Sake has been used in religious ceremonies since 700 AD. For nearly 1,000 years, sake was primarily made in shrines and temples, although nowadays sake is produced in breweries. Even today, sake is one of the offerings made to the Shinto gods.
Visitors can experience the long history of sake and shrines while tasting delicious Niigata sake in the shrine precincts.

This walking tour takes you through the old port town Niigata. Explore the moat town which was called the “Venice of the East” and its original culture. We will visit a unique shrine, a Japanese garden, and other sights. If you are lucky, you may even hear geigi (women who entertain at banquets with singing, dancing, and other performance arts; also known as geisha and geiko) practicing the shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument. Take a walk to experience Japan.

Tsuruga Castle, also known as Aizu Castle or Aizuwakamatsu Castle, is famed as an impregnable fortress that withstood a month-long siege by the newly formed government during the Boshin war in 1868.
The castle has undergone additional repairs since being reconstructed in 1965. Reroofing work was completed in 2011 to reproduce the look of the 17th century castle. Selected as one of Japan’s most famous 100 castles, it is the only existing castle with red tiled roofs in Japan. The stone walls of the castle tower survived the devastating 1611 earthquake and today stand in their original form.
The castle keep is now open as a museum and visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Aizuwakamatsu from the top floor. After exploring the castle, the tearoom “Rinkaku” in the Tsuruga Castle Park, built by the tea master Sen no Rikyu’s son-in-law, is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea in the castle’s traditional garden.
Tsuruga Castle Park is famous for its thousand cherry blossom trees illuminated at night. The surrounding trees are also illuminated in autumn to show off the vividly changing colours of their leaves. Meanwhile the castle fills with visitors during the “Aizue Candle Festival” each winter. The view of the snow-covered castle illuminated by traditional hand-decorated candles is unforgettable!
A thematic journey in the Tohoku region:Castles・Samurai

AIZU Numajiri Extreme Hot SpringsA completely new hot spring area that offers a unique and superlative active experience.The surrounding landscape created by nature has a unique atmosphere, and the vast hot spring fields created in the valley are a sight to behold!Bathing in the open-air baths while appreciating nature's bounty is an overwhelmingly extraordinary experience.(Please bring your bathing suit if you wish to experience bathing in the hot spring.)
nowhere⇒（About 10 min）Adatara Renpo Numajiri Tozanguchi Parking⇒（About 60 min)　Adatara trail⇒（About 45 to 60 min）Numajiri hot spring source 　　　　　 Return：Numajiri hot spring source⇒（About 40 min）　Adatara trail⇒（About 10 min）Adatara Renpo numajiri Tozanguchi parking⇒nowhere 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Twice a day : Start at 9:00 or 13:00
Meeting Time： (1) 8:40 a.m. (2) 12:40 p.m.
Meeting place and dismissal point： Numajiri Kogen Lodge / café & activity nowhere 

Goshikinuma, literally meaning “Five Coloured Ponds”, is a group of volcanic lakes, ponds and marshes. The ponds take their name from the mysterious hues that vary in colour depending on the season, weather and angle of view. The complex actually consists of more than five ponds including the renowned Bishamon-numa, Aka-numa, Midoro-numa, Tatsu-numa, Benten-numa, Ruri-numa, Ao-numa and Yanagi-numa. Goshikinuma is formally known as the “Group of Lakes and Ponds of Goshikinuma” and was awarded one star in the Michelin Green Guide in 2016.
On the largest pond, Bishamon-numa, row boats are available for hire and large numbers of carp can be seen swimming about. Be sure to keep an eye out for the rare one with heart-shaped spots on her side which is thought to bring good luck!
Each pond has a character all its own. Aka-numa is framed with red-tinted plants thanks to the high iron content of the water. Meanwhile three different colours can be seen on the surface of Midoro-numa.
The Goshikinuma Nature Trail is a beautiful walking path linking the lakes and ponds. It takes just over an hour to walk the trail’s gently sloping hills and it is suitable for people of all abilities. Early birds may be lucky enough to catch a mesmerising view of the lakes and ponds crowned with morning mists. The clear waters of Yagi-numa is a must-see!
There are several vantage points around Goshikinuma where visitors can enjoy breath-taking views of the lakes and ponds as well as nearby Mount Bandai, one of Japan’s most famous mountains.