5 Tours to Discover Niigata City’s History, Culture, and Food

*This article was sponsored by Niigata Prefecture.

About Niigata City

Niigata City, the capital of Niigata Prefecture, sits on the Sea of Japan about 300 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. While renowned in Japan for its profound history and exquisite cuisine, it remains relatively undiscovered abroad.

Niigata City flourished during the Edo (1603-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods, establishing itself as the largest port on the Sea of Japan and one of Japan's earliest international trade hubs. The rows of beautifully preserved wooden buildings in its historic Furumachi district stand as enduring symbols of this rich heritage.

Niigata Prefecture is also Japan’s largest producer of rice and home to the most sake breweries in the country. Its many ports likewise receive a daily bounty of fresh seafood, delivered straight to local restaurants to be served as sushi, sashimi, and other dishes by talented chefs.

Despite its remote location, Niigata City can be easily reached directly from Tokyo Station in approximately 2 hours on the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train.

Recommended Niigata City Tours

Despite offering plenty to do, Niigata City can be challenging for overseas visitors to navigate. A lack of English-speaking staff and readily available information require a lot of extra planning. This is why we recommend joining tours hosted by locals, who will take you to Niigata City’s top destinations and ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights.

With this in mind, we’ve picked out 5 tours covering the best of Niigata City. You’ll explore hidden back-alleys, hop between hole-in-the-wall pubs, learn how to make sushi with a renowned sushi chef, and more. All these tours can be booked online in English at the links below, and come with an English-speaking guide.

Walking Tour: Old Port Town Niigata

Immerse yourself in Niigata's rich heritage on a walk through its old town with a knowledgeable local guide. You'll see geigi (the local name for geisha) houses, hundred-year-old restaurants, and fascinating historical buildings while hearing intriguing tales and urban legends. Traditional music can often be heard echoing out from the geigi training sessions, and if you’re very lucky, you may even spot one walking to their next appointment!

You’ll also visit Minatopia, whose spacious leafy grounds contain the Former Niigata Customs House. This elegant structure was built in 1869 following Niigata’s opening as an international trade port, and is Japan’s sole surviving customs house from the era.

Other highlights on this tour include the Former Ozawa Family Residence, the grand estate of a wealthy merchant family; and Minatoinari Shrine, known for its unique “komainu” lion-dog statue that can be spun around to make a wish.

Book the Niigata Walk Tour: https://edge-of-niigata.com/tour/1228/

Niigata Sushi Making Master-Class

Filled with fishing ports and rice paddies, Niigata City is a sushi paradise. There are dozens of restaurants making the most of these premium local ingredients, but for a more intimate and educational experience, we recommend joining a sushi-making class!

In this exclusive master class, you’ll be taught everything you need to know about sushi from one of Niigata’s top sushi chefs. The chef, whose career spans 50+ years, will personally take you through each step of the sushi-making process, including tips and tricks to recreate his restaurant-quality feel.

The class is held at one of Niigata’s most reputable sushi restaurants, who will provide you with enough fresh high-quality seafood and rice for 10 pieces of “nigiri” sushi. As you put together the ingredients, the guide will walk you through the history of sushi in Niigata, and teach you sushi vocab to make you look like a pro back home.

Book the Sushi Making Master-Class: https://edge-of-niigata.com/tour/640/

Niigata OIRAN Experience

While geisha often take the spotlight, Japan’s “oiran” present a more sensual beauty that has captivated since time immemorial. Oiran were a kind of high-class, fashionable courtesan who worked in red light districts in the Edo Period (1603-1868), including in Niigata’s Furumachi. They wore elaborate kimono with enormous ornate hairpins, and were renowned for their sophistication, taking on only the most cultured and wealthy clientele.

For an offbeat keepsake of your time in Niigata, immerse yourself in the glamorous world of oiran with a professional photoshoot. Exquisite colorful kimono and makeup will bring out your intrinsic sensuality, granting a deeper understanding of the extraordinary style of these women. The photographer will guide you through several expressive poses, with elaborate sets and props rendering a scene straight from the heyday of Furumachi.

Book the OIRAN Experience: https://edge-of-niigata.com/tour/786/

Sacred Sake Tasting in Niigata

Niigata Prefecture is home to the most sake breweries in Japan, and many boast age-old legacies that continue today. Sake itself dates back to at least 700 AD, when it was commonly brewed by shrines and temples and offered to the Shinto deities.

This tour combines sake’s spiritual heritage and Niigata’s brewing culture with a sake tasting session in the city’s oldest shrine. Within this serene sanctuary, you’ll embark on a sensory journey through a curated sake selection showcasing the diversity of the region's offerings.

As you sip away, an expert will unveil the connections between sake and shrines, while sharing tips to maximize your enjoyment. Plus, there will also be a lineup of appetizers to pair with the sake for a complete gourmet experience.

Book the Sacred Sake Tasting: https://edge-of-niigata.com/tour/1703/

Japanese Pub Hopping Tour in Niigata

The nostalgic laneways of Furumachi truly come alive after sunset, dutifully continuing the neighborhood’s tradition as a nightlife hotspot. While the dense streetscape can make it challenging to find the best bars and restaurants, locals are keen to share their favorites on this exciting pub-hopping tour.

Together, you’ll wander Furumachi to find treasures like Nabejaya, an enormous three-story wooden restaurant founded in 1846; alongside a myriad of other unique structures. As you roam, you can enter any of the restaurants, bars, or pubs that catch your eye, or simply stick to the guide’s tried-and-true recommendations for a guaranteed night of great food, drink, and conversation! And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a geigi (the local name for geisha)!

Book the Japanese Pub Hopping Tour: https://edge-of-niigata.com/tour/610/

Experience the Charms of Niigata City Together With Locals

With a wealth of food, history, and culture, Niigata City offers the best of everything we love about Japan. Friendly locals are keen to guide visitors through its attractions, granting authentic Japan experiences without the crowds. If any of these Niigata City tours catch your interest, click the links to learn more and make a reservation!

Top image: PIXTA