Niigata is packed with spots perfect for exploring by car! Here we introduce model courses for day trips, one-night/two-day trips, and two-night/three-day trips, each combining breathtaking drive routes, exceptional inns worth a special stay, and delicious local gourmet food. This time, alongside Niigata’s classic sightseeing spots, we’ve built special routes that also incorporate the charming lodging facilities and art destinations that Tokamachi and Shibata are known for. Let’s plan a comfortable road trip!
[Day Trip] From Power Spots to Tokamachi’s Art & Scenery: An Indulgent Drive Course
Starting from Niigata Station, head south all the way to Yahiko Shrine, then continue on to the Tokamachi area to soak in its art and overwhelming natural beauty. This course is packed with highlights.
09:00 — Niigata Station: Pick up your rental car and set off!
Your sightseeing begins at Niigata Station. Several rental car companies operate around the station, and booking in advance makes for a smooth departure. Enjoy the beautiful scenery through the car window as your road trip begins.
10:00 — Yahiko Shrine & Yahikoyama Ropeway: Sweeping Views from a Power Spot
Head to Yahiko Shrine, a site of worship since ancient times. After paying your respects and taking in the sacred atmosphere of the spacious shrine grounds, ride the Yahikoyama Ropeway up to the summit. From the top, a grand view of the Sea of Japan unfolds — on clear days, you can even see all the way to Sado Island.
13:00 — Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art (MonET): Experience the Mirror Corridor and Contemporary Art
Take the expressway to the Tokamachi area. This museum, a base for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, features a second-floor corridor from which you can photograph the mysterious sight of the mirror-like water surface overlapping with the building itself. It’s also worth taking a break in the warm, wood-filled community space or browsing for souvenirs.
15:00 — Hoshitoge Rice Terraces: Japan’s Original Landscape Wrapped in Water Mirrors and Sea of Clouds
From the museum, venture further to the Hoshitoge Rice Terraces, where fields of various sizes spread across the hillside like fish scales. Depending on the season and time of day, the terraces reveal different faces — from beautiful water mirrors to a sea of clouds — offering an overwhelming, nostalgic view of Japan’s traditional countryside (satoyama).
18:00 — Niigata Station: Return your rental car and head home Return to Niigata Station with the sunset at your back and drop off your rental car. If you have time to spare, it’s worth stopping by “Ponshukan,” directly connected to the station, to sample Niigata’s famous sake and look back on your trip.
[1 Night, 2 Days] A Shibata Drive Trip Full of History and an Exceptional Auberge
On the first day, depart from Niigata Station and explore the beautiful daimyo garden and famous castle that the Shibata area is known for. After fully savoring the historic atmosphere, enjoy the ultimate in fine dining and lodging at a world-class auberge. The next day is dedicated to relaxing amid nature — a plan that satisfies both body and soul.
10:00 — Niigata Station: Start your drive with a rental car!
Depart from Niigata Station by rental car. Enjoy the peaceful scenery on your way to the Shibata area.
11:30 — Shimizuen: Stroll Through a Beautiful Daimyo Garden Designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty
Visit Shimizuen, a daimyo garden built during the Edo period and designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty. Walking through this beautiful circuit-style garden, said to incorporate the Eight Views of Omi, you can savor the seasonal charm and rich historical atmosphere. After your stroll, we recommend enjoying a Shibata-style lunch nearby.
14:00 — Shibata Castle: Visit the “Iris Castle,” Symbolized by Its Three-Story Turret
Head to the historic Shibata Castle ruins, which once served as the government seat of the Shibata Domain during the Edo period. Also known as the “Iris Castle” (Shobu-jo), it’s known for its distinctive architectural style, including a rare three-story turret adorned with three shachihoko (mythical dolphin-like ornaments) — a design almost unheard of elsewhere in Japan.
16:00 — Né (Shibata): Stay at an Auberge That Will Change Your Perception of Food
Tonight’s stay is at Né, located in Shibata — a world-class auberge said to transform your very perception of cuisine. Enjoy an exquisite dinner made with local ingredients, along with a stay in a beautifully refined setting.
