Shibata City     Murakami City    Tainai City

 Sekikawa Village

 Shibata 

Murakami 

新発田 村上

  RA: Aimee Schroeppel 　　 　　   

Murakami City:  

Murakami area

Asahi area

Kamihayashi area

Sanpoku area

   Municipality: Murakami             Authors: Ellen Qualey, Katrina Schmidt 

   Murakami Sightseeing Guide

  Things to do and see:

Murakami is very famous for its restored samurai houses and the remains of an old samurai castle on Murakami's most famous mountain. The castle is easy to find: simply follow the street leading straight from the station all the way down to the mountain. It's about a 15 minute hike up and gives nice views of Murakami and the rice fields beyond. The Samurai houses are located in old town, very close to the mountain. Ask any local and they'll point you the way.

Senami village, now part of Murakami, offers the best excuse to visit: famous onsens with beautiful views of the ocean. There are a number of hotels in Senami that specialize in this, the most popular being Taikanso and Shioi Misou. The onsens are incredibly crowded right before sunset, but as soon as the sun sets the crowd leaves and you can get a pool and the view to yourself. 

Iyoboya Kaikan - A museum dedicated to salmon and the history of fishing in Murakami.  Don't be fooled by the concept- it's actually really cool!  It's located off Route 3, with signs pointing the way.  There is also a restaurant next door that serves fish and Murakami beef.

Murakami Rekishi Bunkakaikan and Oshagiri Kaikan - Two adjacent museums dedicated to the history of the region and native materials and goods.  If you visit both and the Iyoboya Kaikan in one day you can buy discount passes.  These two museums are located in the old downtown, by Murakami Elementary School and the City Hall.  There are some signs pointing the way, too.

Murakami International Triathalon: 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run

http://www.iwafune.ne.jp/~triathlon/index-e.html 

Shopping:

Visit the Salmon House, located in old town (by city hall). Murakami is very famous for salmon, and at any time of the year there are at least 50-100+ dead salmon hanging in the house. You can sip tea and smell the fish. Awesome.

Murakami tea is unique in that Murakami (apparently) is the most northern city to grow and produce tea. Plenty of shops in old town will sit you down and offer you sweets to go with all the samples you're drinking.

Murakami is also famous for its lacquerware- beautifully hand-carved and painstakingly lacquered items.  It is generally quite expensive, but jewelry, cell phone charms, chopsticks, and other small items are affordable, unique souvenirs.

Restaurants:

Misozen - A favorite of Murakami ALTs for the past few years, it serves delicious Sapporo-style ramen.  To get there, turn left at the first stop light/ crossroad in front of the station. Go straight for a couple of blocks, and you should see it on the left hand side of the street.  English menu available.

Himalaya - Since opening in spring 2009, it quickly became a new ALT favorite.  Run by incredibly nice Nepalese family, they serve “Indian curry and Nepalese food,” including vegetarian options!  Located on Route 7 in front of the Komeri, it’s far from the station, but worth a visit if you have a car or bike (or you like walking).

Tenshige - Recommended by Murakami natives, this yakisoba place brings you a plate of noodles to which you can add various sauces at your table.  They offer “regular,” “large,” and “double large” plates of noodles and bowels of soup at affordable prices.  It’s in front of Murakami Elementary School and can be a little difficult to find if you don’t know the area, but you can get directions.

Gakuya - Right by the station (on the 2nd floor of a building- look for its sign), Gakuya offers great atmosphere, live jazz music, and tasty food if you're up for it. (Try the Thai Curry). It's a very small place but the live events are always fun.

On the same street as Gakuya, just a few shops down, is Ekisha or "Bistro". It`s run by a woman who loves ALTs. She`ll probably take your picture and add it to her collection when you visit, not to mention charge you around 1,000 yen for as much food and beer as you can eat/drink. Great deal.

Pakistan bar is on the same street running from the station, but quite a few blocks up in a more residential area. It`s more of a sports bar, but every Saturday of the month locals come in to DJ. If the turn out is good dancing and drinking there can be quite fun- cover is 1,000 yen (includes 1 drink).

