Located on the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu (the main island of Japan), Niigata Prefecture is easily accessible from the Tokyo metropolitan area – just take the Joetsu Shinkansen and you can reach the famous snow resort of Echigo-Yuzawa in as little as 70 minutes. Influenced by seasonal winds blowing in from the Sea of Japan, the prefecture receives heavy snowfall in winter, with many areas classified as heavy snow zones. In the mountains, annual snow accumulation can reach several meters, making Niigata one of Japan’s premier ski destinations, with abundant snow-based activities and attractions.

This plentiful snowfall not only shaped the natural landscape but has also profoundly influenced the local culture and how people live. The wisdom of living in such natural conditions, cultivated over generations, is something travelers should take the time to experience when visiting Niigata.

In traditional Japanese architecture, the “doma” is a transitional space between the outdoors and indoors that you can enter while wearing shoes. Beyond serving as an entryway, it has been used for household tasks, cooking, and as a gathering place for socializing.

In this experience, you’ll cook alongside a local grandmother who is a master of the regional cuisine in a traditional farmhouse where the old Japanese way of living remains vividly intact. After chopping vegetables, you’ll light a fire in a “kamado” (traditional hearth) that has been in use for over 50 years, cook rice, and prepare “kenchin-jiru,” a hearty Japanese vegetable soup that is a Niigata home-cooked staple.

It’s a heartwarming experience that immerses you in Niigata’s distinctive lifestyle and food culture.

Thanks to Niigata’s large temperature fluctuations, not only is the rice delicious, but the locally grown vegetables also have a pronounced natural sweetness. The ingredients taste wonderful on their own without needing much seasoning.

During the experience, the instructor will also share local wisdom on preserving food, such as salt-pickling wild mountain vegetables harvested in spring to enjoy during winter.

The most memorable part to us was the Koshihikari rice cooked in the kamado. Enjoying its simple, rustic flavor alongside the instructor’s handmade wild vegetable dishes and pickles evoked a nostalgic feeling, as if we returned to a rural family home.

In our opinion, experiences like this, where you get to interact directly with the locals, create more precious and lasting travel memories than visiting famous restaurants.

• Address: 1-6, Sakado, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata
• Access: Approx. 4 minutes by taxi from Muikamachi Station on the Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line
• Phone: 025-772-3470
• Hours: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• Closed: Available year-round with no regular closures (held daily)
• Price: 3,850 yen
• Parking: Available

Tokamachi City’s Bijinbayashi Forest is renowned for its elegant landscape of densely packed beech trees. In winter, the snow-covered scenery wrapped in silence becomes even more beautiful, turning into a breathtaking vista. Wearing snowshoes and guided by an expert familiar with the nature of the Japanese satoyama countryside, we ventured into the forest where the snow can accumulate to about 3 meters.

This experience goes beyond a simple walk or photo opportunity – it’s like an outdoor nature study class. We were constantly amazed by the rich ecosystem unique to Niigata: tracks of small animals like foxes, marks where hares had gnawed tree bark, tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) dens, and even mushrooms visible only in winter. Coming from a subtropical region, we found it all astonishing.

During the guided tour, we picked up helpful tips for photographing snowy landscapes and even got to build snowmen, adding a playful touch to the journey. For those unaccustomed to fun in snow, this experience is a safe and enjoyable way to experience the snowy climate of Niigata while attaining valuable knowledge.

• Address: 1712-2, Matsunoyama Matsuguchi, Tokamachi–shi, Niigata (Kyororo “Forest School”)
• Access:

From Echigo-Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen, transfer to the Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line to Matsudai Station, then take the taxi for about 15 minutes.

From the Shiozawa-Ishiuchi IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, take National Route 353 for about 50 minutes.

*We recommend taking a taxi during the snowy season. From spring to autumn, you can take a local bus from Matsudai Station, then walk approximately 20 minutes.

*On weekends, there is no taxi service from Matsudai Station, so please use a rental car.

