Niigata Prefecture, which has the highest yield of rice in Japan, is a city where you can meet various delicious rice such as the famed Koshihikari. Therefore, it's no surprise that most of the tourists visiting Niigata not only eat Niigata rice, but also buy rice, rice crackers, or sake as souvenirs. In this article, we will introduce recommended rice varieties and cooking methods that can be enjoyed in Niigata, as well as restaurants where you can eat delicious rice. Surely you'll find your favorite rice among these!
FOOD
Contactless payment, which allows passengers to board trains and buses by simply tapping their JCB card, is now becoming popular in Japan! The Nankai Electric Railway Group, which connects Osaka, Kansai International Airport, and Wakayama Prefecture, has also begun to incorporate this service on its travel lines. Try out this handy 2-day/1-night itinerary that explores the best areas on the Nankai Electric Railway while making use of the convenient contactless payment system!
TRAVEL
There is a total of 47 prefectures in Japan. Just as the townscapes, activities, and gourmet foods differ from region to region, the characteristics of local people also vary. In this series, we will delve into the local circumstances of each prefecture by introducing attractions and local people's tidbits. This time, we will focus on Niigata Prefecture, which borders the Sea of Japan. Niigata is known for the Nagaoka Festival fireworks display in the summer, the snowfall in the winter, the Kamakura Cafe in Tokamachi City, and ski tourism such as the Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort and Naeba Ski Resort.
In addition to Maruoka Castle and Ichijodani Castle, which are selected as Japan's Top 100 Castles, Echizen Ono Castle (越前大野城 / Echizen Ono-jo) in Fukui Prefecture, Hokuriku region is another castle that is recently attracting attention. Now, let's take a look at such castle which is reminiscent of the Studio Ghibli film Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
"Tokyu Kabukicho Tower", which opened in April 2023, is a super high-rise complex facility consisting of 48 floors above ground, 5 floors below ground, and a penthouse. In addition to its convenient location (only a mere 7-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station), it is also attracting attention as a new gourmet spot in Tokyo due to the variety of restaurants gathered on the 1st and 2nd floors.
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