Niigata City

Getting ashore

Ships berth at the port of Niigata, on the Sea of Japan coast. Shuttles and taxis run into the city centre.

Niigata gets heavy snow in winter. The Sea of Japan can be rough, so check the forecast for tender or berth changes.

Niigata is a major city with a river, the Bandai Bridge, the Furumachi old town and the Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art.

The ferry to Sado Island leaves from Niigata, and the island has the Gold Mines of Sado, a UNESCO site, and Japanese folk arts.

Niigata is famous for its rice, sake and rice crackers, and for its seafood, including salmon and sweet shrimp.

The currency is the yen. Cards are accepted in many places, and convenience-store ATMs accept most foreign cards.

The port and centre are flat. Sado Island's mines have steps and tunnels. Ask your operator for accessible transport.