• Phone: 025-595-8588
• Hours: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
• Closed: Held during the winter snow season (typically late December to late March), closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Price: Adults: 4,500 yen, Elementary/junior high school students: 3,800 yen, Children: 1,800 yen
• Parking: Available

Tsunan Town is one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall areas, with snow reaching up to approximately 3 meters annually. The ski resort on the grounds of New Greenpia Tsunan is illuminated at night, creating a magical atmosphere. In this silver world, releasing lanterns into the night sky with your wishes is a romantic moment unique to winter in Tsunan.

When the ski resort is enveloped in darkness at night, a countdown is held, and then lanterns carrying people’s wishes quietly float into the night sky one by one. On weekends when participation is especially high, the warm lights seem to fill the sky, creating a breathtaking sight.

The lantern release scene in the Taiwan-Japan co-production film “18×2 Beyond Youthful Days” was filmed at this very location.

• Address: 12300, Akinari, Tsunan-machi, Nakauonuma-gun, Niigata
• Access:Approximately 50 minutes by shuttle bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station (reservation required at least 3 days in advance)Approximately 50-minute drive via National Route 353 from the Shiozawa-Ishiuchi IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway
• Phone: 025-765-4611
• Hours: Please check the official website for details: https://new-greenpia.com/
• Closed: Held daily from around December 20 to March 31 each year
• Price: 2,000 yen per lantern
• Parking: Available

For those seeking thrilling, out-of-the-ordinary snow activities, we recommend the nighttime-only snow buggy experience at NASPA New Otani in Yuzawa Town. Race up the slopes through the deserted nighttime ski resort, heading straight for the summit!

From the top, enjoy panoramic views of Yuzawa at night. If weather permits, you can turn off the vehicle lights and gaze at the star-filled sky overhead. The descent delivers a rush of speed and an exhilarating, amusement-park-ride-like thrill.

Even those who don’t ski or drive can fully enjoy this activity. The driver stops at prime spots, allowing you to get out for photos or play in the snow on the empty slopes. With luck, you might even spot wildlife like hares or deer.

On the way down, the combination of speed and the bumpy, uneven terrain creates an adrenaline rush similar to what you’d get at a theme park ride. For travelers seeking a unique experience on the nighttime slopes, this is definitely an activity worth trying.

• Address: 2117-9, Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata
• Access: Approximately 5 minutes by taxi from Echigo-Yuzawa Station
• Phone: 0278-25-4424
• Hours: 6:00 PM / 6:45 PM / 7:30 PM / 8:15 PM (gather 10 minutes before each session)
• Closed: Available typically from December 20 to late March each year
• Price: 13,000 yen per group (maximum 5 people)
• Parking: Available

Tsubame-Sanjo is renowned worldwide as a center for metalworking, and even produces the cutlery used at the Nobel Prize banquet. Tsuiki copperware is one traditional craft produced in the region in which copper sheets are repeatedly hammered into shape.

At Makoto Susa’s workshop in Sanjo City, you can view not only tsuiki copperware made for everyday use like cups, plates, and teapots, but also artistic works created mainly for display. Furthermore, you can actually try making tsuiki copperware yourself at this workshop, engaging directly with this profound craft!

During the experience, you use various shaped hammers and stakes to hammer patterns into copper sheets. While the artisan’s movements appear smooth and graceful, when you try it yourself, you’ll soon quickly realize how difficult it actually is just to hammer a clean, straight line.

We made a keychain during our visit, but the most popular item to make is a small plate. This workshop, where you can discuss the design with the artisan and learn hammering techniques, offers a valuable opportunity to truly appreciate the depth of Japanese craftsmanship.

• Address: 2-1-35, Kitashinbo, Sanjo-shi, Niigata
• Access: Approximately 8 minutes on foot from Sanjo Station on the JR Shin’etsu Main Line
• Phone: Not publicly disclosed
• Hours: For specific session times, inquire via Klook or DM the official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susamakoto1975/
• Closed: Available year-round, closed Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
  (For specific available dates, inquire via Klook or DM the official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susamakoto1975/)
• Price:

Keychain/bookmark making experience: 5,000 yen

Small plate making experience
Copper: 7,000 yen
Tin: 10,000 yen

• Parking: Available

Furumachi Shinmeigu, the principal guardian shrine of Niigata, is one of the city’s most historic shrines, with origins said to date back before the Heian period (794 – 1185). It has long watched over the port town of Niigata and the lives of its people.

