Located in the Furumachi area at the heart of Niigata City, Shungyo Shusai Goro Furumachi is an izakaya popular with locals. Inspired by traditional houses in fishing villages, the interior creates a distinctly Japanese atmosphere filled with the warmth of natural wood.
A recommended dish is the assorted sashimi platter, featuring exceptionally fresh fish sourced from the market. Fish raised in the rough waters of the Sea of Japan have a firm texture and an exceptional flavor. A wide selection of drinks to pair with the dishes is also available. Including the house-original dry sake “Goro,” more than 10 varieties of local Niigata sake are available at all times.
You can enjoy Niigata’s seasonal flavors in a nostalgic, relaxing setting.

Located about a five-minute walk from Niigata Station, Niigata Hasegawaya is a casual spot where you can enjoy sake. The shop features a carefully selected lineup of drinks chosen by the owner, centered on local Niigata sake, along with wine and shochu.
You can also find limited-edition sake available only at Hasegawaya, as well as rare labels produced in small quantities. The selection also includes stylishly designed bottles and conveniently sized options that are easy to take home, making it ideal for finding souvenirs.
At the counter inside the shop, you can experience kakuuchi, a standing-drinking culture unique to Japan. You can casually enjoy a curated selection of recommended drinks, including sake, wine, and beer.
Why not stop by as your first spot to enjoy a night out in Niigata?

Located at the foot of the Sado Gold Mine, Mochidaya is a dining spot operated by a local fish shop. Inside a renovated 60-year-old traditional home, the interior has a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that feels like visiting a relative’s house in the Japanese countryside.
The greatest pride of the restaurant is its exceptionally fresh seafood, purchased by the owner at the market each morning. In addition to sashimi made with seafood sourced from Sado Island, you can enjoy seasonal island specialties such as deep-fried pufferfish and monkfish. A selection of local sake from Sado Island is also available, letting you enjoy Sado’s food culture all in one place.
You can spend a relaxed evening in the calm atmosphere of fully traditional Japanese-style rooms.

Niigata’s nightlife also offers other unique ways to enjoy the evening.

Niigata’s Furumachi was once celebrated as one of Japan’s three major geisha districts, alongside Kyoto and Edo. Even today, geigi who carry on this tradition add elegance to banquets through dance and attentive hospitality. For those who may feel it is hard to approach, there are also experience programs and events that make it easy to engage with geigi culture. Why not experience Niigata’s elegant and refined nights, a tradition that has continued since the Edo period?

Learn more about Furumachi Geigi:
https://discover-niigata.com/travel-guide/14004/
Learn more about the history of the Furumachi geisha district:
https://discover-niigata.com/travel-guide/4593/

Ponshukan is a sake museum where you can easily enjoy sake from all the breweries in Niigata Prefecture. Using coins, you can sample your choice of local sake from more than 100 sake-tasting machines lined up along an entire wall. It is an ideal spot for a “first drink” before heading out into the night, or for finding a favorite bottle to take home at the end of your trip. Inside, sake, snacks, and souvenirs are also available for purchase. You can also purchase any sake you like on the spot and take it home as a souvenir of your trip.

About Ponshukan:
Niigata Station Location:
https://discover-niigata.com/things-to-do/43188/

Echigo-Yuzawa Station Location:
https://discover-niigata.com/things-to-do/7110/

Nagaoka Station Location:
https://discover-niigata.com/things-to-do/42243/