The inland foothills of Niigata have long been a place of human habitation, with a road being built on the water’s edge to avoid the marshes and wetlands to the west. The people in this area struggled against nature to build agricultural and residential systems, using the water of the marshes and wetlands that stretched from these foothills to the Sea of Japan to irrigate the land.
　Doing this allowed them to produce the rice and other delicious foods for which Niigata has become famous.

　This area also gave birth to wealthy landowners whose patronage allowed for the creation of beautiful Japanese gardens and traditional architecture, which can still be enjoyed today.
　What’s more! You can enjoy that most Japanese of holiday destinations, the hot spring, which Niigata has aplenty. With mountains and sea, amazing gardens and more, there’s no end to this region’s charm!