Yo Yo Te is great. It's located in old town and can be quite difficult to find your first time- ask the Murakami ALTs or a cab driver. The owner is Japanese but he specializes in dishes from around the world, particularly India. Meals are more expensive here (with drinks expect to pay around 3,000) but well worth it. Ask him to mix you a drink- he's rather creative and it`s always delicious.

Cultural Events:

Murakami Festival - first week in July. Everyone in the area comes out for this. On the Thursday the festival starts at 12am and goes a full 24 hours- you can hear the drums and flutes late into the night. Plenty of fried food and cute children in yukatas.

Murakami also holds an annual doll festival in the spring. It runs for almost the entire month of March. Dolls are put on display- they are supposedly interesting in that some of those doll collections are incredibly old and well preserved. I think the festival is interesting because the dolls are on display in many houses in old town. You can visit all of these houses while viewing the dolls, and the owners are very welcoming and will chat with you forever if you allow it.

The month of September is the folding screen festival. It's the exact same concept as the doll festival, but very old folding screens are put on display in local homes.

Hidden Jewels:

Suzugadaki Waterfall in Asahi - Two gorgeous waterfalls with pools and streams you can splash around in.  It takes some time to get to, but there are signs showing the way.  To get there, turn on to 205 off of Route 7 (you’ll see a Seven Eleven and an Enomoto) and follow the signs to Takane/ Suzugadaki.  If you stop at the Seven Eleven, they can give you a map, too.  Eventually you will wind up at a very narrow mountain road that you have to turn right onto.  You can either park there and hike up the road or drive up and park at the waterfall parking lot.  Don’t get discouraged if you feel like you’ve gone too far—you probably haven’t gotten there yet. 

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Municipality: Arakawa                                                                          Author: Rebecca Stein

Things to do and see:

The joy of this small town is there are many hidden shrines to discover. And beautiful Green Park which boasts a koi pond, and a cherry tree-lined, trickle-fountain walkway and shaded path around the fishing "lake" is an ideal way to pass away those warm, lazy weekends. There is a golf course right along Arakawa-river; The river itself is a paradise for fishing fanatics. Also, Arakawa's Sakamachi station has the only train line heading east through Yamagata-ken to Yonezawa.

Shopping:

There are 2 major shopping centers- Palty and Acos. Palty is home to a Musashi, hyaku-en, and modestly stocked grocery. Acos is by far the better of the two with a larger hyaku-en, better grocery, bakery, shoe shop, farmer's market, toy store, small arcade and a liquor store. Next door is a Hirasei geberal goods store, which has really inexpensive electronics and lots of dry, bulk food. Despite Arakawa's small size, there is still a Tsutaya movie rental, which can cure the rainy day blues or make those snowed-in days more enjoyable. There is also an amazing patisserie (cake and sweet shop) in Kanaya neighborhood and the head cake-master will gladly chat it up in English, provided you drink real coffee with him (not that crazy instant stuff).

Restaurants:

There is a revolving sushi restaurant (plates range in price from ￥126 - ￥330) on the main drag of Rt. 7. Just down the street is a take-out Bento shop (under ￥700). There are several local ramen places. Hidden in a back alley in the Sakamachi area is a really nice izakaya, but the menu is Japanese only.

Cultural Events:

There is a large town festival the 1st or 2nd weekend in August, featuring fireworks, 3 hours of traditional dancing down Sakamachi and a Dance Troupe competition that draws competitors from neighboring towns. (Just down the main street from Sakamachi station). Also from mid-Sept. to mid-Oct. every neighborhood in Arakawa hosts their own festival weekend. Plenty of opportunities for banana-choco crepes and festival sweets.

Hidden Jewels:

The nice thing about a town so inaka is that you are constantly finding new things and places you didn't notice before. Up until this winter, I never noticed the Buddhist monetary, usually hidden by trees. The real hidden jewels, however, are the residents -- they never make you feel like the gaijin that you are.

