20 Best Things to do in Niigata | Bucket List Ideas | Attractions | Activities

With an average snowfall in the region of 1800cm, Niigata skiing paradises promise the best of the country’s whites and the experience to match. Learn the magic of gliding in gravity with pole skiing!

Enjoy a fun and exciting day on Niigata's slopes and experience the powder snow's thrill. Visit ski resorts like Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort, Koide ski resort, NASPA Ski Garden, Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort, and Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Area for lift tickets, ski lessons, and more. Venture out with the family at one of these many fun-filled destinations.

Kamo has the look and feel of feudal Japan, and it’s often likened to the Edo city of Kyoto. Take a rickshaw tour through the woodworking town, with a delightful lunch detour at a famous restaurant!

Birds chirping, and green shores cheering you on, a rafting course on the Shinano river is never a dull experience! Enjoy rafting the rapids or jump straight into the water for an afternoon dip!

The Agano River is characterized by reliable waves, gentle enough for beginners. It offers excellent waters to start your career with other surfing options available in Shibata city!

The sixth-largest island in the country offers exciting underwater diving adventures complete with C-card certification. Become a pro-diver, learning among Cottidae and yellowtails!

Your shooter game desires materialize in an airsoft war game in Naeba. Rock perfect and safe replicas of all your favorite guns, and feel the heat and strategies of a real-life battlefield!

Shrimp tastes a whole lot different when cooked on a Swedish torch prepared onsite. Have a memorable day out across a lovely stream, enjoying the best meat and vegetables!

If you dream about racing whenever you close your eyes, the outskirts of Niigata offer a beautiful racecourse to compete with friends and family for the glory of the finish line!

Trees were not meant to be cut down; they grow to be climbed up! Have fun swinging on the treetops and climbing footbridges on your way to exhilarating zip lines!

Build your stamina and core strength by bouldering across many routes at an indoor gym in Myoko! The artistic walls will give you the push you need to keep going!  

The two wheels of an MTB are the best mode of transportation in the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Joetsu-Myoko region. Behold Mt. Myoko in the backdrop and panoramas of other magical scenery!

Yama café is a popular seafood stop for sightseeing visitors in Kamo city while the hidden pubs of Tokamachi offer delicious food and local beer. A Swedish torch barbecue in Naeba is unforgettable as well!

Niigata city has the carefree feel of a port town, while the heritage of a past version of Japan still lingers in shrines, museums, and old streets. Great food and scenery are on the cards!

Do you have a soft-spot for pottery and ceramics? Chuo ward and Nagaoka city have plenty of clay experiences for you. Spin beautiful designs that’ll make your kitchen proud!

With an authentic Japanese cuisine featuring dango dumplings, koshihikari rice balls, and vegan sushi, there’s much to learn when on a food pilgrimage in Tokamachi!

A cultural blend of textile handweaving, yukata/kimono sightseeing, and zakka crafts such as waraji (samurai sandal) making, ensure the most authentic time in traditional Japan!

Tea is great for warming you up on cold a day, but it’s even better when it comes to textile dyeing. Add to your home DIYs, and turn tea bags into beautiful colors for your clothes!

Nightfall doesn’t extinguish the magic of nature around Takada park; sodium lights keep alive the spring and autumn colors that shimmer into the moat below. Takada castle ruins are nice to watch as well any time of day!

Cascading patches of water drawn around by green make the Hoshitoge Rice terrace an incredible sight, especially in the dim light of the November sunset. In winter, the gorgeousness goes up a notch with patterns of snow!