Niigata Travel Logistics and Destinations

Map courtesy of Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association

1. Traveling to and from Niigata to join Sake Tours Niigata 2025

On Monday Feb 17, the meeting point in Niigata is at JR Niigata Station at 11:40 am.

On Friday Feb 21, we will finish the tour at JR Niigata Station around 1:00 pm. (This schedule may change due to the weather)

Monday: Tokyo to JR Niigata

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Niigata on Monday, this is the planned Shinkansen. Please let us know if you would like us to book your Shinkansen (see below).

9:12 AM Depart from JR Tokyo on Toki 311 Joetsu Shinkansen - Arrive in Niigata at 10:41 AM

For anyone traveling on the above Toki 311, we will meet on the platform of Shinkansen.

Friday: JR Niigata to Tokyo

The final schedule for the Friday Feb 21 is highly dependent on the weather and ocean conditions and if the ferry runs as scheduled.

The only way to get to and from the island is by two types of ferry and February/early March is a somewhat unpredictable time to travel to Sado Island. The Jetfoil (hydrofoil) is canceled with any strong wind or high current. The regular ferry is more reliable, but it is canceled several times a month in February and early March.

We ask our guests to be flexible with this especially on the Friday.

Arrival at JR Niigata Station can be between 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm. The schedule will be finalized in December, but we ask our guests to keep their Friday afternoon (Feb. 21) open.

Please do not make a plan that requires you to be somewhere at a certain time.

After arriving at JR Niigata Station, you can explore Ponshukan with one of your tour leaders at JR Niigata Station if you want to try more sake or shopping. We can also organise for you to catch the same train with one of your tour leaders back to Tokyo if you wish.

The cost of Josetsu Shinkansen between JR Niigata and Tokyo is not included in the tour fee. For your convenience, we will purchase the train tickets and send them to your hotel as our optional service at 13,000 JPY each way per ticket.

If you are purchasing your train tickets, please see section 3 for details.

2. Travel Ideas before/after Sake Tours Niigata 2025

We always receive several inquiries on places to explore before or after the tour.

These are some easy-to-travel recommendations if you are traveling to other areas before or after the Niigata Tour.

For your travel plan before and after the Niigata tour, here are some spots that might be interesting.

Niigata:

If you want to stay one or more nights at the same hotel for the tour, ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata, before or after the tour, we are happy to book the same room for you.

The guidebook offered by Niigata Tourism Office may give you some travel tips in Niigata.

Please take a look at "gastronomy" and "guidebook" here (or at the bottom of this page)

https://enjoyniigata.com/en/brochure

Tsukioka Onsen near Niigata City

Tsukioka Onsen is popular among ladies as their hot springs is claimed to be good for the skin.

This old-style onsen town is a short train ride from Niigata and a good place to relax before or after the tour.

http://www.tsukiokaonsen.gr.jp/en/

Echigo Yuzawa in Niigata

Echigo Yuzawa is known for onsen and winter snow sports. JR Echigo Yuzawa Station is conveniently located 50 minutes from JR Niigata and about 80 minutes from Tokyo on Joetsu Shinkansen.

If you get there, try the sake-tasting vending machine with almost 100 sake to choose from at JR Echigo Yuzawa Station.

https://www.e-yuzawa.gr.jp/language_eng/

You can use Echigo Yuzawa as your base and visit Uonuma-no-sato by Hakkaisan, which is approximately 40 minutes/8000 JPY by taxi from JR Echigo Yuzawa. It is a perfect place to spend the day visiting their sake tasting room, micro beer brewery, shops and cafe, and restaurants.

https://www.uonuma-no-sato.jp/facility/

Recommended Hotel

Satoyama Jujo

This extremely popular ryokan offers an extraordinary retreat in isolation with comfort. Imagine soaking in the quiet onsen overlooking mountains covered with snow.

It is about 30 minutes/5000 JPY from Echigo Yuzawa station by taxi.

It is an extremely popular onsen, and we highly recommend booking soon.

https://en.satoyama-jujo.com/

JR Jomo Kogen in Gunma

JR Jomo Kogen station is 60 minutes from JR Niigata and about 75 minutes from Tokyo on Joetsu Shinkansen.

One of the areas, Minakami, is close to Jomo Kogen, and it is known for onsen and snow sports. There are four sake breweries in the area.

Recommended Hotels

Tatsumi kan Onsen

Very close to JR Jomo Kogen, and their irori-style dinner is excellent. Some of their rooms have rotenburo open-air bath in the room.

The owner supports local sake breweries such as Mizubasho.

https://www.tatsumikan.com/englishpages/

(online reservation in English is available)

Bettei Senjuan

This Ryokan has a magnificent view of Mt. Tanigawa.

At this luxurious onsen ryokan, all guest rooms have private open-air bath.

It is 25 minutes or about 5000 JPY by taxi from Jomo Kogen. The best way to enjoy your stay is by doing absolutely nothing.

Website: https://www.senjyuan.jp/e/

Below are some destinations if you want to explore a bit more and try different areas.

Nagano, Snow Monkey & Yudanaka Onsen, Nagano

JR Nagano is approximately 100 minutes From Tokyo on Hokuriku Shinkansen.

From JR Niigata, Nagano is a little over 2 hours via Takasaki.

Yudanaka Onsen is about one hour from Nagano and it is an excellent spot to enjoy the onsen and hike up to see the monkeys relaxing in the steamy bath.

Website: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/2247/

If you have time, visit Obuse for chestnut sweets and art and stay overnight in Nagano at a temple lodging at Zenkoji Temple.

https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/hokuriku-shinetsu/nagano/nagano-and-around/

https://www.go-nagano.net/en/theme/id=17705

Kanazawa

From Niigata, JR Kanazawa is approximately 3.5 - 4 hours via Takasaki by switching from Joetsu to Hokuriku Shinkansen.

From Tokyo, Kanazawa is about 2.5 hours by Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Kanazawa is a classic city to immerse yourself in history and culture. Enjoy strolling in the Omi Market, visiting the Kenrokuen Gardens, or some of the best museums. If you are into contemporary art, don't miss the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Website: https://visitkanazawa.jp/en/

https://www.kanazawa21.jp/en/

Please note

We hope we have provided you with enough information to plan your trip to Japan. As you know, Sake Tours is a small, boutique operation with limited resources and at the moment, we are focusing on the coordination of the Niigata Tours.

We would love to be able to assist you with your additional travel plans; however, we need to ask our guests to plan your own itineraries and book your hotels and train tickets for anything before and after the Niigata tours.

We have asked our partnering travel agencies to see if they can provide some travel consulting and private tour booking, but they cannot due to staff shortages. We hope our pointers give you enough clues to plan your trip and book your hotels.

Although we are happy to assist in booking extra nights at ANA Crowne Plaza and to help with the purchase of the Shinkansen tickets for Monday and Friday.

Please us the link to the Google form below if you need assistance with extra days at ANA Crowne Plaza or the purchase of Shinkansen tickets for Monday and Friday of the tour.

https://forms.gle/KFecmFD5Q8vAmps27

3. Purchasing Train Tickets

If you are purchasing the train ticket, please take a look at this section.

3-1. To purchase train tickets at the JR Ticket Office once you are in Japan.

https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/ticket/purchase.html

3-2. To purchase a train ticket online and receive the ticket once you are in Japan. You can purchase the ticket one month before the travel date.

You can book your JR tickets online across all JR companies. You will receive a QR code to issue the physical tickets at JR Station.

https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/booking/jr/

user guide

https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/booking/jr/support/operation/