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Municipality: Awashima                                                                      Author: Joseph Cairnes

Things to do and see:

A delightful little island off the coast of Murakami, famous for its quality fishing and, unsurprisingly therefore, its quality seafood. Reached by an hour and a half ferry ride from Iwafune Port. Once there, you can commandeer boats to go on a fishing mission, hire a guide to take you octopus hunting off the rocks in the early morning (in season) or simply rent bikes and go for a ride around the island - a doddle to complete in just a couple of hours even including stops to check out the views at the viewing platforms dotted about. At the end of the day you can hit the onsen down by the port or simply sit back, open a beer, sit on the harbour wall and watch waves come in.

Life for the roughly 450 islanders is slow and peaceful. A friendly bunch, they welcome visitors with a carefree and relaxed manner not common in this part of the world. The little festival they have in late spring which welcomes in the holiday season is a good time to go and see what the island has to offer the casual visitor, but anyone with a desire to relax and not see any neon- or traffic-lights for a weekend will find it a great place anytime. Book yourself into one of the minshuku a few weeks early to ensure you get a good place; my recommendation being Tateshima. The owner, having been on NHK a couple of times for his cooking, is modest about his skills. Don't believe his humility though as for the price of about 7000yen you get a bed for the night and dinner. Dinner being a fantastic sashimi platter, beautifully laid out alongside a range of local delights, the most famous being wappani and miso soup cooked by adding boiling hot stones. Careful you don't burn your tongue. Breakfast is included too and can be anything from shark fin to fried eggs. Awashima. It's even got it's own sake. 

Shopping:

Large range of bamboo related products, e.g. charcoal, soap, sticks of bamboo.

Sake, tastes good and there's a pun in the name.

Restaurants:

Tateshima, 50 metres from the port, just walk inland towards the road.

Cultural Events:

Spring festival - People in costumes, carrying shrines. Same as any number of festivals you've been to, probably. Nice atmosphere though.

Hidden Jewels:

The Rock of the Octopus - Said to be the jewel worn around the neck of the ancient king who raised the island out of the sea. As the legend goes it is hidden in a cave somewhere in the giant-mosquito infested bamboo forests on the mountain.

Tours last for 3 hours, cost about 2000 yen and you can buy a T-shirt at the end that says "OCTOPUS ROCK! AWASHIMA".

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Shibata City:     

Shibata area        

Seiro area

Toyoura area      

Shiunji area

Kajikawa area

Things to do and see:

Like most of Japan, the mixture of old, beautiful buildings and streets with the horrendous concrete of the new is no exception to Shibata. Originally built as a castle town, the narrow streets that surround the Shibata castle were specifically built in ancient times to confuse unwanted assailants. Also very annoying and confusing for those who live there! But it all adds to the charm.

Shibata is speckled with many old temples, shrines and interesting cemeteries. Due to the labyrinth-like streets, it's possible to discover many interesting things just by doing a little walk around the centre.

Suwa shrine (Shibata's largest) is a few hundred meters from the train station and is well worth the short jaunt. Also in the same vicinity is the Shimizu-en Garden (old summer house of the seigneur), a beautiful traditional Japanese-style garden that is nice to visit in any season. Next to the garden is an antique row of bunkhouses for foot soldiers, and buildings which house samurai dress.

The Koji Fukiya Memorial Museum also showcases many paintings of Koji FUKIYA, a famous wartime artist originally from Shibata and also famous in France. During the early summer months, Ijimino Park is the place to go and wander through the thousands of purple irises in bloom.

Finally, there's Shibata Castle, a pretty moat-surrounded 4-tierd castle, in the very centre of the maze.

If you're into winter sports, the huge amounts of snow down south and the almost complete lack of snow in Niigata city are nicely balanced out in Shibata for the perfect skiing and boarding conditions. There are two decent ski resorts within a 20-minute drive of the city, Ninox and Tainai. Close enough for night skiing during the week and cheaper than many runs down south.

Shopping:

Located just on the outskirts of Shibata-shi (about 10 minute drive from the train station) towards Route 7 (to Niigata-shi) is Como Town, a large area filled with outlet stores, large electronic stores, restaurants, Hard Off/Off House, Tsutaya Video, etc.

Many outdoor fruit, vegetable and fish stands/markets dot neighbourhood corners, all year round.

