is a city located in the northern part of
Niigata Prefecture (). It is the capital and the most populous
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
of
Niigata Prefecture, and one of the
cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, located in the
Chūbu region of
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...
. It is the most populous city on the west coast of
Honshu
, historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island s ...
, and the second populous city in Chūbu region after
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most po ...
. It faces the
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, i ...
and
Sado Island. , the city had an estimated population of 779,049, and a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
of 1,072 persons per km
2. The total area is . Greater Niigata, the Niigata
Metropolitan Employment Area, has a GDP of US$43.3 billion as of 2010.
It is the only government-designated city on the west coast of Honshu. It has the greatest habitable area of cities in Japan (). It is designated as a reform base for the large scale agriculture under () initiatives.
Overview
Niigata was one of the cities incorporated by the legislation effective on April 1, 1889 (Meiji 22). With a long history as a port town, Niigata served the function of the network junction between the maritime traffic and those of Shinano and Agano river systems. It was designated as one of the five free
Treaty ports under
Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States-Japan) Treaty of Amity and Commerce may refer to:
* Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States–France) (1778)
* Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States–Dutch Republic), a 1782 United States treaty
* Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States–S ...
signed in 1858, just before the
Meiji Restoration
The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ...
, later started operations in 1869. Its importance in land and water transportation is still current.
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 coast of the Sea of Japan of Honshu. There are 8
wards (
described later) in the city.
Until 1950’s, a system of canals were lined along by the willow trees in the downtown area of Niigata. Therefore the city is sometimes called the “City of Water” or “City of Willows” as
detailed later. Niigata produced many manga artists (see:
Artists and writers). It is also known to have an extensive network of
bypass roads. Bandai bridge, NEXT21, Toki Messe, Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata Nippo Media Ship are considered to be the key symbol landmarks in the city (see:
Local attractions).
Toponymy
The place name "Niigata" was first recorded in 1520 (
Eisho 17). Its name in
kanji
are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are still used, along with the subsequ ...
can be translated as "new” and "lagoon".
However, as there is no record about the origin of the name, this had led to many theories.
*First "Niigata" was a large lagoon at the mouth of the Shinano river.
*Second it was an inland bay at the river's entrance.
*Third it was the name of a village that stood on an island within the estuary.
*Fourth it referred to another settlement that relocated to the
Furumachi district and that in turn gave its name to a nearby lagoon.
Cityscapes
File:Next21 1.JPG, CBD of Niigata City(2012)
File:Niigata chitose-koji 20131021-02.JPG, Downtown Furumachi
, literally meaning "Old Town", is the name of a central business district in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The district is centered on Furumachi-dori street and extends north to Honcho-dori street and south to Nishibori-dori street. Fu ...
(2013)
File:What's Niigata and Toki Messe Sep2021.jpg, Toki Messe(2021)
File:Niigata Toki Messe Bandaijima Park Tempi Sep2021.jpg, River Front Park(2021)
File:Niigata City 2022-01.jpg, A view of Niigata City and Shinano River
The , known as the in its upper reaches, is the longest and widest river in Japan and the third largest by basin area (behind the Tone River and Ishikari River). It is located in northeastern Honshu, rising in the Japanese Alps and flowing ...
from observation deck of Niigata Prefecture Building (2022)
File:Sunset of Niigata City2022.jpg, Sunset of Niigata City(2022)
Geography
Niigata is situated on a fertile
coastal plain on the
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, i ...
coast, facing
Sado Island. The
Shinano River
The , known as the in its upper reaches, is the longest and widest river in Japan and the third largest by basin area (behind the Tone River and Ishikari River). It is located in northeastern Honshu, rising in the Japanese Alps and flowing ...
and
Agano River flow through the city.
Numerous wetlands, such as the Fukushimagata wetlands, can be found within the city limits. The Sakata lagoon is registered as a wetland of international importance under the
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. It ...
.
Niigata City's low elevation and abundant water have made flood control and land reclamation important issues for the area throughout its history.
