15 Best Date Spots in Niigata: Unforgettable Moments with Great Food and Experiences

A large-scale aquarium, one of the biggest on the Sea of Japan side. Powerful dolphin shows are held at the Dolphin Stadium four times a day (five times on Sundays and holidays).
A highlight is how the show also explains dolphins’ body structure and ecology through jumps timed to the trainers’ movements.
Don’t miss the “Sea of Japan Grand Tank.” In the Marine Tunnel, you can observe fish that live in the Sea of Japan as if you’re taking a walk on the seafloor.

APA Resort Joetsu Myoko is a resort hotel with a wide range of facilities across an Approx. 500㎡ site, including sports facilities, hot springs, an infinity pool, and more.
On the grounds, the “Lover’s Sanctuary Satellite Observatory” at an elevation of Approx. 700m is a photogenic lookout for couples, featuring a heart-shaped monument and a bell.
Another draw is the view overlooking Mt. Myoko and the city below.
It’s also said that your wish will come true if you take a photo framing the sunset sinking behind Mt. Myoko inside the heart monument.
The observatory also has a fence where you can attach a love padlock with your wish.
Padlocks can be purchased at the adjacent hotel.

A market where you’ll find all of Niigata’s best flavors, from just-caught fish from the Sea of Japan and farm-direct vegetables to seasonal fruit, quality meats, Niigata rice, and famous sake.
There are plenty of places to eat, so it’s also recommended to enjoy Niigata cuisine right on the spot.
You’ll find sushi and seafood bowl spots using fresh fish, as well as Italian restaurants and stylish cafes.

Shirane Grape Garden in Minami Ward, an area of Niigata City known for agriculture, is a pick-your-own farm where you can harvest seasonal fruit grown with water from the nearby Shinano River, using organic fertilizer and low-pesticide methods.
Spring brings strawberries, summer brings cherries and peaches, fall brings grapes and pears, and winter brings mandarins—so you can enjoy fruit picking in any season.
The most popular fruit is grapes, which the farm is named after. From late July to early November, over 30 varieties rotate in, from classic favorites to rare types.

Echigo Ichinomiya with over 2,400 years of history. It’s said to have begun when Amenokagoyama-no-Mikoto, a great-grandchild of Amaterasu Omikami, developed the land of Koshi, was buried on Mt. Yahiko, and a shrine was built here.
At the summit of Mt. Yahiko is a mausoleum enshrining Amenokagoyama-no-Mikoto and his wife, making it a popular matchmaking spot. Mt. Yahiko is 634m high, and you can also take a ropeway from the foothills to the summit.

A facility where you can learn about the history and ecology of the Japanese crested ibis (toki), a Special Natural Monument of Japan, with exhibits including a taxidermy specimen of “Kin,” the last Japanese-born toki.
The Toki Fureai Plaza has a large cage where you can observe toki in near-natural behavior such as flying, foraging, and nest-building. From the viewing windows, you can also see them up close.
During feeding times in the morning and evening, you may have a chance to see toki from just a few centimeters away.

Along National Route 402 on the Sea of Japan coast, 11 large seafood shops line up on Fish Market Street. Fresh fish from the Sea of Japan and seafood from across Japan gather here. With lively, super-fresh fish and an abundant selection, it’s always packed with customers who drive in from the Tokyo metropolitan area and central Niigata City to buy seafood.
Teradomari’s specialty is “hamayaki,” seasonal fish, squid, scallops, and more skewered and grilled over charcoal.

Niigata City, the central city of Niigata Prefecture, is home to the Shinano River, Japan’s longest river.
Shinano River Yasuragi-tei Green Space is a landscaped green area built atop embankments created for flood control and environmental improvement, with plantings and benches.
Its biggest appeal is the chance to relax and take in the Shinano River while seasonal flowers like tulips and cosmos add color throughout the year.
Approx. Approx. 1,000 cherry trees have been planted, and many people visit in spring for hanami.

Benten-iwa is a large rocky reef formed by a submarine volcanic eruption, and its summit is home to a lighthouse and Itsukushima Shrine.
You can reach it from the shore by crossing Akebono Bridge, known for its beautiful vermilion railings, and on the reef you can observe volcanic ejecta such as lava fragments and volcanic ash.
Both the view of Benten-iwa from the shore and the panoramic view of the Sea of Japan from Benten-iwa are beautiful, making it famous as a scenic spot.
In 2016, the lighthouse was certified as a “Lover’s Lighthouse,” drawing attention as a matchmaking spot as well.

The Kiyotsu River flows between sheer cliffs over 100m high, and the contrast between rugged rock faces and the emerald-green clear stream is beautiful—Kiyotsu Gorge is counted as one of Japan’s three great gorges for its scenic beauty.
Its unique terrain, said to have formed as rock created by magma 5 million years ago repeatedly uplifted and eroded, lets you feel the grandeur of nature’s work.
You can view Kiyotsu Gorge’s scenery from the recently renovated Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel.

A multi-facility complex themed around sake and food, operated by Hakkaisan Brewery, known for Niigata’s famous sake “Hakkaisan.”
At the lush foothills of Mt. Hakkaisan, 13 facilities, including a sake brewery, restaurants, and shops, are gathered in one place.
Hakkaisan Yukimuro is a facility where you can experience life and culture in snowy regions.
The snow storage cellar is a local traditional practice: a natural refrigerator that stores sake and vegetables by gathering snow during winter.

