A daily living guide for Urasa, Niigata Prefecture

I’ve moved around quite a bit in my adult life, and one of the things I wish I had at each new location is a guide that tells me a bit about the local area. Things like the best places to get groceries at, where to go for medical checkups, fun spots for the kids to play at, or tasty local places to eat - all of those things would be supremely useful in acclimating to a new area.

If you may be moving to Urasa - perhaps you’re studying at the International University of Japan - or even elsewhere in Niigata Prefecture, this guide is designed to give an insight to daily life in this part of the country.

Where to shop

For groceries directly in Urasa, Cupid Supermarket is within walking distance from Urasa Station. Despite being a smaller independently owned supermarket, they have a wide variety of products. Particularly impressive are their range of imported goods, especially halal items, which are useful for numerous students studying at the nearby International University of Japan.

1153-1 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

For fruits and vegetables, the JA Farmers Market offers reasonable prices and a wide variety of seasonal goods. There are also some other products on sale here, such as honeys and jams, local rice, and baked goods to name a few. It’s also the home of the Yairo Watermelon Festival which typically takes place in July/August.

5130-1 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

Further afield, there is an AEON Supermarket in Muikamachi, approximately a 15 minute drive from the Urasa Station area. The supermarket here has a wider range of products than the Cupid Supermarket, as well as a department store area and several specialty stores including an optometrist, bakery, and a branch of KFC if you need your fried chicken fix.

3100 Yokawa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-6681

In the other direction from Muikamachi, the neighboring town of Koide has several supermarkets, including Harashin, Gyomu Super, and Pia Mart (formerly known as Gran Depot).

Restaurants and cafes

Directly across from Urasa Station is Kodamaya, a family restaurant which has a range of both western and Japanese-inspired menu options. There are both regular table seats and tatami style rooms, and high chairs/booster seats are available for children. Plentiful parking is available out the front for those who are driving, and quite a few of their menu items can be prepared for take-out.

1355-1 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

For seafood lovers, Ezumiya is under five minutes on foot from Urasa Station, and serves up a range of fresh fish sourced from the waters of the Sea of Japan daily. The restaurant has bar, table, and tatami booth seating, as well as rooms to accommodate larger groups of family members or friends.

325-6 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

Daily living guide for Urasa, Niigata Prefecture - My husband adores the seafood at Ezumiya!

There are several options for Italian cuisine for people living in Urasa, including La Locanda Nella Foresta, where you get great views of the mountains and surrounding rice fields, in a log-cabin styled setting. There is also Budou no Hana - part of the Echigo Winery - which also leans towards Italian cuisine but with a more Japanese-inspired touch. For instance, one of the pasta dishes at Budou no Hana is a seafood and octopus ragu. The ambience here is very nice, and the restaurant seats around 60 people. For American-style pizza, check out Heaven’s Cafe - it’s run by an American expat and his Japanese wife, and the food is delicious. There are also burgers and hot dogs on the menu.

Views from La Locanda Nella Foresta in Urasa, Niigata Prefecture, a restaurant with tasty Italian cuisine in an intimate setting.

For something sweet, Gelato Yummy is a local favorite - they have some of the tastiest gelato you’ll try in your life, and many Japanese-inspired flavors feature on the menu. During the winter months when gelato may be the last thing on your mind, they also sell takoyaki.

5138-2 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

For other fast food, you’re going to have to go further afield unless you’re seeking convenience store fare. Along Route 17 towards Muikamachi, you’ll find a Sukiya, and a branch of McDonalds (24/7) near the AEON Mall.

Museums and cultural activities

Located within Yairo no Mori Park, the Ikeda Memorial Museum has a range of displays including paintings from local artists, sports memorabilia from various Olympic Games and other sports, and more. It's an interesting combination yet somehow it works, and everything is curated wonderfully. There's a small gift shop on-site, as well as a cafe where you can enjoy some green tea and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

5493-3 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

There is also the Tomioka White Museum, which showcases the work of Soichiro Tomioka, a local painter famous for his depictions of snowy landscapes. He even invented his own paint for his pieces, known as Tomioka white. The scenery surrounding the museum is gorgeous, with views of Mount Hakkai.

142 Kamiyakushido, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7124

Further afield in neighboring Tokamachi there is the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, and the region is home to the renowned Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale every three years.

Leisure activities

Yairo no Mori Park is located close to the JA Farmers Market, and there’s plenty to do and see. Giant open grassy spaces, play equipment, ponds with ducks, geese, and fish, and even barbecue facilities are available. Easy on-site parking is available, and there are a number of festivals held on the park grounds throughout the year.

5483-1 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

They don’t call this region of Japan “snow country” for nothing - and if you enjoy snow sports then living in Urasa could be for you. A popular spot for families is the Hakkaisan Roku resort, which has slopes for beginners through to advanced skiers. There is also a dedicated area for sledding which makes this a particularly convenient spot for those with little ones. Further afield, but still with close proximity to Urasa, you’ll find the likes of Gala Yuzawa, Naeba, and the Joetsu Kokusai ski resorts.

For hikers based here in Urasa, a local favorite spot for families is Mount Botan, as it has easy access (right behind the international university) and parking close to the trail head. It’s a climb which isn’t too strenuous - we’ve done it with our kids in hiking backpacks - and it provides some lovely views across the local area.

If you’re a more advanced hiker, Mt. Echigo Komagatake is one of the three famous mountains of Echigo, and is a popular spot for climbing during the summer months.

Hospitals and medical services

Urasa is blessed with a large regional hospital, Uonuma Kikan, which has various departments including internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, radiology, and more. Referrals for the hospital can be obtained from local primary care clinics, however you can also turn up to the hospital without one - there is just an additional consultation fee of 2160 yen.

4132 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

Daily living guide for Urasa, Niigata Prefecture - blessed with a large regional hospital

There are a number of dentists in the local area, but not all of them speak English. Sawata Dentist is the one our family uses, which is within a couple of minutes walk of Urasa Station. The dental hygienists will communicate in Japanese, which is fine, but if you need anything other than a clean the dentist speaks enough English to feel comfortable with. They take JNHI.

1137 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

For routine doctors appointments, the Moegi Clinic is available, with a pharmacy right next door should you need to pick up any medications. While the care provided has been helpful, the wait times are often long - bring a book!

5363 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

Annual festivals

For a smaller town, Urasa has a great range of local festivals, and living here means having something to look forward to no matter the time of year. The largest of Urasa's festivals takes place during winter - the Naked Pushing Festival. The festival sees men dressed in next to nothing push and jostle their way to be first in line to worship Bishamondo, the God of Warriors, at the local Bishamondo Temple.

2495 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7302

Daily living guide for Urasa, Niigata Prefecture - Naked Pushing Festival

There’s also the more kid-friendly Snow Festival held at Yairo no Mori Park, where kids can sled, enjoy games and other rides, and indulge in plenty of tasty food including cotton candy. It's typically held in the first few weeks of March before all the snow melts.

A summer favorite is the Yairo Watermelon Festival, where you can eat your fill of locally-grown watermelon for the bargain price of 500 yen. The event takes place outside the local JA Farmers Market and runs for around 2 weeks, depending on supply.

The Bishamondo Temple is also home to an annual chrysanthemum festival showcasing Japan’s national bloom in late October.

Connection to other areas

Urasa Station is served by both the Joetsu Shinkansen and the JR Joetsu Local Line. Shinkansen travel time from Urasa to Tokyo (or vice versa) is approximately 90 minutes, and around 40 minutes to or from Niigata City.

Author: genkidesu