Shibata-shi has been put on the map since the opening of the new AEON complex, a western-style mall complete with its very own Starbucks (very exciting news to those of us who live here!). It's located across the street from the Nishi-Shibata station.

Due to its rich climate, fertile soil and underflow of clear water, Shibata-shi produces some of the best sake, soy sauce, and rice in the prefecture. These make great omiyage when looking for a tasty memento of Shibata.

Restaurants:

Wara Wara is an izakaya in the centre of Shibata that offers lots of delicious Japanese and Japanified-western food, with a large, English foreigner-friendly menu.

* food & drinks = about ¥2000.

Around the corner from this is Knightsbridge, a sort of English-style pub offering friendly service, a homey environment, and a delicious menu.

* food & drinks = about ¥2000

In the same neighbourhoood is Nigakusyo (２楽章), a European-style coffee shop, whose walls are decorated with the photos of great composers and violins. A cozy atmosphere coupled with the friendly and welcoming nature of its masutaa (owner), it's a great place to go for a delicious European-style cappuccino and pizza.

* cappuccino & pizza = about ¥1000

Cultural Events:

The Shibata Matsuri (Festival) is usually held around the last weekend of August. You'll find dancing in the streets and vendors filling the neighbourhood near the train station offering delicious festival food, games, and activities. The weekend comes to a close with the Suwa Shrine Festival, where portable shrines from each neighbourhood are carried through the streets by yukata-clad men, who each scramble to race their shrine to the finish line first. 

Hidden Jewels:

About a ten minute drive from the city centre finds you in Tsukioka, an area rich with natural hot springs, the best of which is located in the Tsukioka Springs Hotel, a large, famous Japanese-style hotel offering natural marble and Japanese garden-style onsen. If the somewhat hefty entry price isn't for you, check out one of the other onsen in the same area.

From James Couch:

There is a Aikido instructor in Shibata that speaks English very well. He holds class twice a week, and has webpage in both English and Japanese HERE. 

Tainai City     

 Sekikawa Village     

Municipality: Sekikawa                                                               Author: James White

Things to do and see:

Plenty of rivers (which flood occasionally), mountains (Eburasashi dake (1636m) is, in my opinion, harder than Fuji-san, thought that I would die up there...you can also access the Iide range from this peak), that sort of natural stuff, skiing (Wakabuna Kogen, nice for beginners). Various onsen, Yumu is very nice situated on 113; there is also a sports dome opposite with a climbing wall (you have to bring your own equipment). 

Shopping:

Sake, Kintsuba (a Japanese sweet, apparently, I'm sure it's delicious...) the area is also famous for shitake mushrooms, and of course, rice. 

Restaurants:

Very few, and no Izakayas, woe is me, but there is a good steak restaurant (which definitely beats most of the steak houses in Niigata city, and it hasn't been redecorated since the 70’s, so for that time warp feeling you have to go!)-Meiku, Main street, shimoseki, 2nd floor. Alternatively there are a few restaurants on route 113 on the way to Yamagata, nothing to write home about though! 

Cultural Events:

Possibly the only festival which definitely is the biggest one in Japan, and in fact, in the world. So big that it's in the Guinness book of records! Woo and hoo I hear you say! This is the Taishita Monja matsuri; where a big rice and bamboo snake (biggest in the world, 82.2 metres) is carried through the town by very inebriated young (and old) men, swaying to the music, and chasing the audience. Last Sunday of every august; the usual fireworks, dancing and stuff the night before! 

Hidden Jewels:

Route 113; this leads through to Yamagata (and Zao), and takes in some really beautiful scenery on the way, the train ride is even more beautiful, but very infrequent. Did I mention that there's a lot of countryside, mountains, rivers and stuff? 

A little past the main area of Sekikawa, on the left hand side, is a suspension bridge. On the other side of the suspension bridge is a really amazing ryokan and onsen. It's very traditional and very HOT. It's called Takanosu, which I think means "hawk's nest" because it's perched between the mountain and the river. There are also plenty of camp sites, a giant dam that's beautiful in the summer, and two separate marathons a year. (Thanks to Aimee Schroeppel)