The city is sometimes called the because of the two rivers that flow through it, its position next to the Sea of Japan, its many wetlands, and the canals that used to run through the city. It is also sometimes referred to as the or because of the willow trees that lined the old canals. In recent years, the city has been promoting itself as a , highlighting its agricultural areas outside of the city center.
Climate
Niigata City features a
humid subtropical climate (
Cfa), but receives more yearly snowfall than cities such as Moscow, Montreal or Oslo. The climate in Niigata City is characterized by its high humidity and strong winds from the Sea of Japan in winter. While many other parts of Niigata Prefecture tend to have heavy snow, Niigata City itself usually receives less due to its low-lying elevation and the shielding effect of
Sado Island.
However, Niigata City does receive much precipitation, mostly in the form of rainfall. On average, Niigata City has 269 days of precipitation each year, about 170 days of which see rain or snowfall measuring over 1 mm. The
rainy season
The rainy season is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs.
Rainy Season may also refer to:
* ''Rainy Season'' (short story), a 1989 short horror story by Stephen King
* "Rainy Season", a 2018 song by Monni
* '' ...
in July brings large amounts of rain, while the winter months, especially November and December, also have much precipitation.
[''Niigata City 2007 Statistical Data'', published 2007]
In summer, the south wind makes the weather rather hot.
Typhoons usually bring strong
foehn winds to this area, generally causing somewhat higher temperatures than in other parts of Japan. The weather on the west coast of Honshu tends to be better during the summer months than on the Pacific coast.
Wards
Niigata has a system of
wards (''ku'') since April 1, 2007: Each ward has its own "image color".
Adjoining communities
From the north, following Niigata's border
clockwise
Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite ...
:
*
Seirō,
Kitakanbara District
*
Shibata
*
Agano
*
Gosen Gosen may refer to:
* Gosen, Niigata, Japan
*Gosen-Neu Zittau, Brandenburg, Germany
* Gosen (Company), a Japanese manufacturer of sporting equipment
*Gosen Wakashū, an ancient Japanese poetry anthology
*Land of Goshen, an area in Biblical Egypt
S ...
*
Tagami,
Minamikanbara District
*
Kamo The name Kamo may refer to the following:
Places
Japan
(Note: ''kamo'' ( 鴨), is the common word for ''duck'' in Japanese, but the following names do not necessarily mean ''duck'' and are not necessarily written with that character.)
*Kamo, Ni ...
*
Sanjō
*
Tsubame
*
Yahiko,
Nishikanbara District
*
Nagaoka
* In addition
Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.
History
Prehistoric and ancient
People have inhabited the Niigata area (
Furutsu Hachimanyama Site
The is an archaeological site containing the remnants of a late Yayoi period moated settlement with three ''Kofun'' tumuli located in the Furutsu neighborhood of Akiha-ku, Niigata in the Hokuriku region of Japan. The site was designated a Nat ...
) since the
Jōmon period, though much of the current land was still beneath the sea at the time. According to the
Nihon Shoki, a fortress was built in the area in AD 647.
File:Furutsu Hachimanyama Site.jpg, Furutsu Hachimanyama Site
The is an archaeological site containing the remnants of a late Yayoi period moated settlement with three ''Kofun'' tumuli located in the Furutsu neighborhood of Akiha-ku, Niigata in the Hokuriku region of Japan. The site was designated a Nat ...
Middle Ages
;Feudal period
In the 16th century, a port called Niigata was established at the mouth of the
Shinano River
The , known as the in its upper reaches, is the longest and widest river in Japan and the third largest by basin area (behind the Tone River and Ishikari River). It is located in northeastern Honshu, rising in the Japanese Alps and flowing ...
, while a port town with the name Nuttari developed at the mouth of the
Agano River. The area prospered beneath the rule of
Uesugi Kenshin during the
Sengoku Period
The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615.
The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...
.
Early Modern Ages
A system of canals was constructed throughout the downtown area of Niigata port in the 17th century. During this period, the courses of the Shinano and Agano rivers gradually changed until they poured into the Sea of Japan at the same location. As a result, Niigata prospered as a port town, serving as a port of call for Japanese trade ships traversing the Sea of Japan.