The Next Day, 11:00 — sui: Relax in Nature
The next day, after leisurely savoring an exceptional breakfast at your lodging, head to “sui,” a space surrounded by nature. This relaxing time serves as the perfect close to your trip — spend an unhurried moment feeling the pleasant breeze.
15:00 — Niigata Station: Return your rental car
Return to Niigata Station, bringing your fulfilling one-night, two-day journey to an end.
[2 Nights, 3 Days] Crossing Niigata! A Journey Through the Scenery and Exceptional Inns of Tokamachi to Shibata/Agano
Drive from the south of Niigata Prefecture (the Tokamachi area) to the north (the Shibata/Agano area) on this two-night, three-day journey, taking in breathtaking scenic spots and Niigata’s finest inns in a relay-style route.
Day 1
10:00 — Niigata Station: Pick up your rental car and depart
Leave Niigata Station and head south toward the nature-rich Tokamachi area, known for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.
12:30 — Kiyotsu Gorge: Experience an Artistic View at One of Japan’s Three Great Gorges
Visit Kiyotsu Gorge, one of Niigata’s most celebrated scenic spots. At the panorama station located deep within the tunnel, an artistic space unfolds where the gorge’s scenery reflects off the water’s mirror-like surface. Be sure to capture a fantastical photo you can only take here.
14:30 — Bijinbayashi Forest: Take a Deep Breath Among the Primeval Beech Forest
Drive on from Kiyotsu Gorge to Bijinbayashi (“Beautiful Woman Forest”), home to roughly 100-year-old beech trees. Named for its beautifully upright, slender trees, this forest — filled with birdsong and dappled sunlight — offers a refreshing sense of calm with every step.
16:00 — Check in to an Exceptional Inn in the Tokamachi Area
For your first night’s stay, choose between two of Tokamachi’s most celebrated inns. There’s “Chitose – Hinano Inn-,” where you can soak in Matsunoyama Onsen, ranked among Japan’s three great medicinal hot springs, and unwind on tatami floors. Or there’s “Yukinoya-Furusawa Traditional Stay,” a 150-year-old traditional house limited to just one group per day, offering a life as if truly living in snow country. Either choice promises an extraordinary, healing escape.
Day 2
10:00 — Depart Tokamachi for the Agano/Shibata Area
After enjoying breakfast at your inn, embark on a long drive north across Niigata. Along the way, it’s worth stopping at roadside stations to sample gourmet food from the Sea of Japan coast.
14:00 — Agano River Line Boat Ride: Enjoy a Scenic Cruise
Once you arrive in the Agano River area, take a scenic cruise down the majestic river by boat. Viewing the seasonal beauty of the gorge from the water is a soothing way to ease the fatigue of a long drive.
16:00 — Check in to Lodging in the Shibata/Tsukioka Area
For your second night, stay in the Shibata area. Those wanting to pursue the ultimate culinary experience should stay at the auberge Né for an exceptional dining experience. Those wanting to fully enjoy hot springs should stay at one of the traditional hot spring inns in the Tsukioka Onsen district and savor its skin-beautifying waters.
Day 3
10:00 — Shibata Castle: Visit the “Iris Castle,” Symbolized by Its Three-Story Turret
On your final day, take a route that lets you experience Shibata’s history and culture. Visit the historic Shibata Castle ruins, once the government seat of the Shibata Domain during the Edo period. Its distinctive architectural style, including a rare three-story turret adorned with three shachihoko, is truly worth seeing.
12:00 — Shimizuen: Stroll Through a Beautiful Daimyo Garden Designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty
Next, visit Shimizuen, a daimyo garden built in the Edo period and designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty. Walking through this beautiful circuit-style garden, said to incorporate the Eight Views of Omi, allows you to savor its seasonal charm and rich historical atmosphere.
15:00 — Niigata Station: Return your rental car and head home Arrive back at Niigata Station. This special two-night, three-day journey — spanning Niigata from end to end and combining grand nature, exceptional inns, and historic landmarks — comes to a close.