One of Sado’s signature sights: the tarai-bune tub boat. It was devised in the Meiji era along Ogi’s rocky coast to harvest turban shells, abalone, wakame seaweed, and more, and is said to be more maneuverable and easier to control than a small boat.
Tarai-bune are made of cedar and bamboo, and have an oval shape measuring 180cm long, 140cm wide, and 55cm deep. They’re surprisingly stable, and even with a female boat operator and three adults on board, they don’t easily tip over.
Basically, the female operator rows for you, but if you’d like, you can also try rowing yourself.

The Befco Bakauke Observatory is located on the 31st floor of Toki Messe, a complex that includes a convention center and Hotel Nikko Niigata.
At Approx. 125m above ground, it’s one of the tallest observatories on the Sea of Japan side, and a popular spot offering a 360-degree panoramic view of Niigata City, the Sea of Japan, and on clear days, Sado Island and the Gozu Mountain Range.
The night view, selected as part of “Japan Night View Heritage,” is also spectacular. You can take in the beautiful nighttime scenery with someone special.

NEXT 21 in Chuo Ward, Niigata City, is a multi-use facility with a ward office and various offices.
The top floor, the 19th floor, is open as an observation lounge that anyone can use freely.
From 101m above ground, you can enjoy sweeping views of Niigata City and even the Sea of Japan.
The sunset over the Sea of Japan is beautiful, but for a romantic time, nighttime is recommended.
You can see the sparkling city lights of Niigata up close.

Media Ship is the largest commercial facility in Niigata City’s Bandai area.
Along with restaurants and shops, it brings together a wide variety of facilities, including museums where you can experience Niigata’s culture and history, as well as medical services.
On the 20th (top) floor, the “Sora no Hiroba Observation Floor” offers a 360-degree panorama from 100m above ground.
With vending machines, benches, and subdued lighting, it’s an easy place to enjoy Niigata City’s night views even more beautifully.

A restaurant popular for Italian cuisine made with carefully selected Niigata ingredients.
Set in the Furumachi area, where Edo-period streetscapes still remain, the space is a renovated Taisho-era traditional house. Take off your shoes and enjoy a relaxing meal on tatami and wooden floors.
Once used as a villa, the interior still features refined details like frosted glass and fittings, creating an elegant atmosphere.

A Japanese restaurant located Approx. a 6-minute drive from JR Niigata Station.
Not only ingredients but even seasonings are sourced from Niigata Prefecture, creating dishes that highlight natural flavors.
One of its appeals is enjoying refined seasonal luxury ingredients like nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) and crab with the casual ease of an izakaya.
With the “omakase course,” you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes, including items made with branded beef “Saga Wagyu” and donabe rice.
All-you-can-drink plans and plans featuring local sake are also available, making it recommended for couples who like alcohol as well.

A restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine made with carefully selected seasonal Niigata ingredients.
Based in Niigata, it also has locations around Tokyo Station and in Ginza.
Incorporating service styles used by world-renowned restaurants, it also offers special menus unique to Tsubamesanjo Bit.
The first location, the Niigata branch, is a 20-minute walk from JR Niigata Station.
The second floor features an open kitchen with a lively atmosphere, and at the counter seats you can watch the chefs cooking up close.
Meanwhile, the third floor is decorated wall-to-wall with traditional crafts from “Tsubame-Sanjo,” known as a metalworking town, creating a calm atmosphere where you can dine at a relaxed pace.
That flexibility—choosing based on your mood or occasion—is a key feature of the Niigata branch.

A historic inn opened in 1988, located in Iwamuro Onsen, known as Niigata’s “inner parlor.”
Born as a sister property of the long-established ryokan Fujiya, which dates back to the early Meiji period, its sukiya-style main house has 10 guest rooms, plus a separate annex building, creating a luxurious space with only 11 rooms in total.
Each guest room has its own distinct character, with spacious layouts and traditional Japanese touches.
Balancing comfort and charm, it offers guests a sense of calm and relaxation.

A castle-like inn in Iwamuro Onsen, known for sweeping views of the Echigo Plain and surrounding mountains from its rooftop terrace.
Getting there is easy, at Approx. 1 hour 10 minutes from Niigata Station by train and taxi.
You can also enjoy Niigata’s beautiful scenery from calm Japanese-style rooms based on traditional architectural styles.
Facilities are another highlight, including a Approx. 1,000-tsubo Japanese garden, Iwamuro Onsen’s largest indoor bath and open-air bath, and “Arashi no Yu,” one of Niigata Prefecture’s largest hot spring sauna facilities.
At the on-site dining venue, you can enjoy kaiseki cuisine for dinner featuring seasonal Niigata ingredients, especially seafood. It’s also a plus that they offer over 100 types of alcohol.
For breakfast, the Japanese set meal lets you compare different varieties of Niigata rice on a rotating daily basis.

Hotel Italia Ken is located Approx. a 10-minute drive from JR Niigata Station.
A hotel with the history of having once been Japan’s first Italian restaurant opened by an Italian, its biggest appeal is the four on-site restaurants where you can enjoy Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine.
From classic Western dishes at “Marco Polo,” authentic Sichuan cuisine at “SHI-EN,” kaiseki cuisine featuring seasonal Niigata ingredients at “Kappo Hotaru,” and sushi and à la carte dishes at “Sushi Yanagi,” you can enjoy a special dinner time at any of them.
There’s also a bar on the second floor called “Italia Club,” another nice option for lingering over drinks after dinner.