The Matsugasaki Canal was constructed in 1730 to drain the Agano River area, but in 1731, flooding destroyed the canal and caused it to become the main current of the Agano River. As a result, the volume of water flowing into the port of Niigata decreased, which in turn allowed land reclamation efforts and the development of new rice fields to proceed.
File:Nishiki-e_-_View_of_Niigata_Port.jpg, Nishiki-e "Niigata Minato no Shinkei" (View of Niigata Port), 1859
File:Hiroshige II Echigo Niigata.jpg, Niigata drawn by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1859
Late Modern Ages
In 1858, Niigata was designated as one of the five ports to be opened for international trade in the
Japan–U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce. However, the shallow water level in the port delayed the actual opening to foreign ships until 1869. The port also served as a valuable base for fishermen who roamed as far north as the
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula (russian: полуостров Камчатка, Poluostrov Kamchatka, ) is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of about . The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula's eastern and w ...
to catch salmon and other fish.
In 1886, the first
Bandai Bridge was built across the Shinano River to connect the settlements of Niigata on the west and Nuttari on the east. Niigata annexed Nuttari in 1914.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, Niigata's strategic location between the capital of
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...
and the Sea of Japan made it a key point for the transfer of settlers and military personnel to the Asian continent, including
Manchukuo.
File:Minatopia003.JPG, Niigata City History Museum (Minatopia)
File:160716 Old Niigata Customs Government Building Niigata Japan01n.jpg, Old Niigata Customs Government Building
File:160716 Former Daishi Bank Sumiyoshi-cho Branch Niigata Japan01n.jpg, Former Daishi Bank Sumiyoshi-cho Branch
File:Bandaibashi-Bridge 20130929.JPG, Bandai Bridge
Contemporary Ages
In 1945, near the end of the war, Niigata was one of four cities, together with Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, picked as targets for the atomic bombs if Japan did not surrender. However, Niigata was not actually targeted in the first two missions. There were several theories about the reasons that Niigata was lowered in the priority, such as poor weather conditions, its distance from B-29 bases in the Mariana Islands, and other factors.
On August 11, 1945, after the second atomic bombing in Nagasaki, the governor of Niigata Prefecture ordered the people to evacuate as concerns of an impending bombing heightened, and the city was completely deserted for days until the war ended without more atomic bombings.
A devastating Typhoon Louise and fire in 1955 destroyed much of the downtown area, but eventually the city recovered. In 1958, construction of the relocated
Niigata Station was completed, extending the downtown area from Bandai Bridge. The
Niigata Thermal Power Station Unit 1 started operation in July 1963. At that time, it was Japan's first power plant capable of using a mixture of natural gas and heavy oil.
In 1964, the old canals that flowed throughout the old downtown area were filled in to make way for more roads.
On June 16, 1964, at 13:01
Japan Standard Time
, or , is the standard time zone in Japan, 9 hours ahead of UTC ( UTC+09:00). Japan does not observe daylight saving time, though its introduction has been debated on several occasions. During World War II, the time zone was often referred t ...
an earthquake of 7.5
Richter scale
The Richter scale —also called the Richter magnitude scale, Richter's magnitude scale, and the Gutenberg–Richter scale—is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by Charles Francis Richter and presented in his landmark 1935 ...
struck the city, killing 29 people and causing large-scale property damage, with 1,960 totally destroyed buildings, 6,640 partially destroyed buildings, and 15,298 severely inundated by
liquefaction.
In 1965, the
Agano River running through Niigata was polluted with
methylmercury from the chemical plant of the
Showa Electrical Company. Over 690 people exhibited symptoms of
Minamata disease
Minamata disease is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. Signs and symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme ...
and the outbreak became known as
Niigata Minamata disease.
File:Niitsu Oil field in 1930s.JPG, Niitsu Oil Field
The is the collective name for an oil extraction zone distributed in the southeastern hills of Akiha-ku, Niigata, Japan (formerly the city of Niitsu), covering an area of approximately 6 kilometers in width by 16 kilometers in length.
