Takada Castle, Sanju Yagura (Three tiered turret)

Takada Castle (Takada-jo) was built in 1614 as the home base of Matsudaira Tadateru, the sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who ruled Japan in those days. Its construction was difficult as it required diverting the flow of three rivers, but it was completed less than four months after the work began. It has no stone wall, but is surrounded by breastworks. Neither does it have a donjon, but the three-tiered turret positioned on the south-west side of the castle grounds was its symbol. It has not retained its perfect form due to earthquakes and fire, and the existing three-tiered turret was reconstructed in 1993 based on old pictorial evidence and data from archeological finds. It houses an exhibition room, where old documents relating to this castle and items excavated from archeological digs at the site of the castle are exhibited.The third floor is an observation room. In summer, lotus flowers bloom in abundance, covering the outer moat.

Niigata Kenritsu Kindai Bijutsukan (Museum of Modern Art)

Niigata Kenritsu Kindai Bijutsukan is situated in the Senshugahara-Furusato-no-Mori, a forest in Nagaoka, a city through which runs Japan's longest river, the Shinano-gawa. Eight outdoor sculptures have been positioned in the spacious garden facing the Shinano-gawa to punctuate the serene space. The museum collection includes paintings, sculpture, woodblock prints, artifacts and photographs, which are divided into three categories: "Art of the World," consisting principally of post-19th century work; "Art of Japan," focusing on the past 100 years; and "Art of Niigata", encompassing artists connected with Niigata Prefecture. The "Art of Niigata" collection includes works by Bakusen Tsuchida and Misao Yokoyama which express the enormous spirit and dynamism of these artists.

Yahiko-jinja Shrine

Yahiko-jinja, in Yahiko-mura, Niigata Prefecture, is a typical example of an old shrine of this region. Enshrined here is Ameno-Kaguyama-no-Mikoto, supposed to have taught people from olden times the skills required to produce salt from seawater, as well as skills for fishing, rice cultivation, and other activities. The Shida-no-otachi is a sword with a 2.2 m blade which was given as an offering here in 1415 -- it is the longest sword in Japan and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government. The sanctuary was destroyed by fire in 1912 and rebuilt in 1916. Commemorating the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line (the "bullet train"), a large Shinto gateway 30 m high was built in here 1982. It has become a symbol of the town. In the shrine grounds there is also a special poultry farm in which chickens known as tomaru, designated a Natural Monument, are raised.

Murakami Kibori Tsuishu (carved Lacquerware)

The city of Murakami in Niigata Prefecture is an old castle town. Tradition has it that about 600 years ago, a lacquer craftsman invited from Kyoto for the construction of a temple began making lacquerware here. Murakami-bori-tsuishu carved lacquerware appeared around 200 years ago, when a samurai who was transferred to Edo (now Tokyo) learned the technique of choshitsu (lacquer carving) involving the carving of items coated with multiple layers of lacquer. Nowadays, lacquer workers here produce tiered boxes, trays, vases and confectionery dishes, all characterized by detailed carving on their surface. Murakami carved lacquerware was designated a traditional craft in 1976.

Ojiya-chijimi cloth

Hemp fabric has been woven in the city of Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture for centuries. Ojiya-chijimi was a fabric popularized in the 17th century by improving the traditional superior hemp cloth of Echigo for use in summer garments. The hemp fabric is woven by spinning the weft thread tightly, creating a distinctive crease called a shibo. These creases impart a smooth, cool sensation when the fabric is worn. Ojiya-chijimi cloth is still being made using time-honored techniques and was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Treasure by the Japanese government in 1955, and a traditional craft in 1975.

Shiozawa Tsumugi spinning/Hon-Shiozawa

Shiozawa-tsumugi and Hon-Shiozawa are high quality silks produced in the Shiozawa region of Niigata Prefecture, where traditional weaving techniques are still used. Shiozawa-tsumugi and Hon-Shiozawa have been designated traditional crafts by the Japanese government. Shiozawa-tsumugi is based on kinu chijimi (silk crepe) which utilizes a technique employed for hemp textiles such as Echigo-chijimi. Hon-Shiozawa is given a distinctive silky finish using hatcho twisted yarn, for which yarns are twisted seven to eight times more tightly than normal yarn. The fabric is then used for making kimono.

Tokamachi Gasuri

Hemp fabrics have been a popular product of Tokamachi in Niigata Prefecture from early times. In more recent times Tokamachi-gasuri and Akashi-chijimi silk textiles have utilized these traditional techniques. Kasuri-ori (a splashed pattern textile) fabric is made by dyeing yarn which is then woven to create geometrical patterns. Nowadays textiles are produced mainly for garments, and Tokamachi-gasuri retains distinctive patterns designed to fuse a modern look with traditional beauty. Tokamachi-gasuri was designated a traditional craft in 1982.