Ponshukan Echigo-Yuzawa Station

At “Ponshukan Echigo-Yuzawa Station,” you can easily enjoy Niigata’s sake culture. Because it’s inside the station, it’s easy to drop in between travel plans.

The main attraction is the sake tasting machine, where you can sample sake from every brewery in Niigata Prefecture. With over 125 types of sake available, you can get a rental ochoko cup and five coins for 500 yen. Choose up to five labels you like and compare them side by side. It’s a fun way to taste different flavors and find your favorite.

For food, the “Bomb Onigiri” made with Koshihikari rice from Minami-Uonuma is highly recommended. This generously sized rice ball is satisfying and lets you fully enjoy the deliciousness of Niigata rice.

There’s also a “sake bath,” a natural hot spring bath infused with bath-only sake. The ingredients in sake help improve circulation and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Even those who can’t handle alcohol well and children can bathe, so you can enjoy it with peace of mind.

They also sell Niigata specialties, sweets and seasonings made with sake, and more—perfect for souvenir shopping. There are also koji soft-serve ice cream and drinks, so even people who don’t like alcohol can enjoy it.