Overview
...
(1930s)
File:Great Fire of Niigata.JPG, The 1955 fire of Niigata
File:Liquefaction at Niigata.JPG, Some effects of liquefaction during the 1964 Niigata earthquake
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...
In 1982,
Shinkansen service on the
Jōetsu Shinkansen line began between Niigata and
Omiya, with service to
Ueno added in 1985. The line was extended to Tokyo in 1991.
Big Swan Stadium in Niigata City hosted three games during the
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
.
The
2004 Chūetsu earthquake did not cause any significant damage in Niigata City itself, allowing the city to work as a relief base.
The size and the population of Niigata city increased over the four-year period between 2001 and 2005, due to a series of
municipal mergers. On April 1, 2007, Niigata City became first city on the west coast of Honshu to become a
government-designated city.
In July 2007, the
Chūetsu offshore earthquake, measuring 6.9 on Richter scale, rocked Niigata Prefecture. Though the earthquake was felt in the city, there was little damage, which allowed Niigata City to provide aid to the devastated areas.
In May 2008, the city hosted the
2008 G8 Labor Ministers Meeting.
On March 12, 2011, several hours after the massive 9.0 Tohoku earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Niigata and Nagano Prefectures experienced an estimated magnitude 6.6 earthquake.
Mergers
*On April 1, 1889 - the village of Sekiya was amalgamated into the town of Niigata to become the city of Niigata.
*On April 1, 1914 - The town of Nuttari (from
Nakakanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On June 1, 1943 - The village of Ohgata (from
Nakakanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On December 8, 1943 - The villages of Ishiyama and Toyano (both from
Nakakanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On April 5, 1954 - The village of Matsugasakihama (from
Kitakanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On November 1, 1954 - The villages of Nigorikawa and Minamihama (both from
Kitakanbara District) and the village of Sakaiwa (from
Nishikanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On May 3, 1957 - The villages of Ryokawa, Sonoki and Oheyama (all from
Nakakanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On January 11, 1960 - The town of Uchino (from
Nishikanbara District) was merged into the city of Niigata.
*On April 1, 1960 - The Hamaura hamlet of the town of
Toyosaka (from
Kitakanbara District) was merged into the city of Niigata.
*On June 1, 1961 - The villages of Nakanokoya and Akatsuka (both from
Nishikanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On January 1, 2001 - The town of
Kurosaki (from
Nishikanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
*On March 21, 2005 - The cities of
Niitsu,
Shirone
was a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1959.
As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 39,966 and density of . The total area was .
On March 21, 2005, Shirone, along with the cities of Niitsu ...
and
Toyosaka, the towns of
Kameda,
Kosudo and
Yokogoshi (all from
Nakakanbara District), the town of
Nishikawa, and the villages of
Ajikata,
Iwamuro,
Katahigashi,
Nakanokuchi and
Tsukigata (all from
Nishikanbara District) were all merged into the expanded city of Niigata.
*On October 10, 2005 - The town of
Maki (from
Nishikanbara District) was merged into the expanded city of Niigata.
Government
City Hall
;List of mayors of Niigata City (1889 to present)
External relations
Twin towns – sister cities
International
;Sister Cities
Niigata maintains
sister city
A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there are early examples of inter ...
ties with six cities:
;Friendship cities
;Partnership cities
In addition, special exchange agreements have been set up with the following:
*
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull, usually abbreviated to Hull, is a port city and unitary authority in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Estuary, inland from the North Sea and south- ...
, United Kingdom
*
Ulsan
Ulsan (), officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City is South Korea's seventh-largest metropolitan city and the eighth-largest city overall, with a population of over 1.1 million inhabitants. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring ...
, South Korea (since September 2007)
National
;Partnership cities
Education
Colleges and universities
*
Niigata University
*
University of Niigata Prefecture
*
Niigata Seiryo University
*
The Nippon Dental University
is a private university in Tokyo and Niigata, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Ja ...
