7 Activities Mastering Makihata-san C. Rio me and my hiking buddy decided make the short trip over the border to Niigata
6 Activities Views of Naeba Ski Resort C. Rio Just on the other side of the mountains from where I live, Naeba occupies a sleepy corner of Yuzawa in Niigata prefecture.
8 Activities Going up to Sennokuro-san C. Rio On the first day I climbed the Niigata side of the valley, reaching an emergency shelter just before sunset.
Activities Nagaoka Festival and Fireworks Rufus Starbuck Niigata's most impressive summer firework display
Culture Bokushi Street in Shiozawa Manish Prabhune If you want to time travel to the Edo period and experience its architectural beauty, Shiozawa in Niigata should be on your radar.
8 Activities Neaba Valley to Saragakyo Valley C. Rio set upon the goal of trying to hike all the parts of the Snow Country Trail, the 280 mile loop that connects the three prefectures of Gunma, Niigata
9 Culture Suwa Shrine in Yuzawa Rufus Starbuck towering above you - one line heads to Gala Yuzawa and the other up to Niigata
Food Arco Iris Bryan Baier Arco Iris is the latest modern Mexican cuisine addition to Niigata and is the only place this author knows of to get an authentic frozen margarita in Japan