Dec 11, 2019
15 things to do in Niigata for 500 yen or less
Ponshukan, Echigo Yuzawa
500 yen
Often, Niigata Prefecture gets pegged with a few key characteristics - it’s a place with a lot of snow, and lots of rice fields - which leads to just the right conditions for some superb quality sake. You don’t even have to leave the Echigo Yuzawa train station, in southern Niigata Prefecture, to sample some of the region’s best stuff if you head to the Ponshukan! The venue has a range of local brews and for the price of 500 yen you’re given five tokens allowing you to try five different varieties of sake. They’re dispensed via little vending machines too, adding a little quirkiness to this collection of things to do in Niigata.
Echigo Hillside Park, Nagaoka
450 yen adults/kids free
Echigo Hillside Park is located in Nagaoka and was opened back in 1998. The sprawling grounds are packed with flower gardens, kids playgrounds, a barbecue area, and aesthetically pleasing ponds. If you visit when the roses are in bloom, be sure to try the park’s signature rose flavored soft-serve ice cream! Plenty of on-site parking is available.
Yahiko Shrine
Free
Yahiko Shrine, close to Niigata Prefecture, Sea of Japan-facing coastline, has to be one of the most picturesque shrines out there as well as being one of the free things to do in Niigata that makes this list. Yahiko Shrine surrounded by mountains and cedar trees, and the shrine building itself is a stunning piece of architecture. It’s a place where people come to pray for love and good fortune, but even if you’re not the praying type Yahiko Shrine is well worth a visit. The grounds are particularly gorgeous in the autumn months, with the changing leaves and displays of chrysanthemums for their annual chrysanthemum festival.
Yahiko Park
Free
Another of the free things to do in Niigata, Yahiko Park is a short distance from Yahiko Shrine, and is known as one of Niigata Prefecture's top spots to enjoy autumn leaves. Visitors come from far and wide to appreciate Mother Nature's best, and the reds, oranges, and yellows are exceptionally vibrant here.
Yamakoshi Yubu Alpaca Farm Land
Free admission, alpaca feed 100 yen
Some zoos, aquariums, or other interactive animal experiences come with an expensive price tag, but not Niigata's Yamakoshi Yubu Alpaca Farm Land. The facility here allows you to get up close with adorable alpacas for free. You do have the option to purchase food for the alpacas and feed them for 100 yen (the food is dispensed via gachapon machines!), which is worth the small fee.
Uonuma Koji Salon
Free
“What is koji?”, you might be asking! It’s a type of fermentation culture, also known as aspergillus oryzae, used for making everything from soy sauce to sake, and mirin to miso. At the Uonuma Koji Salon, you can take free tours which are approximately 45 minutes in duration that give a behind the scenes glimpse into how the culture is made. If you do have a little extra yen to spend, the facility offers amazake soap-making workshops at a cost of 1,000 yen.
Ikeda Art Museum
500 yen
Urasa’s Ikeda Art Museum isn’t the biggest or grandest museum you might encounter in Japan, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in quality and so makes it onto this list of things to do in Niigata on the cheap. Exhibits at Ikeda Art Museum are mainly sourced from local artists, with a range of paintings and other works focusing on local scenery. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll find a range of displays relating to sumo wrestling, baseball, and even past Olympic Games. The museum sits on wonderfully manicured park grounds, and the views from the museum’s lobby and coffee shop area are tranquil and serene.
Takada Castle
Free
Takada Castle, in the city of Joetsu on Niigata's Sea of Japan-facing coast, isn’t as well-known as many of Japan’s other castles, but it is an absolutely stunning spot to visit in spring. The castle grounds (known as Takada Park) are planted with over 4,000 cherry trees, making it a perfect place to enjoy the blooming sakura or a hanami picnic.
Tamagawa Sake Brewery
Free
There are many different sake breweries across Japan, but Niigata's Tamagawa Brewery definitely has some unique qualities setting it apart from others. The brewery here uses copious amounts of snow to refrigerate the sake - like a snow cellar! You're able to get a behind the scenes glimpse into the steps that go into making sake, and they also provide free samples. If you find something you particularly enjoy, they have bottles available for purchase.
Niitsu Railway Museum
300 yen
If you have any interest in trains or the impact they can have on a town, the Niitsu Railway Museum is worth the visit. There are Shinkansen and steam locomotive carriages on display that you can actually head inside of making this museum one of the fun things to do in Niigata for children.
Niigata City History Museum
300 yen
The Niigata City History Museum offers some insight into the challenges the city of Niigata has faced, and how the area has grown and developed over time. Since Niigata City is a place where rivers and the sea meet, there is a significant section dedicated to how water has shaped the city and how Niigata residents live harmoniously with their natural surroundings. There are also a number of hands-on activities and the ability to engage in different crafts. For anyone with an interest in architecture, the museum building itself is based on the design of the second Niigata City Hall which dates back to 1909.
Bandai Bridge
Free
Bandai Bridge isn't just a structure connecting two sides of the Shinano River - it was designated as an Important Cultural Property back in 2004. The bridge is often regarded as one of Niigata City's most photogenic spots, and it’s worth appreciating for the design elements alone.
Pier Bandai
Free to explore, food at your own cost
Pier Bandai, in Niigata City's Chuo Ward, was developed to take the atmosphere of a vibrant, bustling port area. At the venue you’ll find a market-like premises packed with local products including rice, sake, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits, as well as coffee and sweets. There are also a number of restaurants at Pier Bandai that use the fresher-than-fresh produce to create delicious meals. One to check out is Mawarizushi, a restaurant that serves up sushi with seafood sourced from Sado Island.
Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum
400 yen
The Tsubame-Sanjo region of Niigata is known for a connection to industry, particularly the production of metalware such as knives. The Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum gives an insight into the craftsmanship that this area is renowned for, as well as a look into metalware from around the globe. There are also opportunities to engage in hands-on activities at the museum.
Tsubame Onsen
Free admission, but donations are appreciated
Situated by Mt. Myoko in southwestern Niigata Prefecture, Tsubame Onsen offers two different naturally occurring baths which are packed with minerals that are great for overall health. One bath, Ougon-no-yu, has separate sections for male and female visitors, whilst the other bath, Kawara-no-yu, is a mixed onsen. Whilst the onsen facility here is free, there is a donation box if you’d care to make a contribution. One of the more relaxing things to do in Niigata, as well as being cheap!
Greater insights and deeper experiences from voices in the City-Cost community.
0 Comments