School of Life Dentistry at Niigata
*
Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences
is a private university in Niigata, Niigata, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, ...
*
International University of Japan
The is a private university located in Minamiuonuma city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
IUJ is the first graduate university in Japan, not offering undergraduate degrees, and one of the few Japanese universities which offers all courses in En ...
*
Niigata University of International and Information Studies
*
Niigata University of Health and Welfare Niigata University of Health and Welfare
is a private university in Niigata, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered ...
*
Graduate Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
*
College of Biomedical Technology Niigata University
*
Transportation
Airways
Airport
Niigata Airport is located about 6 km north of central Niigata. It handles some international destinations as well as many domestic ones. As of October 2016, the domestic destinations available are
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...
(10 times a day),
Sapporo
( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...
(five or six times a day),
Fukuoka
is the sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since anc ...
(three times a day),
Okinawa
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 Square kilometre, km2 (880 sq mi).
...
(once or twice a day),
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most po ...
(three times a day),
Narita (once a day) and
Sado Island (three times a day).
Niigata Airport's international destinations are
Harbin (twice a week),
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the Capital city, capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ...
(five times a week),
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Chinese, Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four Direct-administered municipalities of China, direct-administered municipalities of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the ...
(twice a week) and
Vladivostok.
Railways
The largest station in Niigata City is
Niigata Station. It is centrally located in the Bandai area, one of the two main shopping districts in downtown Niigata. Approximately 37,000 passengers use the station daily. The
Jōetsu Shinkansen, which terminates at Niigata Station, provides daily service to Tokyo. The
Shin'etsu Main Line
The Shinetsu Main Line ( ja, 信越本線, ) is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting and via . ...
,
Hakushin Line,
Echigo Line,
Uetsu Main Line, and
Ban'etsu West Line also terminate at Niigata Station. These lines serve
Myoko,
Itoigawa
is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 41,333, and a population density of 55 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Itoigawa is located in the far southwestern corner of ...
,
Akita,
Sakata, and
Aizuwakamatsu.
Niigata Kotsu Dentetsu Line and Kambara Dentetsu trains used to run through the city until the late 1990s; however, they no longer exist.
High-Speed Rail
;
East Japan Railway Company(JR East)
*
Jōetsu Shinkansen:-
Conventional lines
;
East Japan Railway Company(JR East)
*
Shin'etsu Main Line
The Shinetsu Main Line ( ja, 信越本線, ) is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting and via . ...
:- - - - - - - -
*
Hakushin Line: - - - - - -
*
Echigo Line: - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Buses
Transit Bus
BRT "
Bandai-bashi Line
is a bus line in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Niigata Kotsu
is a public transportation company which operates local and long-distance buses in Niigata prefecture, Japan.
Bus lines
, the following bus lines are in ...
" runs through business/shopping districts in the central Niigata (Niigata Station -
Bandai Bridge -
Furumachi
, literally meaning "Old Town", is the name of a central business district in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The district is centered on Furumachi-dori street and extends north to Honcho-dori street and south to Nishibori-dori street. Fu ...
- City hall -
Hakusan Station - Aoyama).
Roads
Expressways
*
Nihonkai-Tōhoku Expressway
*
Hokuriku Expressway
*
Ban-etsu Expressway
The is a national expressway in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.
Naming
The name is a kanji acronym consisting of characters found in the former names of the provinces linked by the exp ...
Japan National Route
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Seaways
Sea port
The Port of Niigata served as a part of
kitamaebune during Edo era, and became one of the five open ports according to the
Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States–Japan) in 1858. The west district of the port of Niigata provides passenger transportation facilities as well as cargo transportation, while the east district is dedicated for cargo capabilities, including the container terminal facilities. The Port of Niigata is designated as one of by the government.
The destinations of the passenger services available at the port of Niigata include Ryotsu on Sado island, Otaru, Akita, Tsuruga.
Until 2006, Niigata was formerly the
terminus of the
Mangyongbong-92 ferry
A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water ta ...
