2025 Uonuma Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Niche destination lived in the late 19th century, the current Niigata Prefecture. A few centuries after Michelangelo created mural masterpieces for the Sistine Chapel, Ishikawa also created similar masterpieces in the temples of the area. Yundie is not only an accomplished painter, but also a master of engraving. is a Buddhist temple that displays the carving masterpiece of Yundie. In the temple hall, the huge patio carving is a masterpiece he spent six years, and is widely regarded as his greatest work. This sculpture depicts the famous Taoist Zen master who met tigers in China. Surprisingly, this century-old Xifu Temple is quite well maintained. There are a large number of tourists visiting every day, but in the temple, all the slippers are needed, and even the candlesticks are exquisite and clean. Even after 200 years, until today, when I look at those paintings and sculptures, there are no traces of the years, and they are still beautiful and vivid. Address: Yuki-ku, Niigata Prefecture 174, Ikebukuro Visit time: 9:00 - 15

Minamiuonuma City, Japan is located in the southeastern part of Niigata Prefecture in the central part of Honshu Island, Japan. Specifically, the city is bordered by the Sea of ​​Japan to the east and the Echigo Mountains to the west. Here are some tourist attractions in Minamiuonuma, Japan: Natural Landscape - Okutadami Dam/Okutadami Lake (Kaneyama Lake): The lake is clear and surrounded by mountains. The scenery varies with each season, with cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring and red leaves covering the mountains in autumn. - Oze: It is an entrance to Niigata Prefecture. It has abundant natural landscapes such as primeval forests, wetlands, and streams. It is a good place to appreciate natural scenery and conduct ecological observations.  - Uono River: It runs through Minamiuonuma City. The river is clear and the scenery along the river is beautiful. You can enjoy the beautiful riverside scenery and surrounding rural scenery. History and Culture - Undongam: A temple dedicated to saving women Located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata (xi). More than 1,300 years ago, Fujiwara no Fusamoto's mother built a temple here and became a nun, using the natural spring water here to provide relief to the world. After the death of Fujiwara no Fusamoto's mother, Undoan was established as her ancestral temple. It belongs to the Vinaya sect and has been famous for its mission to save women throughout its long history. It is known as the first temple in Echigo and the first hermitage in Japan. - Eirinji Temple and Saifukuji Temple: They have beautiful sculptures created by Ishikawa Unchou in the late Edo period and are designated as cultural properties by Niigata Prefecture. - The Former Residence of the Meguro Family and the Sato Family: As an important national cultural property, the building has a unique architectural style and the interior furnishings reflect the lifestyle and cultural characteristics of the time. Hot spring resort - Yunotani Onsen Village: It is a famous hot spring resort in Minamiuonuma City. The hot spring water here is of excellent quality and has many health benefits. There are also many hot spring hotels and resorts around it. - Ginzandaira Onsen: Surrounded by mountains and with a beautiful environment, you can soak in the hot springs here while enjoying the moisturizing effects of the hot springs and appreciating the surrounding natural beauty. - Osawayama Onsen "Satoyama Jujo": With a history of 150 years, it was originally rebuilt from an old house. The open-air bath offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and Uonuma Basin at about 2,000 meters. Special experience - Uonuma no Sato: Mainly based on the "Hakkaisan" facilities, it has rich agricultural resources and traditional cultural experiences. It also provides barbecue areas, accommodation areas, dining areas and other functional areas. - Koide Ski Resort: There are various ski slopes suitable for skiers of different levels. The surrounding facilities are complete, and there are hot springs for you to relax after skiing. - Tsukioka Park: The park has green spaces, lakes, recreational facilities, etc. It is a good place for local residents to relax and have fun, and it is also a good place for tourists to learn about local life.

A spring feature seen at the Aburumagawa Dam deep in the mountains of Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture "Mountain drift ice" or "Aburumagawa snow flow" This is a very rare natural phenomenon that occurs in early spring and can only be seen here in Japan This area is a heavy snow area, and more than 4m of snow falls every winter. The water level of the dam rises as meltwater flows in with the arrival of spring, which causes the snow covering the lake surface to rise, and eventually the snow breaks up and looks like "drift ice". This phenomenon is called "snow flow". The season usually lasts for about two weeks from early to mid-April However, the period varies greatly depending on the amount of snowfall and weather conditions of the year 2 In 2015, the snowfall was more than 4m, but the weather was also low, so the snow flow may have occurred later than usual. The snow flow situation will be updated on the Uonuma City Tourism Association website. The timing of viewing is also a guideline when the dam's water level (water utilization capacity) is 75% or more, so you need to check the "Niigata Prefecture River Disaster Prevention Information System." Photo spots are indicated on-site, but are also introduced on the Uonuma City Tourism Association website. There is also free parking. However, please note that there are no shops or public toilets in the area. Location: Aburumagawa Dam, Oshirakawa, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Admission and parking are free Access: About 50 minutes by car from Uonuma IC on the Kan'etsu Expressway, no public transportation #Seasonal places in Japan #Niigata Prefecture #Breathtaking views #Spring scenery

#2月好地方2025 As he paddled toward the center of the lake, he pointed to the shadows underwater and said, "Look! The submerged torii gate of the shrine." She leaned against the edge of the canoe and stared, "Does it look like the railway in Spirited Away?" As the mist rose, the phantom sound of drums from the old villagers' sacrifice could be heard in the distance. On the way back, he picked up the red leaves from the lake and suddenly asked, "If our home sank to the bottom of the water, what would you take with you?" "Of course it's the game console you hid under the bed." The splashes of water from the paddles wet their smiles. *Adventure equipment: The rubber boat can be equipped with a transparent bottom to observe underwater ruins. *

