Interested in historical sites in Japan?
How about Joetsu City? Just a short ride from Tokyo (two hours.)
Joetsu City is located in Niigata Prefecture, along the Sea of Japan.
Takada Area, a famous sightseeing spot in Joetsu, has interesting features: a castle town, a snowy town, and tasty food and sake. By walking along a local town and communicating with local people, you will feel refreshed and energized.
I hope to see you soon!
At Joetsu-Myoko Station on Hokuriku Bullet Train Line
Departing from Tokyo at 7:52, The Hokuriku bullet train arrives at Joetsu-Myoko station at 9:58. We will meet at the station. Then take a local train named Tokitetsu Line to Takada station, two-stations away.
Takada area is a former castle town in a snowy country. Walking along this area you will find what was like a castle town and how local people live in snowy country.
Niigata prefecture is famous for delicious rice and sake. How about visiting a sake brewery and tasting some of it? Musashino Sake Brewery provides an opportunity to learn how sake is brewed and to taste it.
The brewery has a beautiful Japanese garden. If you prefer, you may eat a tasty lunch there.
You can enjoy the beautiful scenery and get refreshed according to the four seasons while taking a walk in the park. 4000 cherry trees bloom in spring, locus flowers occupy surrounding moats in summer, yellow and red leaves decorate the park in fall, and the snow paints white in winter.
Takada Castle was built in 1614. It was one of the largest castle sites in those days.
How about paying a visit to one of the temples and have time to talk to a priest?
Temples were located on the west side of town for security when the castle was built in the 17th century.
An ekiben is a boxed lunch or dinner. "Sake-meshi, or salmon and rice" is the ekiben selling at Joetsu-Myoko station and won the first prize in the ekiben contest in 2019.
At Joetsu-Myoko Station on Hokuriku Bullet Train Line
1. You will feel refreshed and energized.
Joetsu City was the capital city of Echigo Province. As you stay away from crowds, you can enjoy walking along former castle town streets in a calm way. There are many historical sites and scenic spots. The city is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and snow-capped mountains. And you can find people having environmentally friendly lifestyles.
2. You can stay 7 hours in Joetsu by using the Hokuriku Bullet Train.
leave Tokyo Station 7:52
arrive at Joetsu-Myoko Station 9:54 → 17:13 (7hours)
return to Tokyo Station 19:12
The last train leaves Joetsu-Myoko Station at 21:21.
You can enjoy staying at night in Joetsu, too.
3. You will visit several following places of your choice.
1) local train: Tokimeki Line
After meeting at Joetsu-Myoko Station, let’s take a local train to Takada Station.
It takes less than ten minutes.
2) Takada Park: a former castle site
Takada Castle was built in 1614 by Matsudaira Tadateru, a sixth son of the first Shogun.
It is one of the biggest castle site in Japan.
Takada Park is famous for cherry trees in spring and lotus flowers in summer.
Red and yellow leaves fascinate people in fall, and all trees and moats are covered white in snow.
Local people love this park all the year-round.
3) Machiya (townhouses) and Gangi Streets in castle town
Machiya: townhouses are small in width at the entrance and long in-depth, like in Kyoto City. Local people try to live comfortably in such houses. You can visit some of the townhouses and find what they are.
Gangi Streets: snow shelters
Joetsu has a lot of snow in winter. In order to walk easily in winter, they have built Gangi along the streets, which people can walk without getting wet.
4) Sake brewery
There are 13 breweries in Joetsu. You will visit Musashino Brewery and taste some sake and learn how sake is brewed. When you taste some of their sake in Rakusuitei-garden, you will be refreshed and be happy.
5) Temple Street.
There are 66 temples in temple street in the west of the town. You can visit one of the temples and find your time there.
6) Ski Museum
Joetsu is the first place where Alpine skiing was introduced in Japan by a military officer from Austria in 1911. You will find how skiing has been developed in Japan. As this museum is a little away from the center of the town, a taxi will be recommended to visit there.
Guide fee
Your travel expenses to Joetsu-Myoko Station where the guide meets you.
Your travel expenses in Joetsu City; local trains with a few stations, taxi if necessary.
Sake tasting and learning; there are three courses at Musashino sake brewery; 700yen, 1,500yen, 2,000yen
depending on how you taste and learn sake.
Entrance fee some of the facilities listed above for you and the guide.
Lunch for you and the guide.
JPY 1000 for guide's transportation fee to/ from Joetsu-Myoko Station
1) There are two types of Bullet train in Hokuriku Line: Hakutaka and Kagayaki. Only Hakutaka trains stop at Joetsu-Myoko Station.
2) Warm clothes and shoes are recommended for walking in winter.
3) Please inform us if you have any religious or health restrictions, allergies, or have other specific requests.
Keiichi was very well prepared and surprised us with interesting sights! We were lucky enough to see Geishas. It was a beautiful day! Thank you, keiishi!
Thank you very much, Katrin. It was such a wonderful day. It was a warm and fine day. Cherry blossoms began to bloom. The shopping street holds an event on the first Sunday. So, the Geisha girls came, and it was the first time for me to see those Furumachi Geigi girls in person. You were so lucky. Please enjoy the rest of the tour on your cruise ship.
Keiichi was very friendly and attentive. We had a wonderful time!
Dear Mrs. Miriam H., Thank you very much, Miriam. At first, I worried about the weather, since it rained and began to get colder. But that was good for us because snow monkeys hugged each other and got in the hot spring. So, we took good pictures. I am pleased to know that you had a tasty lunch in a cozy restaurant. I hope you have a good time in Kanazawa and Takayama. Kei
Kei is an inspirational tour guide. He is well organised and speaks good English Nothing was too much trouble and I heartily recommend him to anybody who wants a great day out in Niigata
Dear Mr. Roy. B., Thank you very much, Roy. Unfortunately, cherry blossoms were not in bloom, and it rained in the afternoon, but pretty plum tree blossoms decorated the Hakusan Park. After visiting Pusan, Korea, beautiful cherry blossoms will greet you in the southern parts of Japan. I hope you will keep having an incredible journey, Kei
What an awesome day! One of the best things you can do when visiting Japan is get off the beaten path and you will discover another world and when you have a guide like Keiichi it makes it even more incredible. I feel like I am traveling with a friend who is sharing his town and country with me. Please book with Keiichi!!
Hi, Eric, I am thrilled you are pleased. I am also grateful to be able to introduce you to the town where I live because I have lovely friends and acquaintances here, and I can introduce you to people and towns. And I am glad that you are happy about it. Let's keep traveling in Japan, Kei