Chubu 2016 中部の旅 - Niigata Station 新潟駅

Niigata Station 新潟駅 is a train station on Echigo line 越後線, Hakushin line 白新線 and Shin Etsu main line 信越本線, and the terminus station of Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線. Niigata city is the capital of Niigata Prefecture and the city is divided into two halves (north and south) by Shinano River 信濃川. The symbol of Niigata, Bandai Bridge 万代橋 is one of the bridges that span across the river. During our stay in Niigata city, we spent a day each to explore the north and south area. South area is where the main train station, Bandaicho-dori 万代町通り and Nuttari Terrace Shopping Arcade 沼垂テラス商店街 are located at, while Furumachi 古町 and Kamifurumachi 上古町 are two other shopping streets located in the north area.





Trains serving this train station include:
(1) Shinkansen Toki / Max Toki とき travels southwards to Tsubame Sanjo 燕三条駅,  Nagaoka 長岡駅, Urasa 浦佐駅, Takasaki 高崎駅 and Tokyo 東京駅, via Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線.

(2) Genbi Shinkansen 現美新幹線, a special themed Shinkansen which commutes between Echigo Yuzawa 越後湯沢駅 and Niigata 新潟駅 via Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線.

(3) Limited Express Inaho いなほ, commutes between Niigata 新潟駅 to Akita 秋田駅 via Hakushin line 白新線 and Uetsu main line 羽越本線. Train stations served by this train include Niigata 新潟駅, Toyosaka 豊栄駅, Shibata 新発田駅, Murakami 村上駅, Atsumi Onsen あつみ温泉駅, Tsuruoka 鶴岡駅, Sakata 酒田駅, Ugo Honjo 羽後本荘駅, Akita 秋田駅, etc.

(4) Kairi 海里, a special themed train introduced by JR East in Oct 2019, which commutes between Niigata and Sakata (in Yamagata Prefecture), via Hakushin line 白新線 and Uetsu main line 羽越本線. Train stations served by this train include Niigata 新潟駅, Shibata 新発田駅, Murakami 村上駅, Atsumi Onsen あつみ温泉駅, Tsuruoka 鶴岡駅, Sakata 酒田駅, etc.

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What's nearby?

(1) Bus terminals on both Bandai Exit 万代口 and South Exit 南口 of train station.



Bandai Exit Platform 0 for Bandai Bashi line BRT 萬代橋ライン.
http://www.niigata-kotsu.co.jp/~noriai/brt/rosenjikoku.htm



Bandai Exit Platform 2 for Niigata City Kankou Loop Bus 新潟市観光循環バス. Bus fare = 210 yen/ride; One day pass = 500 yen
http://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/kanko/kanko/kankobus/kankobusnitsuite.html



Bandai Exit Platform 3 for Niigata Kotsu Bus Sado Kisen line 佐渡汽船線 heading for Sado Ferry Terminal.
http://www.niigata-kotsu.co.jp/~noriai/route-bus/sadoferry/

South Exit Platform 5 for Limousine Bus heading directly for Niigata Airport 新潟空港.
http://www.niigata-kotsu.co.jp/~noriai/route-bus/info/200427_limousine_bus.html

(2) Niigata Station Bandai Exit Tourist Information Center 新潟駅万代口観光案内センター, near Bandai Exit of train station.



(3) CoCoLo Niigata, within the train station building.
Ponshukan ぽんしゅ館 operates a smaller branch in CoCoLo Niigata West Building. Adopting the same concept as its main branch in Echigo Yuzawa Station, there is a sake tasting corner here where one can taste test an extensive collection of sake sourced from breweries in Niigata Prefecture.
CoCoLo Niigata: http://www.cocolo-station.jp/pc/?sc_name=niigata
Ponshukan: https://www.ponshukan-niigata.com/

Poshukan, situated in CoCoLo Niigata West Building.

Had dessert at Aunt Stella's Cookies Cafe, situated in CoCoLo Niigata East Building.

(4) Lovela Bandai ラブラ万代 and Lovela 2 ラブラ２, two shopping malls located about 10 minutes walk from Bandai Exit of train station. The tenants of the shopping malls include Uniqlo, GU, Muji, LOFT, Kinokuniya and Can Do 100 yen shop.
https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/lovela-bandai/



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Commemorative stamps: