Hakusan Shrine and Park and other Niigata, Japan Things to Do Tips

Hakusan Shrine is Niigata city's most prominent Shinto shrine (it is apparently dedicated to the
white snake god... or so I've heard). People flock to here during New Years, during the Sakura festival, and during the Niigata festival times.

Hakusan Shrine is worth seeing all season round. Niigata experiences 4 seasons and as so, Hakusan's beauty is transformed likewise in all of these different seasons being frozen over in Winter to blooming with cherry blossoms and peach tree blossoms in spring to a enjoying a nice walk there in the summer to seeing the leaves fall in Autumn. It's a nice place to go any time of the year.

Hakusan also has a small children's play ground and a cages containg some indigenous monkeys.

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Directions: located close to the downtown area near the Shinano River not far from Furumachi
also located closely to Niigata City Hall
Website: http://www.city.niigata.niigata.jp/e_page/culture/hakusan.html

Bandai Bridge is the most beautiful bridge in Niigata City. It's not that large but this is one
of my most favorite areas to see in the city.

In 2004, Bandai Bridge (Bandai Bashi) was recognized as an important cultural asset. The lights and signs were replaced to reflect how it originally looked in 1929 at the time that it was reconstructed using granite.

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Directions: Located between the downtown areas of Furumachi and Bandai 'City'.

This place is gorgeous. Tall trees. Clean air. Not too many people. Peaceful. It's a really nice Japanese shrine to visit. One of the best, if not the best, I've seen so far. There are a bunch of souvenir shops in the area selling lots of Japanese toys and strange looking munchies.

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Address: Near Yahiko Mountain. Located in Yahiko village.
Directions: Get a map and a car. Or take the train using the Echigo line to Yoshida station. At Yoshida station get off the train and take another train travelling on the Yahiko line and exit at Yahiko station.
Other Contact: It's free.

Let's you see most of Niigata City from up high.

It's not very expensive. Go on a clear day for maximum visibility.

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Address: In Bandaii close to Kinokuniya and McDonald's
Website: http://www.city.niigata.niigata.jp/e_page/culture/rainbow.html

Hotel Nikko Niigata
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31 floors.

This building was originally supposed to have been ready for the World Cup, but it wasn't (I know because I got the inside information from someone who's working at the company that was building it). So one year later, it has finally opened.

According to one source, it is said to be the tallest building on the West Coast of Japan. I can't verify whether this is true or not. But, now that it is about 10 stories taller than Niigata's other tall building (Next 21 has fewer floors) it is likely to be the site of choice for viewing all of Niigata.

If you go on a clear day you are likely to be able to spot Yahiko and Kakuda Mountain, Sado Island, The Agano River, Niigata Airport, and Big Swan (Niigata's newest stadium) from the top of the building.

From the top, at the 31st floor, you can see all
of Niigata Island. This building provides a better view than any other structure in Niigata.

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Directions: If you walk toward the Shinano River from Niigata station you can spot the hotel near the side of the riverbank of the Shinano River facing the mouth of the river on the left hand side..

This place is cool! In fact, I think it's even better and more extensive than the Palace of Fine Arts EXPLORATORIUM in San Francisco, California (which I've been to 10 times or so (I used to work for the YMCA which takes children to places like this for summer camp)). Niigata Science Museum spans several floors and is made up of numerous rooms broken down into various scientific fields: Astronomy, Paleontology, Archeology, Geology, Oceonography, Biology, Micro-biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electrical science, Computer science, Robotics, etc. There is so much to do there. It is one of the best places to take kids and its equally fun for adults, too.

The museum also has a supurb Planetarium (of course: nararation is in Japanese) but, even if you won't be able to understand, the visual imagery is astounding. The Planetarium costs extra.

Entrance fees are as follows:

the Science Musuem
Adults: 500 yen, children: 300 yen

the Planetarium
Adults: 200 yen, children: 100 yen

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Phone: (025)283-3331
Address: 2010-15 Aza Hasugata Higashi Meike
Directions: In order to get there take a bus from the South/East entrance of Niigata Station (where Plaka 1, 2, & 3 are located). Ask people for help as to which bus to take to get there,

stating: "Sumimasen. Yakyujo Kagakukan-mae no bus wa dochira desuka."
Website: http://www.city.niigata.niigata.jp/e_page/culture/nature.html

No swimming. Don't feed the sharks.

Niigata boasts the biggest Aquarium along the Sea of Japan. There are a large variety of aquatic animals to see, including penguins, dolphins, sea otters, sharks, and more.
There's also an underwater tunnel for your viewing pleasure.

Many of the fish are inedible.

It's open from 9 AM - 5 PM (6 PM in Summer).
It's open year round.
(It's closed on New Years Day and the 1st Thursday of March and the following day).

It's located near the beach. Also, nearby are Niigata's unique Popolo Ice Cream Shop and Gokoku Shrine.

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Phone: TEL 025-222-7500
Address: 5932-445 Funami-cho, Niigata City
Directions: If you're not from the area, a taxi would likely be the easiest way to get there.

20 minutes by car from Niigata Station or 20 minutes by car from Meike Interchange.
Website: http://wnn1.niigata.isp.ntt-east.co.jp/english/best/best/niigata/malin/marinpia.html
Other Contact: http://www.city.niigata.niigata.

Niigata City's biggest firework's show is done during the week preceeding O-bon, almost always this takes place on August 9th. Fireworks typically commence around 7:15 to 7:30.

Good seats are available at the top of Billboard Plaza and include a few cans of something to drink plus a premade bento style dinner.

However, most people just sit along the riverside like this an enjoy the fireworks on the grass along the banks of the Shinano River. Probably around 30,000 to 40,000 people go downtown on this night to witness the 2 hour firework show every year.

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Directions: along the Shinano Riverside not far from the Bandai Area.

The most active time a year in Niigata is the week preceding the Obon holiday. Usually starting around August 8th or 9th there are 3 main activities. The first day is the float-carrying event. The second day is the Bon-Odori (dance). The third day is Niigata fireworks.

On the day of the Niigata Bon-Odori, I highly recommend that you participate in or at least watch the Bon-Odori. If you'd like to try it you should go to the Niigata Friendship Center located in Honcho not too far from Furumachi. Get there before 5:00 so that you'll have time to put on the Yukata that they'll supply you with. The dance and the way the dance is done is special for this area. It's a fun social activity and it's amazing how many people turn out for this event. Niigata tends to have around 36,000 participants in this event. The women look beautiful. And everyone has fun as we drink and dance away.

The event begins a little after 6:30 and ends around 8:30.

Tip: Don't wear the Geta sandals. They hurt like hell!!!

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Address: It takes place in Furumachi and Bandai

This is a great event to experience. Every year a number of groups from all over Japan come here to
perform their own original dances from their local areas. These street performances are great and worth seeing.

This event takes places every September for 3 days during the 3rd weekend in September.

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Directions: It takes place in downtown Furumachi.