Suzumaki!

Niigata is famous for rice cropping, especially major rice brand "Koshihikari."
The rice crop starts in spring.
One of the preparatory works for rice planting called "Suzumaki" (or "Sujimaki").
Suzumaki is to sow rice seeds in trays. And then the the trays are placed in a plastic greenhouses.
Depends on areas and varieties, in Niigata, Suzumaki is conducted in early April and transplanting the seedlings into rice fields is done in Japanese spring holidays in early May called " Golden week".

Spring Storm Coming

　Niigata Local Meteological Obsevatory warns the storm wind may come to all over Niigata pref. from 6th Saturday night to 8th Monday.
 A low pressure system will approach from East China sea to Japan sea on 6th night and moving towards north developing to bring heavy wind to Niigata on 7th and 8th.

 Also it warns snowslip and snow melt flood in the river due to temperature increase on 6th and 7th( it will get to over 20 degrees on 6th in many part of Niigata pref.)


 Please be careful going out this weekend.

Niigata Selected Eco Model City

City of Niigta is selected Eco Model City(EMC) by Japanese govenment.

 EMC is that the government select cities who tries for Low-carbon society like setting ambitious goals for deduction of CO2 and support them to implement.

 For the selection,Niigata propse to implement "Garden city style Eco city" which she has always said to aim. It is combination between urban and rural areas by exchanges of "People", "Food and Culture" and "Energy".

 As for CO2 deduction, Niigata sets very ambitious goal to reduce 80% of level of year 2005 by the year of 2050.

Traffic Closed Information

Both ways between Tsugawa IC(Exit) and Yasuda IC(Exit) in Banetsu Expressway which connects Niigata pref. and Fukushima Pref. will be closed to traffic due to inspections of tunnel in five days in mid April.

The inspections will be taken in follwing term.　

17th April 8:00 PM -6:00 AM
18th April 8:00 PM -6:00 AM
19th April 8:00 PM -6:00 AM
22nd April 8:00 PM -6:00 AM
23rd April 8:00 PM -6:00 AM

Niigata Shoku no Jin Toujitsuza

Here are some pictures of "Niigata shoku no Jin Toujituza, food festival" at Niigata station. You can eat famous dishes from all over Niigata pref. some are from out of Niigata. The festival is held at five areas, Furumachi street, Bandai city area, Pia Bandai, Furusato mura as well as the station until tomorrow.

Tai Chazuke Crowned the grand prize

Kashiwazaki's famous local gourmet "Tai Chazuke" was crowned the grand prize in 4th rice bowl championship held in Tokyo.

It had got third place two years ago and runner-up last year.

Tai Chazuke is a sea bream rice with hot green tea or hot soup stock adding various toppings.

Kashiwazaki is known as one of the largest catch of sea bream in Japan Sea. Therefore various sea bream dishes have been served traditionally.

You can eat Tai Chazuke adding Kaoriage(fragrant fried Sea bream), and Namero(finely chopped Sea bream), same as the one served at the rice bowl championship at restaurants below.

-Kappo Inaho
 Address:Shinhanacho 5-29, Kashiwazaki, Niigata Pref.
 Tel:0257-24-2043

-Funaei(kashiwazaki)
 Address:Higashi Honcho 1-16-35, Kashiwazaki, Niigata Pref.
 Tel:0257-22-0288

-Hotel Naniwaya Yunagitei （reservation required）
Address:Kujiranami 3-11-6, Kashiwazaki, Niigata Pref.
Tel:0257-23-3030

-Hotel Yumotokan （reservation required）
 Address:Oaza Ohirota 770, Kashiwazaki, Niigata Pref.
 Tel:0257-25-3500

-Kappo Okui Kashiwazaki （reservation required）
 Address: Nishikicho 5-37, Kashiwazaki Niigata pref.
 Tel:0257-24-6486

Also many other restrants in Kashiwazaki. serve various types of Tai chazuke.
Let's go to Kashiwazaki and enjoy Tai Chazuke!


View It is Niigata Map in a larger map

Niigata-Slovakia Association

Niigata-Slovakia Association has been founded.
 It came from that the Niigata born chairwoman had married Slovakian man in 2011. Also this year is a 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Slovakia, and Lerch,a major of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who brought ski into Japan teaching in Niigata was born in Bratislava, a capital of Slovakia .
 Cultural and economic exchanges are expected.