📍Saifukuji Temple (Oura Kaisan-do) Oura, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture 《Access》 Bus stop Mushinokamiguchi/About 12 minutes walk from Minami Echigo Sightseeing Bus Bus stop Tokamachi Iriguchi (National Route 17)/About 18 minutes walk from Minami Echigo Sightseeing Bus Bus stop Mushinoshitaguchi/About 18 minutes walk from Minami Echigo Sightseeing Bus Opening hours 9:00-16:00 ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ The sculptures by Ishikawa Uncho are a sight to behold😳. Mount Akagi Saifukuji Temple has a history of about 500 years. It is also called "Echigo Nikko Kaisan-do" because its sculptures are as wonderful as those of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. There are wonderful sculptures and paintings of Uncho throughout the hall, and all of them are must-see works, but the highlight is the large sculpture that covers the entire ceiling of the hall on all four sides! 😳 The delicate openwork and vivid colors were truly amazing 👏✨. Photography is not allowed inside the temple, so I couldn't convey this excitement in a photo, so I took a pamphlet. Please see the 8th photo. The real thing is even more amazing 👏. If you visit Uonuma, please include this in your itinerary. #NiigataTrip #NiigataTourism #Niigata #DomesticTrip #MinamiUonuma #Michelangelo #History #Sculpture #0YenTripJanuary2025

#OctoberGoodDestinations2024 This ancient shrine of the Imperial Palace made me feel a profound cultural heritage! The shrine's ancient wooden structure and exquisite carvings made me feel like I was back in time and felt the weight of history. 🌟✨ The shrine is in a quiet environment, surrounded by tall trees. The fresh air makes people feel relaxed, and the sound of the breeze blowing the leaves in the ears seems to be whispering ancient stories. 🍃💖

Saifukuji Temple, a temple of the Soto sect, is a Niigata Prefecture cultural property that is home to a group of magnificent, intricate, and gorgeous sculptures by Ishikawa Uncho, a master craftsman from the end of the Edo period. Of particular note are the thatched double roof of the Kaisan-do Hall and the carvings on the ceiling inside, which have an overwhelming presence. Uncho's delicate carving technique, which covers everything from the expressions of animals to the veins of leaves on plants, is at a level that can be called divine, and the majestic colors of the "Dougen Zenji Subjugating a Fierce Tiger" painting inside the Kaisan-do Hall retain their original beauty, and the more you carefully observe the details, the more you will discover new things. This is truly a temple worthy of being called a cultural heritage, with Uncho's works forming a unified structure throughout the temple and shrine, and its overwhelming technique and narrative nature make it a highly recommended temple that boasts a spectacular scale and beauty that has earned it the nickname "Echigo Nikko."

A popular long distance ferry ride from Hokkaido to Mainland of Japan is quite incredible. Ferry ships can carry both passengers and vehicles. Several routes operate from Hokkaido to Mainland of Japan. During sailing, the ferry also serves food and restaurants, convenience store, souvenir shops, Onsen, cinema services. Depends on the ferry, you can choose Japanese style bedroom or western style bedroom according to the pricing. The ticket price from Hokkaido to Niigata costed around 220 USD for one Japanese style room for me. I took a reservation for Yukari overnight ferry from Hokkaido. The ferry shopped around 30 mins at Akita prefecture to ride off the passenger at the early morning. Yukari ferry is serving for 846 people and 18,229 tons of cargo. It can be available to carry the vehicle.

I went to Kairi, a hot spring inn. This inn is located in the mountains, surrounded by nature, and you can enjoy natural hot springs. First of all, when I arrived at the inn, I felt a sense of peace and tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The room was clean and spacious, with a beautiful mountain view from the window. While soaking in the hot spring, I was able to enjoy the beauty of nature in every season. The hot spring is a natural hot spring that flows directly from the source, and the rich aroma and warmth of the water enveloped my body, allowing me to spend a time healing both body and mind. The starry sky viewed from the open-air bath was particularly special, and I was able to spend a relaxing time. There was a wide variety of dishes made with local ingredients, and I enjoyed the dishes that made the most of the flavors of the ingredients. In particular, the dishes made with locally grown vegetables and mountain produce were exquisite, and I was able to enjoy the local flavors. The staff were kind and the warm hospitality warmed my heart. There were also nature walking trails and tourist spots around the inn, so I was able to enjoy a fulfilling stay. Overall, Kairi is a relaxing space surrounded by nature, and is recommended for those who want to refresh their mind and body. I was able to spend a luxurious time being soothed by the blessings of nature. The hot springs are alternated between men and women in the evening and morning. I got up early at 6am to try all of the baths, which are said to be the baths of the Seven Lucky Gods. #FreeHongKongAirTicket #Niigata #NiigataTrip

Visiting hours: 9:00-16:00 (last admission 15:40) Admission fee: 500 yen for adults Highlights: Master craftsman Ishikawa Uncho completed the masterpieces of sculpture, painting, plasterwork, etc. inside and outside the Kaisando Hall in just five years and a few months. Photography is permitted within the temple for a limited time from December 1, 2022 to April 28, 2023. #trip2023

Visited in October 2022 Lake Okutadami in Niigata Prefecture Okutadami is one of Niigata's most popular tourist destinations and a hidden gem. With a total water storage capacity of over 600 million tons, the largest man-made lake in Japan offers a grand view of "Nordic-like" scenery in spring and "Okutadami of autumn leaves" in autumn😊 We were able to enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves while riding a pleasure boat✨ *Lake Okutadami pleasure boat #Autumn trip#Autumn leaves spot#Autumn leaves viewing

Japan Travel Experience the beauty of Japanese architecture coordinatesNiigata Yumeuma City Photo Guide You can take pictures of Japanese gardens. accommodation near Ogami only mountain opening hours time: 09