and culinary delights, Niigata offers a plethora of experiences that will leave you spellbound. Here are some must-visit sites in Niigata to make the most of the spring season:
Takada Castle Site Park
Takada Castle Site Park (高田城址公園 Takada-jōshi kōen) is known for being part of the Top 3 Night Cherry Blossom Views, and is home to around 4,000 sakura trees. Depending on the weather, the best viewing typically occurs around 10 April.
At night, the reflections of the sakura on the water surface of the castle moat are stunning, but this place is also a must-view during the day. On a clear day, with the melting snowcap of Mt Myoko as the backdrop, the contrast with the sakura makes it a recommended viewing during the day. Furthermore, during the season, food stalls are in operation, so you can eat while taking a stroll around the park admiring the view.
Takada Castle Site Park (高田城址公園)
Address: 44−1 Motoshiro-chō, Jōetsu, Niigata 943-0835
Access: From Jōetsumyōkō Station (上越妙高駅) on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, take the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myōkō Haneuma Line (えちごトキめき鉄道 妙高はねうまライン) and get off at Takada Station (高田駅). The park is a short walk from the station.
The Tobishima-Kanzou of Sado Island
Even within Japan, the areas where this type of daylily blooms is very limited. And one of these places is on Sado Island, off the coast of Niigata in the Japan Sea. From end of May to around mid-June, these yellow flowers grow on the slopes of Onogame (大野亀 Ōnogame), an imposing 167m monolith, and is the only place in Japan where this flower blooms on such a large scale, attracting people with a view of the flowers against a blue-sky backdrop and surrounding greenery.
On Sado, people call the flower yorame (よらめ fish eggs) because it signals the start of the season when fish come to lay their eggs. You can also combine a trip to see these flowers with a visit to the Sado Gold Mines, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site.
Onogame (大野亀)
Address: Negai, Sado, Niigata 952-3203
Access: If travelling via the Hokuriku Shinkansen, get off at Jōetsumyōkō Station (上越妙高駅) and transfer to a local line heading to Naoetsu Station (直江津駅). Head over to Naoetsu Port to take a car ferry that arrives at Ogi Port. From Ogi Port, it is an approximate 2-hour drive to Onogame.
Imori Pond
Situated near the representative mountain of the Myoko region is Mount Myoko (妙高山 Myōkō-san), and in front of it is the placid Imori Pond (いもり池). In spring, the beautiful scenery of Mount Myoko with lingering snow and fresh greenery is reflected on the water’s surface like a mirror. At the entrance of the pond, you can stop by the visitor centre, where you can leisurely enjoy the beautiful scenery while relaxing in the café.
Why not take a break and spend some healing time here during your journey?
Imori Pond (いもり池)
Address: Ikenotaira, Myoko, Niigata 949-2112
Access: 10-minute bus ride from Shinano Railway Myōkō-Kōgen Station (しなの鉄道 妙高高原駅)
Closing
With the latest extension to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, it is the perfect opportunity to make use of the increased convenience to visit places new or familiar to you that are along the line. With the upcoming spring season, why not indulge yourself in the offerings of Nagano and Niigata, fulfilling your needs for sights, action and tastes?
It is also a good time to make use of the following passes to get around the locations featured in this article:
Hokuriku Arch Pass
Planning to include a trip to Hokuriku? Then check out the Hokuriku Arch Pass, an affordable pass offering unlimited rail travel on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, as well as JR East and JR West lines (including bullet trains) in the valid area for 7 consecutive days.
You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation. Click here to get your Hokuriku Arch Pass now!
From 16 March 2024, the price of the Hokuriku Arch Pass will be ¥30,000 per adult, and this price applies if you purchase it overseas or in Japan. This price will also be in effect in conjunction with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Kanazawa Station to Tsuruga Station on the same day.
JR West also offers other passes that you can consider if you are travelling around Hokuriku, such as the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass and the Have Fun in Fukui ticket. For more information, you can check it out from the link here.
JR東日本鐵路周遊券（長野&新潟地區）
If you are visiting just the Shinetsu Region, check out the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area). At only ¥27,000, it is only slightly more than a round-trip between Tokyo and Niigata (~¥21,000), and cheaper than a return trip to the furthest point covered by the pass between Tokyo and Sakata with a transfer at Niigata (around ~¥29,080). With 5 consecutive days of unlimited use available, it is of great value if you ride trains often during that period. You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation.
Header image credit: Nagano Prefecture (top), Niigata Prefecture (bottom)
