Niigata Prefecture, Large prefecture in Chubu region, Japan
Niigata Prefecture is an administrative division in the Chubu region of Japan, extending along the coast of the Sea of Japan. The landscape includes forested mountains in the interior, wide river valleys with rice paddies, and sandy beaches along the shore, while urban centers like Niigata City concentrate in the flat coastal areas.
The area became one of Japan's first international trading ports in 1869, opening to ships from Russia and other countries across the Sea of Japan. This early opening brought foreign goods, architecture, and cultural influences into the region that remain visible today.
Rice terraces cover much of the flatlands, where farmers grow the Koshihikari variety and supply the raw material for local sake breweries. Visitors can tour breweries, attend rice harvest festivals, and see the close link between farming and traditional craft.
The Joetsu Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Niigata City in about 100 minutes, providing quick access to the coast. Local trains and buses run year-round between coastal towns and mountain settlements, though snow can affect schedules in higher elevations during winter.
The Sado Gold Mine on Sado Island, a World Heritage site since 2023, contains a network of tunnels stretching about 400 kilometers beneath the island. Visitors can enter some of the restored shafts and see tools, carts, and the working conditions of miners from earlier centuries.
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