- Nature & Best Views
Kotakigawa Jade Gorge
Named for the crystal clear Kotaki River which runs through it, the Kotakigawa Jade Gorge is a stunningly beautiful jade gorge at the base of Mt. Myojo (1188 m). It is one of Itoigawa’s two jade gorges, alongside the Omigawa Jade Gorg...
- Places & Events
- Hands-on Experiences
Watanabe Sake Brewery – Hōjōgura
Farming Rice, Protecting Fields We are a small sake brewery in Itoigawa’s Nechi Valley, known for its beautiful rural scenery. Our sake, Nechi Otokoyama, is made completely in the Nechi Valley. We own the fields, we grow the rice, an...
- Places & Events
Kaibo Park
Only 400 meters from the coast, Itoigawa Station is the closest shinkansen station to the Sea of Japan. In just about 5 minutes you can walk from the North Entrance of Itoigawa Station to Kaibo Park, whose Japanese name means “Seaview...
- History & Culture
Nanasha Shrine & Gohyaku Rakan
Nestled on a quiet forested hillside next to Hisuien Gardens, Nanasha Shrine is not a particularly large shrine, but it hides a few surprising secrets. Next to the shrine’s worship hall sits Rakan-do, a small Buddhist Shrine housing t...
- Nature & Best Views
Tottoko Rock
An unusual rock formation off the coast of Nou Next to Marine Dream Nou, this rock’s name means ‘Chicken Rock’ in the Itoigawa Dialect of Japanese. The rock looks remarkably like a chicken and at the right time of the year...
- Nature & Best Views
Tsukimizu-no-Ike Pond
Sacred Pond Famous for Wisteria Blossoms The forest surrounding Tsukimizu-no-Ike is filled with wild wisteria plants. When they bloom it is said that they are so dazzling that they block out the reflection of the moon on the water, giving ...
- Places & Events
- History & Culture
Salt Trail Museum
Museum dedicated to the Historic Salt Trail Located in a repurposed farm house deep in the heart of the Nechi Valley, this museum features a collection of over 2,100 items are on display here and include tools used by the ‘bokka‘...
- Places & Events
Benikyū Japanese Sweets
One of Itoigawa’s Oldest Confectioneries, Founded in 1825 Benikyū makes sweets unique to Itoigawa, where they take pride not only in their flavor, but in the smiles they bring to their customers’ faces! You can enjoy their sweet...
- Places & Events
Hisuien Gardens & Jade Art Museum
A secluded Japanese garden decorated with jade A 70 ton boulder of cobalt jade greets you as you enter the gate to this beautifully-landscaped Japanese garden. Designed by acclaimed landscaper Kinsaku Nakane, the beauty of this garden chang...
- Places & Events
- History & Culture
Gyofū Souma House
Traditional Itoigawa-style Townhouse and Birthplace of Famed Poet Gyofū Souma This old-fashioned machiya-style townhouse was the home of Gyofū Souma, an Itoigawa-born scholar, poet and lyricist who left a lasting impression on modern Japane...