, one of the direct connections between Japan and
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...
.
File:Niigata airport-japan.jpg, Niigata Airport
File:JR Niigata Station South Exit.jpg, Niigata Station
File:BRTFurumachi 201703.jpg, Bandai-bashi Line
is a bus line in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Niigata Kotsu
is a public transportation company which operates local and long-distance buses in Niigata prefecture, Japan.
Bus lines
, the following bus lines are in ...
(BRT)
File:おけさ丸2016.jpg, Port of Niigata
Local attractions
*
Furumachi
, literally meaning "Old Town", is the name of a central business district in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The district is centered on Furumachi-dori street and extends north to Honcho-dori street and south to Nishibori-dori street. Fu ...
,
Bandai City - Downtown shopping districts
*
Toki Messe,
Next21
Next21 is a skyscraper, shopping and office complex in Niigata, Japan. It is tall, and has 21 floors. It has become a landmark of Furumachi, one of the central business districts in Niigata.
Access
The Bandai-bashi Line BRT Furumachi bus stop ...
,
Niigata Nippo Media Ship
is a skyscraper in Chūō-ku, Niigata, Japan. It is tall, and has 20 floors.
On the 20th floor, there is an observatory, offering a 360-degree view of the city, Shinano River, Sea of Japan, and Sado Island.
Gallery
Niigata-Nippo Media-ship ...
, - skyscrapers with observation decks
*
*
*
Niigata City History Museum (Minatopia)
*
Northern Culture Museum
*
*
*
*
Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden
* Nature Aquarium Gallery
TOKI_MESSE.jpg, Toki Messe
Niigata-Nippo Media ship-2013.JPG, Niigata Nippo Media Ship
is a skyscraper in Chūō-ku, Niigata, Japan. It is tall, and has 20 floors.
On the 20th floor, there is an observatory, offering a 360-degree view of the city, Shinano River, Sea of Japan, and Sado Island.
Gallery
Niigata-Nippo Media-ship ...
Nuttariterasu2013.jpg,
Fukushimagata Lagoon Kataraitei 002 April2020.jpg,
Iwamuro-onsen,Niigata-city,Niigata,Japan.jpg,
Culture
Niigata has its own ''
geisha'' culture since over 200 years ago dating back to the Edo period. This was due to the prosperity of the city as a port town. Locally they are called ''geigi'' and the tradition continues on. Most ''ochaya'' are located in the Furumachi neighbourhood with well-known places such as the Nabechaya.
Events
* (every August)
*
*
Niigata Comic Market
*
Niigata Manga Competition
* Kurosaki Festival
Foods
* ''Tare
Katsudon''
* ''
Noppe''
* ''Kakinomoto''
* '
*
* '
TareKatsudon_Matsuriya.jpg, ''Tare Katsudon''
Sasadango for sale - Tokyo area - Nov 28 2019 08-21PM.jpeg, ''Sasa Dango''
Chūka-soba,_Sankichiya_Nishibori-Honten,_Niigata,_Niigata,_Japan,_April_2020.jpg, ''Assari-Shōyu Ramen
is a Japanese noodle dish. It consists of served in a broth; common flavors are soy sauce and miso, with typical toppings including , nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), and scallions. Ramen has its roots in Chinese noodle di ...
''
Sports
File:Bigswan080628.JPG, Denka Big Swan Stadium
The , also nicknamed the , is a multi-purpose stadium in Niigata, Japan. It is the home ground of J2 League club Albirex Niigata and was one of the 20 stadia used in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosting three matches. Through a sponsorship deal the ...
File:Niigata east sports center.jpg, Niigata City Higashi General Sports Center
File:Niigata city land sports stadium.jpg, Niigata Athletic Stadium
File:HARD OFF ECOスタジアム新潟 バックネット裏より - panoramio.jpg, Niigata Prefectural Baseball Stadium
is a baseball stadium in Niigata, Niigata opened on July 1, 2009. It is primarily used for baseball and is the home of the Niigata Albirex Baseball Club. The stadium hosted one NPB All-Star Game in 2010.
