Niigata

Niigata City Photo: Niigata City and Shinano River – Niigata City / CC BY 2.1 JP

About Niigata City

City of food, flowers, water and willows

Niigata City has a long history as a port city, it is the most populated city in the prefecture, and is the largest coastal city along the Sea of Japan within the island of Honshu. The Shinano River, Japan’s longest river, also runs through the city, giving it the nickname ‘the city of water’.

The fertile land makes Niigata famous for its agriculture and it is known particularly for having some of the best rice and sake in Japan. Niigata City is located only two hours away from Tokyo by bullet train (Joetsu Shinkansen), which makes it very accessible to explore the city’s unique culture, cuisine, and nature.