Ho-Park / Ho-Koen
The site of Nagahama Castle, which was abandoned in the Edo period, was developed into a park in 1909 (Meiji-era 42). The park is named after Toyotomi Hideyoshi, also known as Ho-Taiko, who was the lord of Nagahama Castle.
There were food trucks and stalls near the parking lot.
Depending on the timing, it seems like they hold events in the park.
It was a nice park for a quiet walk.
Harbor Boo Niigata Ekimae Honten
Opened in March 2026, this specialty restaurant for shabu-shabu and yakiton, grilled pork skewers, is located a 4-minute walk from Niigata Station. It serves dishes that bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients, including its signature pork shabu-shabu made with Junpaku no Bianca, a branded pork variety from Niigata.
I got to enjoy delicious branded pork and plenty of vegetables in a light, refreshing way! Since there are so many veggies, it feels really healthy.
The grilled pork skewers were juicy and fantastic. I’m usually not a fan of liver, but their liver skewer was made with fresh meat and was really tasty. The skirt steak was great too.
The shabu-shabu comes with a special yuzu pepper, and the grilled pork skewers come with a homemade spicy miso with a nice garlic kick. You can switch up the flavors, which makes the meal fun and delicious.
They also adjust the side vegetables, ponzu, and spicy miso blends depending on the season and what’s fresh, like during hot summers or cold winters. You can really feel the owner’s care in making the food tasty and easy to enjoy, which is wonderful.
They have an amazing selection of sake, but also beer and chuhai, so it’s a great spot to enjoy your favorite drinks with delicious food!
There’s counter seating too, so it seems like a nice place to enjoy even on your own.