Edge of Niigata — Local services in Niigata

I've been on a couple tours with Edge of Niigta and every time is amazing! Niigata is an underappreciated part of Japan that everyone needs to see.

Niigata City is only 2 hours away by Shinkansen from Tokyo and it has all the beautiful traditional Japanese culture without the crowds. Edge of Niigata takes you to meet, play games, and take pictures with Geisha (locally called Geigi) and you can even ask questions with the help of the translator. Seeing and playing games with a real life Geisha is every Japan fan's dream and the down-to-earthness of Niigata people is present even in the elegant and mysterious Geisha.

Niigata is near the ocean and is famous for rice so that means it has the most amazing sushi you have ever tasted. Luckily for us, it is commonly served on these tours. The restaurants are often in old buildings full of authentic classic charm. You can feel like an early 20th century merchant in these traditional eateries. Even someone with food allergies (gluten-free) like me can enjoy these meals.

If you are a fan of traditional Japanese culture and don't like crowds, Edge of Niigata tours are exactly what you are...

Thanks to Edge of Niigata, the organizer, I had a lucky opportunity to hop into a free bus tour for ALTs, to visit some interesting places including sake brewery called Kirinzan in Tsugawa and a traditional roof tile factory in Agano. The most unforgettable experience above all was the visit at the brewery, where they kindly showed whole process of brewing. It was quite an eye-opening chance for me to look into the “secret “ of Japan’s age old drink that is getting popular worldwide, as I have grown to love sake since I came to Niigata. During the visit, everything about the brewing including the buildings, tools and equipment was interesting but what I enjoyed most was the tasting. As many as 8 brands of their products were offered and I managed to try all. The gorgeous lunch treat of Kirinzan was delicious, and I managed to stay sane for the rest of the day and came back home with so many nice memories. Good lucks and good continuation to all and many thanks to...

I had an unforgettable experience on the Snow Country Tokamachi tour! I've never seen so much snow in one place—truly breathtaking. The ryokan chosen for us was exceptional, blending comfort with an authentic atmosphere. The organization of the tour was top-notch, every detail was clearly well thought out. Our guide was not only cheerful and personable but also incredibly knowledgeable, adding so much depth to each stop. Overall, an absolute joy from...