Niigata Hotels

Niigata is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshû, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island. With a long history as a port town, Niigata became a free port following the Meiji Restoration. Niigata's city government was established in 1889. Mergers with nearby municipalities in 2005 allowed the city's population to jump to 810,000. The annexation of the surrounding area has also given the city the greatest rice paddy field acreage in Japan. On April 1, 2007, it became the first government-designated city on the Japan Sea coast of Hon. Niigata, the lively capital, has a calm and spacious feel, despite its reputation as a transport hub and springboard to nearby Sadogashima. It's bisected by the Shinano River, which generates a great swathe of blue sky where, in other cities, there'd be skyscrapers (people-watching is a joy along the banks), and streetside ginko trees send miniature tornadoes of golden leaves cascading down each autumn. Sake reigns supreme – Niigata City has a huge sake-tasting festival each year and boasts over 100 different kura (breweries).