Sake has had deep ties to Shinto rituals since ancient times and was often brewed at shrines and temples. It remains an important offering to the gods today. Savoring sake in such a storied setting allows you to more deeply appreciate the culture and history behind the beverage.

During this experience, you’ll get to taste four carefully selected sake varieties from breweries across Niigata Prefecture, paired with complementary snacks. While listening to the guide’s explanations, you can experience the differences between the four different “styles” or flavor profiles of sake: kunshu (aromatic), soshu (refreshing), junshu (rich), and jukushu (aged) styles. You can also choose and take home your favorite bottle from those sampled.

This experience delights the palate while also answering any questions you might have about sake.

• Address: 1-500, Furumachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata
• Access: Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Hakusan Station on the JR Echigo Line
• Phone: 080-9689-4457 (Languages: Japanese, English, Chinese)
• Hours: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Closed: Available year-round, no regular closures (except during shrine events)
• Price: 12,000 yen (minimum 2 participants)
• Parking: Paid parking available nearby

Wind chimes hung beneath eaves, playing a refreshing, soothing melody, is one of the iconic sights of Japanese summer. Their clear ringing is believed to bring coolness and good fortune.

This experience also takes place on the grounds of Furumachi Shinmeigu Shrine, which is enveloped in a quiet and solemn atmosphere.

During the workshop, you can choose the shape of your wind chime, the colorful glass clappers, and even the tanzaku strips made from kimono fabric. Finally, you complete it by painting a design or your wish on the tanzaku strips. Your handmade wind chime will be more than just a souvenir – it becomes a special keepsake that gently holds the memories and sentiments of your trip to Niigata.

• Address: 1-500, Furumachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata
• Access: Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Hakusan Station on the JR Echigo Line
• Phone: 025-223-2309
• Hours: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Closed: Available year-round, no regular closures (except during shrine events)
• Price: 10,000 yen (minimum 2 participants)
• Parking: Paid parking available nearby

“Katazome” is a traditional Japanese dyeing technique where resist paste and dye are applied on carved stencils to create delicate patterns. It is primarily used for kimono and decorative textiles.

At Yamagami Dyeing Shop in Murakami City, you can experience stencil dyeing using Murakami tea, a local specialty, as the dye.

The experience begins by selecting from several pre-stenciled designs that have already been dyed with Murakami tea and treated with resist paste. You then set the dye using a brush dipped in mordant. Since tea leaves serve as the dye source, the finished pieces feature subdued, earthy tones. The choice of colors and brushing technique affects the character of the piece, making each work unique and one-of-a-kind. Completed pieces can be framed and taken home, serving as understated yet distinctive interior accents.

The building housing Yamagami Dyeing Shop is a traditional townhouse over 170 years old and is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. This experience is highly recommended for anyone interested in traditional Japanese architecture, crafts, and art.

• Address: 2-17, Sakana-machi, Murakami-shi, Niigata
• Access:Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Murakami Station on the JR Uetsu Main LineApproximately 5 minutes by car from the Murakami Senami Onsen IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway
• Phone: 0254-52-3570
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed: Available year-round, closed every Wednesday and the 4th Sunday of each month
• Price:Stencil dyeing framed art experience: 2,000 yen per person
• Parking: 1 space for standard sized vehicles (free), no large vehicle parking

Niigata’s appeal extends far beyond winter skiing and hot springs. The region offers numerous captivating activities that engage all five senses. From home cooking classes taught by local grandmothers to sake tasting experiences at shrines, each one reflects the warmth of Niigata’s people and the local traditions passed down through generations.

If you want a trip that allows you to connect deeply with the region and interact with the locals, we highly recommend visiting Niigata and trying out the experiences introduced in this article.