Access
;Transit bus
There is a bus st ...
Notable people from Niigata
Artists and writers
*
Yaichi Aizu, poet, calligrapher, and historian
*. manga artist
*
Shu Fujisawa, writer
*
Makoto Kobayashi,
manga artist
*
Mineo Maya, manga artist
*
Shinji Mizushima, manga artist
*
Tadashi Nakayama, contemporary woodblock artist
*
Takeshi Obata, manga artist
*
One
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
, manga artist
*
Ango Sakaguchi, author
*
Rumiko Takahashi, manga artist
Actors and voice actors
*
Fumika Baba
'' Weekly Playboy'', January 22, 2014 is a Japanese actress and model. She was scouted on a local street when she was in high school, and started working as a model for the local free newspaper, ''Niigata Bishōjo Zukan''. Baba was also part of a ...
, actress
*
Mina Fujii, actress
*
Toshihito Ito
(February 16, 1962 – May 24, 2002) was a Japanese actor and member of the Tokyo Sunshine Boys theatrical troupe. He was born on February 16, 1962 in Niigata, Japan.
Biography
He performed on stage, and on television in series such as ' ...
, actor
*
Masashi Mikami, actor
*
Bin Shimada
Bin Shimada ( ja, 島田 敏, Shimada Bin; born November 20, 1954) is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narratorDoi, Hitoshi.Shimada Bin. ''Seiyuu Database''. July 17, 2010Archivedby WebCite July 20, 2010. affiliated with the talent management fir ...
, voice actor
*
Keiko Yokozawa
, better known by the stage name , is a Japanese voice actress. She is most known for the roles of Dorami (''Doraemon''), Mami Sakura (''Esper Mami''), Benio Hanamura ('' Haikara-san ga Tōru''), and Sheeta (''Castle in the Sky'').
Filmography
...
, voice actor
Musicians
*
coba, accordionist and composer
*
Double
A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another.
Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to:
Film and television
* Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character
* ...
, singer
*
Yoko Ishida, singer
*
Kazuya Kato
is a Japanese mathematician. He grew up in the prefecture of Wakayama Prefecture, Wakayama in Japan. He attended college at the University of Tokyo, from which he also obtained his master's degree in 1975, and his PhD in 1980. He was a professor ...
, bassist
*
Katsutaro Kouta
was a Japanese female geisha and singer, who performed in the "New-" style of singing. came to be most well known, alongside another popular geisha singer, , in the " Era".
Career
was born on 6 November 1904 in District, Prefecture. Duri ...
, singer
*
Közi
Közi is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and DJ. He is best known as one of the guitarists for the 1990s visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. After they went on indefinite hiatus in 2001, he formed the industrial rock duo Eve of Destiny a ...
, guitarist (
Malice Mizer and
Eve of Destiny
Eve of Destiny was a Japanese industrial rock band founded in 1999 by Haruhiko Ash (formerly of punk rock / hard rock band The Zolge). For a long time, Eve of Destiny was a solo project of Ash, with not much real activity, but this changed in ...
)
*
NGT48
NGT48 (read "N.G.T. Forty-eight") is a Japanese girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. NGT48 is named after Niigata City of Niigata Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at the NGT48 Theater which is located in the fourth fl ...
, idol group
*
Rina Sawayama, singer-songwriter and model
*
Akira Yamaoka, composer
*
samfree, vocaloid music composer
Others
*
Takashi Amano, professional aquarist and track cyclist
*
Kunio Maekawa, architect
*
SANADA (Seiya Sanada), professional wrestler
*
Tadao Sato, film critic and film theorist
*
Megumi Sato, high jumper
*
Meiko Satomura, professional wrestler
*
Yujiro Takahashi, professional wrestler
*
Megumi Yokota, abduction victim
*
Yutakayama Ryota, sumo wrestler
References
Notes
External links
*
Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niigata (City)
Cities in Niigata Prefecture
Port settlements in Japan
Populated coastal places in Japan
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan