秋遊新潟四天三夜全自駕景點美食攻略！不只滑雪！爆吃划算海鮮，探訪秋天賞楓秘境「奧只見」與清酒天堂，所有經典都在這一集！

秋遊新潟四天三夜全自駕景點美食攻略！不只滑雪！爆吃划算海鮮，探訪秋天賞楓秘境「奧只見」與清酒天堂，所有經典都在這一集！

Many people find the name ‘Niigata’ both familiar and unfamiliar. Familiar because of its delicious sake and world-class rice, and also because of the place everyone loves to visit, the popular ski resort near Tokyo, Echigo-Yuzawa. These elements give Niigata a strong impression in everyone’s minds. However, most of these well-known features are actually concentrated in Niigata’s Uonuma region. Surprisingly, besides sake, rice, and skiing, Uonuma is also an excellent spot for viewing autumn leaves. Here, not only is there a magnificent dam comparable to the Kurobe Dam, but there are also hidden old streets with scenes straight out of a period drama. Along the way, we discovered many interesting little shops, like an unmanned store. Of course, we also visited the well-known Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Since this was a self-driving trip, we were able to explore many places that are inaccessible by public transport. We hope this sharing can offer a fresh perspective to those who have visited Uonuma or Echigo-Yuzawa before. Turn right. After 200 kilometers, turn left. This is Uonuma no Sato. This place is very special. All the specialties of Uonuma are gathered and presented here. It’s actually a village-like complex, and within this complex, there are many, many shops. Each shop sells different things. Here, in one go, you can see the surrounding environment, the local culture, and the agricultural products that are abundant here. And of course, it’s all about how this area has beautiful mountains and pristine water, which allows for all these things to exist. So here, we can see many things related to rice and sake, products from brewing and fermentation. This is very impressive. Because they’ve basically taken the essence of the Uonuma area and built it inside a forest park. So visiting here is also a great experience. I love it. I wish Taiwan had a place like this. Basically, every building we see here is a shop. There are restaurants, and places for wagashi (Japanese sweets), and tea. And there are also souvenir shops. So beautiful, so comfortable. I feel like it really makes you want to spend money. A strong urge to shop. We found a shop here that sells rice balls and rice. It’s called Nigirimeshi Teppen. “Nigirimeshi” actually means ‘rice ball’. Koshihikari rice is available all over Japan, but the Koshihikari from Uonuma is of the highest grade. Let’s give it a try. The rice grains are so chewy and plump. Basically, the rice is the star here. The fillings inside… they just feel like side characters. What’s special about this one is that regular rice balls are usually wrapped in nori seaweed. But this one is wrapped in kombu (kelp). And inside, there’s another kind of kombu. Hey, it’s delicious! The rice grains are unbelievably plump. I’ve never eaten rice grains this plump before. One is not enough. And our grandma said, she’s never had rice this delicious. So, you know, even though she’s eaten so much rice in her life, she’s never had rice this good. This is the Hakkaisan Yukimuro (Snow Cellar). The main thing here is that it has a snow storage facility. People here in the winter use snow as a natural refrigerator to store sake or vegetables. And inside this snow cellar, there are 1,000 tons of snow! And also, you can purchase a 500 yen participation ticket. With it, you can tour the snow cellar and get to taste some sake. And over here, Hakkaisan is a very famous Daiginjo sake from this area. We just had a little incident. I lost my bag, but thankfully I got it back. And because of that little incident, we only managed to buy one ticket. This is the famous Hakkaisan Junmai Daiginjo. I think we’ve seen it in some izakayas in Taiwan. This sake is quite famous. This place is called Yukionko (Snow-Temperature Storage). It’s basically a refrigerator. And over here, there are some products for sale, like cheese and so on. Probably items that are best stored at low temperatures. My wife went in by herself. Because we only got one ticket. After completing the entire tour, this tour, by the way, takes about 15 minutes. And the entire tour is guided in Japanese. What if you don’t understand? No worries. There’s actually a lot of information on the walls. You can take pictures with your phone and use a translator, then you can understand the whole tour and what it’s trying to present. I think this guided tour, just the visit itself, is already quite valuable. When we first went in, it presented some old photos of people here in the past building these snow storage cellars. Then, as we went further inside, you could see they’ve actually built a real snow storage room inside. And you can see some of the remaining snow. I think they purposely brought it in from the outside. There’s a lot of snow, a huge amount. About 1,000 tons of snow inside. This is the last of the remaining snow, because it’s going to snow again soon, and they will accumulate more. And let me tell you, it’s so cold inside. Only 5 degrees Celsius. As soon as we went in, besides the cold, we could smell the sweet aroma of sake. They have all the sake chilling right next to the snow. Finally, we came to this cellar. This is basically a paradise for sake lovers. And this place is incredibly photogenic. Plus, on this wall, on these bottles, there are names and commemorative messages. I think it’s some kind of memento. And finally, we can go to this counter to exchange for a glass of sake. Or if you’re driving, there’s this fermented drink you can get instead. This cup in my hand is Hakkaisan sake aged for three years in the snow cellar. Although it has a bit of a kick, it’s quite smooth. Just a hint of sweetness. I’m in a good mood, I wish I could have some too. Unfortunately, I have to drive. I actually wanted to buy this bottle in the shop earlier. I remember it costs around 200-something yen. And this tour is 500 yen, and it comes with a bottle. So I think the tour is almost like a buy-one-get-one-free deal. I really like this tour. Even though I don’t understand Japanese, I think it’s fun just to visit. Let me tell you, we mentioned earlier that we only bought one ticket, right? Later, we asked the tour guide, saying we only managed to get the last one. Could you please sell me one more? And he said, “OK.” I think Uonuma no Sato is a spot worth including in your itinerary. And you should plan to spend at least about two hours here. And if you have the chance, I think the snow cellar is very much worth visiting. You should definitely consider it. So cool! This is just like fermented rice wine. And you can taste the texture of the rice grains. But there’s no alcohol taste. If you see it, you should try it. I think you should. It’s great. Pretty good. Wow, shrouded in mist and clouds. It feels like we’ve entered a highway wonderland. Shrouded in mist and clouds. We have now arrived at the Okutadami Tunnel Group. This is Tunnel No. 8. There are 19 tunnels in total. (Our destination today only takes us through nine of them) This is the required route to get to Okutadami Dam or the Okutadami Sightseeing Boat. There are 9 tunnels in total, big and small (slip of the tongue). It’s like the roads on the way to Hualien in Taiwan, those hand-carved tunnels. Many people say these tunnels are very long, because the entire tunnel group spans nearly 20 kilometers. So, when you’re driving through here, you might feel a bit claustrophobic. I’m just starting the longer section now. This section is two kilometers long. There will be some even longer ones later. Many of these tunnels were hand-carved. Many people say this road is difficult to drive. So far, it feels okay. Maybe because the weather is good today, so there isn’t much water on the road. So I think it’s quite wide. It’s not really narrow. In this section we’re driving through now, I’m starting to understand what they mean by a “bad road.” Because the ground surface is covered in potholes. You really have to be careful when driving. And you need to slow down a bit. On the sides, you can see some traces of the rock being chiseled. And indeed, there are water drips and such along the way. I actually find it quite adventurous. And if you read the reviews, they are very polarized. Some people love this kind of adventurous feeling. Others think, “Wow, so scary.” Driving on this road continuously. Now that we’ve exited Tunnel No. 8, wow. It’s all this autumn foliage scenery outside. So beautiful. Tunnel No. 9. This looks like an air-raid shelter. You can see the hand-chiseled marks. So it feels like you’re on a roller coaster. Quite exciting. I think this place is for those who enjoy a bit of an adventurous feeling. It’s definitely worth experiencing. Ah! Finally, we’re getting out. Wow. The view right out of the tunnel is stunning. Wow. It looks like the leaves are about to fall completely. But even with falling leaves, it’s still beautiful. This is Okutadami Dam. We’re going to see Lake Okutadami in a bit. This place has a sightseeing boat. The boat operates from early May to early November. And today, happens to be November 9th. When we arrived in Japan yesterday, we just found out that today is the first day it’s closed. What incredibly good luck, right? And this place has a small railway car. It operates in conjunction with the sightseeing boat. So, for just 100 yen, you don’t have to walk up this slope. You can take this small car to the top. This is the small railway track going up. I really wish I could spend that 100 yen. Hahaha. This is Lake Okutadami. It’s Japan’s largest artificial lake. Its water storage capacity is about 600 million tons. That’s so much water. And this place, it’s perfect for sightseeing in all four seasons. Especially now, in autumn, the surrounding mountains are covered in autumn leaves. The leaves are actually starting to fall now. But we actually think this is the most beautiful state. At this time, there are more red leaves and fewer yellow ones. If you prefer more red foliage, this is the best time. And there are some bare branches, which adds a sense of desolate beauty. And if you add a bit of mist and clouds, Wow, it’s unbeatable. This lake is also called Lake Ginzan. Because in the past, silver was mined in this area. A beautiful place is already a 9 out of 10. But if you add a story to it, the spot becomes a perfect 10. It is said that under this lake, there is an abandoned 18th-century silver mine and village. I’ve always been drawn to this place. Because this place, this dam, is actually between Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture. It spans across two prefectures. It supplies water to both areas. When people come to Fukushima or Niigata, what they look forward to most is a railway line called the Tadami Line. It also crosses these two prefectures. The autumn foliage along that railway is said to be incredibly beautiful. So I thought by coming here, I could get a glimpse of it, to see for myself just how beautiful the autumn leaves are in the Tadami area. Even though there’s no sightseeing boat today, I still insisted on coming. This is also one of the three major dams in the Hokuriku region. It’s on par with the dam at Tateyama Kurobe. Seriously, both in terms of scale and scenery, it truly deserves to be in the top three. Wow, this is a gate for the tunnel. Perhaps there used to be a toll. Not anymore. This is Okashi to Oyaki Kotou. (Laughs) When I was just trying to pronounce the store’s name, the Japanese people outside were laughing. I’m a foreigner, so what if I pronounce it wrong or strangely? What’s the big deal? Alright, here, it’s a souvenir shop. And inside, actually, there’s more than one brand. It mainly sells wagashi (Japanese sweets). And I think it’s definitely worth a try. We picked a few things. We’ll let you know in a moment if they’re any good. We just got a little bit of everything we wanted. Now, let’s start with this one. This one, we see it everywhere. It’s a local specialty here. It’s called Sasa Dango. And looking inside, it really looks like Taiwanese caozaiguo (grass-flavored mochi). I’m going to open it up and eat it now. Let’s see if it’s really like caozaiguo. Okay, once I opened it, I could smell it wasn’t. It has a matcha aroma. Matcha. It is a grass mochi! Right, right. So it’s actually matcha, and inside is its… most common pairing, which is red bean paste. But I think, aside from the matcha scent, it really is a grass mochi. Because our caozaiguo is also made from rice, plus things like cudweed or mugwort. But this one probably uses matcha. This is Rikumanju. It’s a specialty of Muikamachi. A tiny little thing. It’s quite inexpensive too. We just took a bite, and it’s very familiar. It’s a bit like a Hakka brown sugar cake. And it’s filled inside. This filling is probably white bean paste or chestnut paste. I can’t quite tell the difference. It’s quite sweet but delicious. I think anyone who makes brown sugar cake back home could try adding a filling. The manju itself is also a bit chewy. Love it. This is a cheese mille-feuille cake. And it says on it that it’s a specialty of the Mikuni Kaido highway. We’ll take you to see that later. First, let’s eat this cake. This isn’t like the mille-feuille cakes I usually imagine. Because the ones we eat in Taiwan, like Amo, are all the kind with a bit of a honey flavor. But this one has a very rich and fragrant cheese flavor. Wow, I ordered this one. I love eating Dorayaki ice cream. Is it good? You can’t let this sit for too long. Let’s eat. Eating its nama chocolate (ganache) is quite delicious. Right. I won’t open the others for you guys. You can try them yourselves. If you like them, buy some more to take home. It really has nama chocolate pieces inside. So delicious. I think their stuff is genuinely quite tasty. Everything is carefully selected. We’re now in an unmanned store. What it sells are donuts made with rice. Each one is 100 yen. It’s actually a rice flour factory. This rice flour is made by grinding rice into powder, not the noodle-type rice vermicelli. And in Uonuma City, rice is also very famous, so they have these products. I’ll just grab a couple. Because the donuts in the entire store are almost sold out. Besides donuts, they also sell some brown rice flour. You can buy it to make your own things. Make your own rice donuts. Everyone, remember to pay before you leave! Let this be the proof. I found this place. Because whenever I visit a new place, I love finding interesting things. Like this unmanned store, I just can’t resist this kind of thing. Wow, every time I see something like this, I have to come. It smells so good. The moment I opened it, the chocolate aroma came out. It has a really chewy texture. And it felt fun when I squeezed it. Like those stress-relief toys kids play with. The kind you get from a claw machine. I think it tastes a bit like that too. But it’s really delicious. Mmm. I love this cheese flavor too. You can even bite into chunks of cheese. It’s not overly sweet or anything. Just genuine ingredients. The flavor is very simple. Yes, for 100 yen, I think this is totally worth it. Should we buy more? Yes, yes! I’m going to buy the cheese one. I love it so much. So delicious. Clear the shelf, right? Yes, I’m clearing out the cheese. And then I suddenly realized this one is maple-flavored. So I’m clearing it out too. Hey, I recommend buying some if you pass by. Drop it in, drop it in, missed… That’s 500 yen. When in Niigata, it’s all about various rice products, sake, and rice. I’ll probably gain weight by the time I go back. This is ‘Bokushi-dori Street’, which is the Mikuni Kaido highway we saw on the cake earlier. During the Edo period, this was a post town called Shiozawa-juku. It was a post town connecting Edo and the Echigo region. So, what is a post town? Basically, because people in the past had to walk very long distances, this place was a gathering of many inns where they could stay overnight. That’s why it’s called a post town. It’s essentially like a rest stop with inns. We’ve been to the Nakasendo trail in Nagano Prefecture before, it’s similar to that. And just now I mentioned Edo and Echigo, which are now Tokyo and Niigata. This area was known for its textile industry. So you can see a lot of textile products here. Another thing to see is this structure next to me, the ‘Gangi’. The ‘Gangi’ is a structure that extends from the houses out to both sides of the street. It’s an extension of the building’s structure. It was built to prevent the snow in winter from blocking pedestrians’ paths. Actually, it’s the same idea as the covered walkways in Taiwan. Not quite. This is for snow. Ours is for rain. No, ours is to create more space. When you come to the Mikuni Kaido, even if you don’t know what the main attractions are, just walking around, taking pictures, is also very impressive. Like our grandma earlier, under this ‘Gangi’ corridor, she said, “This would make for a very beautiful photo.” Even our grandma understands photo composition. Move aside. Let everyone have a look. Wow, it’s endless. This building looks like a bank or a credit union or something. And its design is very classical. Like in those Japanese period dramas, there’s always a local villain living in a place like this, bullying the weak villagers. Doesn’t it look like the buildings from the video game I played as a kid, Goemon the Mystical Ninja? As we walked along, we kept seeing signs like this. It says “Hokuetsu Seppu” on them. And I think it’s something like a poem. And there are some explanations. It’s quite interesting. You can use your phone to translate and read it. The Mikuni Kaido has a really nice atmosphere when you walk through it. A really nice feel. But the shops here close quite early. It’s 4:30 PM now, and almost none of the small shops are open. So if you come earlier, you can also browse the small shops here. Like the post office behind me, it also has a great atmosphere. The Mikuni Kaido area isn’t very large. I think it can be a quick stopover attraction. You can walk through it without much effort. We’re now at Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Actually, this place has the Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen (hot spring). We’re on a self-driving trip, so why did we come to the station specifically? Because this station is really great for shopping. There are restaurants inside, and if you want to buy souvenirs or some clothing stores, you can find them all here. I’ve been here before. Basically, a lot of people who are traveling in Tokyo will take the Shinkansen JR up here. Just like that. Many people visiting the Tokyo area also come to Echigo-Yuzawa to soak in the hot springs. Look at the hotels around here, there are so many. Yeah, the Shinkansen ride is very short. And right outside, there are tons of hotels. We continue walking into the station plaza, and arrive at this place called CoCoLo Yuzawa. It sells sake, rice, and so on. This… souvenirs. And this place has a specialty that you must try. Like that one, the ‘Bakudan Onigiri’ (Bomb Rice Ball). It’s huge! Don’t try it lightly. You definitely won’t be able to finish it. I’ve tried it. The selection here is incredibly complete. All kinds of Niigata Daiginjo sake, you can probably find almost everything here. That bottle you’re holding is too small. Look at those huge bottles down there. This one, Jozen Mizunogotoshi, I’ve had it before. We just tried Hakkaisan, and you can buy it here. It’s a really famous sake from this area. I have a very strong memory of this place. Before, I had a friend who ran an izakaya. He would always ask anyone coming to Japan to help him bring back sake. Right, right. To earn a little extra travel money. There are many different rice products in here. I think to go with the rice and sake theme, these are snacks for drinking. Actually, sake is also a rice theme. Because they are all a type of rice wine. They even have vacuum-packed porridge, so cool. Look over there, the Bomb Onigiri is huge. Although it’s a specialty and you should probably try it, it’s so big, I really don’t dare to just buy it. I tried it once, and I’m hesitant to eat it again. Because I couldn’t finish it. Really couldn’t finish it. Two of us couldn’t finish it. We’ve come to this spot, the main event. Inside here, for 500 yen, you can get a sake cup and 5 coins. And then here, you can choose the sake you want to drink. Each type of sake requires a different number of coins. It ranges from 1 to 5 coins. This is a really clever marketing strategy. Every time you find one you like, you can just buy it next door. This is basically a sake gachapon machine. Let’s see what this is. Jozen Mizunogotoshi. The one we just filmed. Do I need to press it? Or something… Oh. Here it comes. Well? How is it? Oh no. It’s much stronger than the Hakkaisan we had earlier. I’ve already tried it, so I’m not doing it again. I’m driving, I’m driving. Let’s have one. Let’s try another one, Hokusetsu. How is it? The description says it has a hint of pineapple flavor. And I really did taste it when I drank it. But I think it’s just a psychological effect. Because you know it beforehand, so you anticipate that feeling. Otherwise, it’s just alright. Still sake. I don’t think so. Your anticipation has an amplifying effect. Not amplifying the taste. Let’s just say we’re not professional drinkers. There are so many sakes to choose from here. If you don’t know what to drink, you can actually look at the recommendations on the blackboard. And if you… if you’re a light drinker, you can be strategic about your tasting. You can pick the ones that cost more coins. But if you want to try many different kinds of sake, you should pick the ones that cost one coin. This place is really generous. Besides being able to taste sake like this, you can also… This is miso, right? Yes. This miso is delicious. I could eat five bowls of rice with this. Look, just this tiny bit. Right. It has a great aroma. There’s a hint of sake flavor in it. Alright, the last glass. Everyone can choose their own. There are even ones that cost five coins per glass. If you’re a light drinker, go for the five-coin one. I can’t help but say, this plum wine is absolutely delicious. It has a lovely plum aroma but isn’t overly sweet. Very smooth. In here, it’s basically all specialty products from Niigata. Rice products, sake, and also items from Tsubame and Sanjo cities, like their metal utensils and products, you can find them all. The footbath we mentioned earlier is actually right at the entrance of Echigo-Yuzawa Station. And on this hot spring street, it’s filled with that onsen atmosphere. We’ll go check out another shop in a bit. I think… We just found a really cool place. And the hot spring street has a really nice feel. I think if you stay here at night, it won’t be boring. You can walk around. This is a shop called Onsen Cafe. It’s just across the street from the station. But the footbath here is actually a bit warmer than the one we just tried. Very comfortable. We actually went into this shop earlier, but decided to film across the street first. And when we came back, it was already closed. So we can’t go in now. Okay, I’ll briefly explain. Inside, it also sells, it sells some specialty products. And inside you can have coffee and cake. Their cakes look really good, and the prices are quite reasonable. There’s also a tatami mat area inside. So I think if you come here, it’s a shop that’s definitely worth trying. I saw that a cup of coffee there starts at around 400-500 yen. I think that’s very reasonable. Because the atmosphere they’ve created is excellent. And you can actually order some takeout items to enjoy here while soaking in the footbath. We’re staying near Echigo-Yuzawa Station tonight. We think having dinner near the station is a pretty good choice. Because there are many restaurants inside the station. They also feature Niigata specialties. Like the restaurant we chose today, it’s really fun. It’s all about eating rice, and they even have this option. The first harvest of new rice for the year. They’re making this a main feature. The food is here. We’ll let you know if it’s good in a bit. I won’t describe the texture. One more thing. They are very user-friendly. You order using a QR code, and there’s a Chinese language option. And there are pictures too. So it’s very easy to order. Although what we ordered is Katsudon (pork cutlet bowl), which can be found everywhere in Japan, but, the rice inside is undoubtedly Koshihikari. It’s very chewy and plump. So delicious. And the pork cutlet is thick. Actually, the overall quality is very high. My mom ordered the soy-glazed pork rice set. Let’s unbox our accommodation for tonight. The entire hotel is on the older side. However, the space is quite decent. Let’s go take a look inside. As we enter, there’s a foyer, and the toilet is to the side. This is the kind of layout you often find in Japanese-style rooms. The toilet is the older, smaller type, a modular unit type. But since there’s an onsen here to use, I’ll probably go soak in the onsen. The room, as you enter, has two single beds, and then there’s a tatami area. It’s a mix of Japanese and Western styles. There are beds to sleep on, and also a small living room area. When you come in, the heating is already turned on for you. The water is also boiled for you. I think the service is quite thoughtful. We’re staying here on a Saturday, so it’s a bit more expensive. The price is 12,800 yen. And our neighbor, our grandma’s room, is around 7,000-something yen. And it’s the exact same room. They upgraded us. Today’s price doesn’t include breakfast. We’re just having a simple overnight stay. And so far, everything seems pretty good. Yes, it does. If there are any issues, I’ll mention them later in the video. If not, then everything’s fine. Something a little special is that each person can choose one drink to bring to the room. This is quite thoughtful. I quite like it. Alright, I have the whole onsen to myself! And I think this hotel, although it’s old, you can see that it was once glorious. And there are two soaking pools. One with a higher temperature and one lower. But neither is too hot. I find it quite comfortable to soak in. And there’s a sauna you can use. As for the room I stayed in, I think it’s actually very spacious. The space they give to each person is quite generous. A reminder for everyone, if you’re booking this hotel, its Google reviews are actually quite bad. But I noticed that the bad reviews are older ones. The recent ones are quite good. So, I took a chance and stayed here. And when I arrived, I found that the service staff is actually very responsible. And they upgraded my room. So I have to give them praise. Many people might think that outside of the ski season, coming to Echigo-Yuzawa would be quite boring. But I actually think coming to see the autumn leaves and soaking in the onsen is really great. Have you ever been to Kiyotsu Gorge? Located in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, Kiyotsu Gorge is one of Japan’s three great gorges. It’s definitely a stunning spot that you must unlock during your travels in Japan. Each season here has a different look. No matter when you visit, you can feel the magnificence and changes of nature. This episode will take you to explore the unique attractions of Tokamachi, including tasting the locally originated Hegisoba noodles, admiring the spectacular Hoshitoge Rice Terraces, and finally heading to Nagaoka, Niigata, to visit a sake brewery with centuries of history. Learn about the classic sake often seen in izakayas, its production, and history. This episode will definitely give you a comprehensive feel of Niigata’s charm. We are now at Kiyotsu Gorge. This is a must-visit attraction when you come to Niigata. And it’s also one of their key spots for viewing autumn leaves. And also a key spot for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. We’re about to enter the Kiyotsu Gorge attraction. Actually, just looking from the outside, it’s already very beautiful. The water is so clean. Yes. This attraction requires a fee. But if you try to buy tickets on-site now, it’s almost impossible. It’s very popular. So you must, before you leave, make a reservation. Yes, buy your tickets in advance. I booked mine on Klook. A reminder for everyone, the tickets have reserved time slots. For example, from 8:30 to 10:30, or 10:30 to 12:30, and so on. So be mindful of the time. The tour of this attraction is about 750 meters long in total. It says on the sign that the required time to stay is about one hour. And, that probably includes time for taking pictures. There are four “Mihorasho” (lookouts) in total. I guess each spot is a great place for photos. So let’s go inside and take a look. This was their original automatic ticket machine, but now it’s cordoned off. I think they are very thoughtful. They know there’s no signal inside. When I tried to scan the QR code for them, I realized there was no signal. So they provide Wi-Fi for you. We arrived at the first lookout very quickly. When we come to Kiyotsu Gorge, the main thing to see is its columnar jointing. And it’s said that Kiyotsu Gorge is one of Japan’s three great gorges. And as we walked along, there are changes in lighting inside the tunnel, and some informational displays to look at. So actually, the journey is quite interesting. You won’t feel bored or scared. Look, over here, the columnar jointing is very distinct. Wow, the water here is incredibly clean. This is now the second lookout. And there’s a super cool art installation here. Everyone is taking pictures here. Because, you can capture the image of all the lines converging. And over here, there is a silver, reflective object, which is actually a restroom. It looks a bit transparent, but rest assured, people inside can see out. But people outside can’t see in. Everyone, look behind me, you can see Kiyotsu Gorge. But if I look down like this, you see, these lines connect and cover it. It’s amazing, so clever! Wow, this water is too beautiful. And I think this columnar jointing, when you see it up close, is really beautiful. Because the sun is just starting to come out now, so the light shines down, making it even more beautiful. The two of us are going into the restroom together. It actually feels a bit strange. A feeling of shame. Hey, you can really see outside. Oh my, would you dare to use the restroom here? Everyone is taking pictures of us. Hahaha. Everyone else is just coming in to take pictures, not to use the restroom, right? The truly shameful moment wasn’t when the two of us went into the restroom, it’s when we walked out of the restroom together and everyone was staring at us. They were looking at you with a bewildered expression. Quickly, we’ve arrived at the third lookout. Actually, the first, second, and third lookouts are one after another, very close together. So you get there quickly. At the third lookout, from this viewpoint, you see many circles, framing the beautiful scenery at the end. We’ve reached the final observation deck of Kiyotsu Gorge. This is the grand finale. Everyone is lining up here to take photos. Because this place has a shallow layer of water on the floor. And in a moment, when you take a picture at the end, the scenery will have a reflection. And it’s designed in this circular shape. So everyone walks along the edge of the water and lines up in a circle. So it’s not easy to get a photo. Besides having to queue, your feet… the soles of your shoes need to be a bit thick so water doesn’t seep in. The weather is very cold. My shoes are a bit wet. I suggest everyone wear shoes with thicker soles. Actually, when everyone gets to the end, all you’re left with is a silhouette. So, no matter what clothes you’re wearing, it just becomes a black shadow at the very back. So you should make your gestures as big as possible. If you just make a peace sign, your photo might not turn out that great. Everyone taking photos is actually dodging a bunch of people’s heads. I just saw someone holding up a child over there. How scary. Actually, the composition is very beautiful. Really, it is. There are actually a ton of people. Try not to get people’s faces in the shot. One by one. Of the four tunnels, this one is the most beautiful. You can see the entire columnar joint texture of Kiyotsu Gorge. Plus the water, it’s so beautiful. We’ve now left Kiyotsu Gorge and arrived at a small nearby market. We thought we’d grab a bite to eat here and recharge. And because drone flying isn’t allowed at Kiyotsu Gorge, I came over here to fly it. You can fly it out here. I love these small markets the most. Because there are often pleasant surprises. Some of the things here, are from people like local farmers, who make delicious food. And sometimes it’s both cheap and delicious. Look at this coffee stall. Their prices aren’t high. And the coffee should be quite good. Because it smells so fragrant. What is this? These should be kimonos, right? I’m not too sure. Yeah, but one is only 300-500 yen. Let’s try the sandwich. Wow, I love this relaxed feeling they have. This is what I imagine a holiday should be like. Exactly. Wow. The whole way is lined with these rice paddies. So beautiful. They say these are called terraced rice fields. Turn right. This is Bijinbayashi Forest. It’s a grove of beech trees, about 100 years old. The reason it’s called Bijinbayashi (Beauty Forest) is because the scenery here is so beautiful. That’s why it was named Bijinbayashi. It’s said that in the past, this area was logged to produce charcoal, and all the trees here were cut down. But in the following year, these beech trees all sprouted new buds at the same time. But of course, that was 100 years ago. This Bijinbayashi Forest is also one of Niigata Prefecture’s 100 Best Forest Bathing Spots. Actually, Japanese people really like to give these beautiful spots a designation. It’s like we said before, a beautiful view might be a 90 out of 100. But if you add a story to it, or give it a title, then this scenery becomes a 100 out of 100. If you want to include this spot in your itinerary, they have optimal viewing times. Because every season is actually very beautiful, each with its own distinct charm. But recently, it’s been the autumn leaves. And when we came today, they are more yellow. If I were to come a week later, it would probably be a sea of orange-red. And also, I think it’s the easiest forest to visit. Because from the parking lot, it only takes about a minute to walk here. And this is the view you get. This is Hoshitoge Terraced Rice Fields. Over here, there are over 200 rice paddies, large and small. Spread across this hillside, they look like fish scales. These terraced fields, although the information says each of the four seasons offers a different view, I think there’s still a distinction in timing. For example, if you come in the morning, there’s a sea of clouds. And plus, these rice paddies create a water mirror effect. That’s the most beautiful time for photos. Because of the direction of the sunrise, the lighting is just right. It allows for the water mirror effect. But it won’t work at sunset. In 2022, it was selected as a Terraced Paddy Field Heritage site. So it’s an officially recognized, amazing scenery. If you want to see many amazing terraced rice fields, Niigata is the place to be. And you can probably guess, Niigata’s specialty is rice. So you can imagine. Because of such an excellent environment, they produce such delicious rice. Take a look, this is what it looks like in the morning. We’ve arrived at Kojimaya Souhonten in Tokamachi. We’re here to try a special local dish from Niigata, Hegi Soba. Speaking of “hegi,” they should be very familiar with it. Because our Chihshang lunch boxes, those wooden boxes, are “hegi.” The wood is made into thin sheets to make lunch boxes. It has a distinguished history. It says on it “Presented to the Imperial Family.” It has been part of the Imperial Court’s cuisine seven times already. Wow, it’s kind of like a state banquet for us. Yes. The places we visited today, most of them are specialties of Tokamachi. Including this Hegi Soba, it’s also a specialty dish of Tokamachi. Here in Tokamachi, they have also unearthed artifacts from the Jomon period, like this flame-shaped pottery. Look at its pattern, it’s truly very beautiful. And in the shop’s front window display, you can also see textile equipment. That’s because the textile industry once flourished in this area. And an ingredient used in this noodle, is called “funori” seaweed. It was once used as a stiffening agent on these textiles. And now, it’s also used in this soba noodle as its binding agent. This is our first time eating at a Michelin Bib Gourmand in Japan. Hey. This restaurant is over 100 years old. It’s almost 2 PM now, and the restaurant is still very crowded. We had to take a number and wait for many groups. So while we wait, let’s check out the souvenirs. You see, many people, after finishing their soba noodles here, will also buy some noodles to take home when they leave. Today we ordered two soba noodle with pork cutlet bowl set meals. And then we ordered another pork cutlet bowl separately. Why all pork cutlet bowls? Because yesterday we had a really delicious pork cutlet bowl. We’re hoping to find one just as good. Actually, in this restaurant, I see many people ordering tempura with their soba noodle set. So delicious. Compared to the soba noodles I’ve had before, it feels completely different. With regular soba noodles, you can feel the grainy texture. But this is very smooth. And strangely, how can it be so chewy? Hey, I’ve heard many knowledgeable friends say how delicious this is. I was thinking, “How is that possible?” I’ve never been a huge fan of soba noodles before. Let me try it too. Hey, I think it’s actually quite delicious. And I think its shape is quite similar to a rubber band. And it’s quite springy when you bite into it. But not like a rubber band. But when you eat it, you really feel, “Hey!” It’s a pleasant surprise. Describing it with a rubber band doesn’t make it sound very tasty. But don’t you think it has that shape? It’s delicious. And there’s a hint of seaweed flavor. Because, it uses this “funori” seaweed as a binding agent for the noodles. And this restaurant, they insist on making and cooking it fresh to order. There’s sesame on the table you can add. You can grind it into powder and add it to the dipping sauce. It can enhance the aroma of the soba noodles. I was wondering why his pork cutlet is so delicious. Turns out pork cutlets are also a specialty of Niigata. And the pork cutlet we had yesterday was delicious. Today’s isn’t bad either. Indeed. We’ve finished eating. We really think this Hegi Soba is something you must try when you come to Niigata. As for us today, we were a bit skeptical about soba noodles before. But I think after trying it, we can confidently recommend it to everyone. Just order a portion for however many people you have, and add any side dishes you like. That’s all you need. Because I think you can get other things elsewhere, but we’ve truly never had soba noodles like this anywhere else. Highly recommended. This is the Yoshinogawa Sake Museum. At first, I wasn’t familiar with this name. But once I saw this, something clicked. This familiar thing. You posing over there is a bit too funny. You’re the one who told me to come here. Hehe. Yoshinogawa has a very distinguished history. It’s an Echigo province sake. This brewery, since its establishment, has a history of over 470 years. Amazing. And, we saw at the entrance that this place is a National Tangible Cultural Property. This place is actually a paradise for drinkers. You just pay 900 yen, and then you can have unlimited drinks of the sake provided in this area. All-you-can-drink (not sure if this event is still available). Within 30 minutes. Right, but, because we arrived at 4 PM, and the entire museum closes at 4:30 PM. But this service only runs until 4 PM. So we can’t try it today. But I bought a plum wine ice cream. Let’s give it a try later. It’s delicious. It has that sweet plum flavor. And the alcohol taste is just subtle. It’s quite an adult-flavored dessert. But it’s not too overpowering. I knew you would love this kind of thing. Every time there’s plum wine and ice cream mixed together, you definitely have to have it. Actually, they also have another one with sake flavor. But after drinking sake yesterday, I just feel that my own preference is still more towards plum wine. This is a tank. It’s an ancient brewing vessel. It looks so cool and atmospheric. Do you know what this is? It looks a bit like prayer beads. It says “Shosanshakudama.” Actually, this is a very large firework. Look over here. Hahaha. It says that every year, I think on August 2nd, they set this off. Their brewery represents it. So cool. That’s way different from my guess. It’s so big. This area displays the historical evolution of the Yoshinogawa brewery. So we can see many old artifacts, and sake bottles. And all the way to, over there are some modern distillation machines. There’s one thing I’m very unhappy about. These past few days, I’ve just been watching you drink, and I haven’t been able to drink at all. So what? You can buy some to drink back at the hotel. You’re being strange. Oh, right. Silly. Get a small bottle. We chose a Tokubetsu Junmai (Special Pure Rice). The label on the back actually tells you its Sake Meter Value and acidity. We were hesitating for a long time. Then we looked at the back and found the answer. And the brewery staff recommended that this one is their best sake. The king of sakes, you mean. This is the Former Kina Saffron Sake Main Brewery. It’s just now, right across from the Yoshinogawa Sake Museum. It’s a very old building. And from the looks of it now, it seems to be under restoration. Let’s go take a look. This is the original main entrance of the old brewery. Normally, you should be able to go inside for a tour. And although it’s not closing time yet, it seems like we can’t go in today. What a pity. You always have to leave some regrets on a trip, so you’ll want to come back, right? Alright. Let me tell you some information about this brewery. This brewery produces a type of liquor called saffron sake. And as everyone knows, saffron is a very expensive spice. And at that time, besides saffron, they also added many precious medicinal herbs to make a medicinal liquor. And this saffron liquor, everyone at home would keep some on hand, as a household staple. A good home remedy, like that. And its fame at the time was on par with the very famous Yomeishu in Japan, its reputation was comparable. It was very popular locally in Japan. And even, it was exported to Hawaii. When we first saw this type of architecture, it felt both familiar and strange. Because, it feels like we’ve seen scenes like this in movies. But in reality, while traveling throughout Japan, we’ve really never seen a house like this. This is called “kote-e.” It’s a form of plaster art. Using that kind of plaster, they spread it on the wall and create relief sculptures. This artwork on the back is really special. I’ve been to Japan at least dozens of times, and I’ve never seen anything like this. Right, because it’s expensive to make and difficult to preserve. So, this “kote-e” has earned the reputation of being “Japan’s number one kote-e.” I made a little mistake earlier. So let me correct it. It’s “kote-e.” So this entire area actually has a very historical feel. Like the Yoshinogawa Sake Museum just now, and this “kote-e,” they are actually both cultural properties. Just the exterior of the building here is very much worth seeing. So if anyone is interested, you can also seize the opportunity to go inside and have a look. This is the Toyoko Inn Tsubame-Sanjo Ekimae where we are staying today. This place is very convenient. Just walk outside, and there are many restaurants and places to shop. Next to it is an AEON, which is a department store, it’s great. Around here, there are many budget hotels. And this one has the best rating. But the highest they get is 3.9 stars. This is a very new Toyoko Inn. So the facilities are quite good. I actually quite like it. I think it’s amazing. It actually has a gym. And the equipment inside is quite sufficient. You can get in just by scanning your room key. Its dumbbells go up to 20 kg. That’s enough for most people who work out. Like this one, you can do squats, and also bench presses. You can do anything. I think the equipment is really sufficient. It’s the first time I’ve seen something like this in Japan. Downstairs there are ice water, ice cubes, and vending machines. Today we are staying in room 1109, a double room. This one is very new. These facilities. Overall, the room is simple but clean and fresh. It’s not very spacious, but the overall layout is quite smooth. The room looks very new. The design is also quite new. The key point is these USB outlets, there are plenty of them. And they are all designed in very convenient places. For example, there’s one here. And one here. They are all near the desk. You won’t have that situation where there’s a weird outlet by the door or somewhere, forcing you to put your phone on the floor. This is a 160 cm wide bed. I specifically chose it. And I think the best part is that the space underneath is empty. This way, it’s cleaner and doesn’t hide dirt. We’ll have a snack here later. It’s also very convenient for having a little drink. For a standard prefabricated hotel bathroom, this is already quite large. There’s enough space. The bathrooms in older Toyoko Inns are very small. A bit too small, like that. The price for this room is nearly 8,000 yen. A double room including breakfast. I think that’s excellent. The hairdryer, although it’s wall-mounted, has strong airflow. The comfort of the bed, is basically great in every Toyoko Inn. It’s well-reputed. As for the breakfast, we’ll show you tomorrow morning. Good morning! Today’s breakfast is the standard fare you’d find in a typical hotel. The selection isn’t very large. The taste isn’t bad. It’s just okay. But I think the best part is that while eating breakfast here, you can enjoy the view from the top floor. Looking down from here, it’s a vast expanse of rice paddies. Look at my grandma. Sitting by the window now, her breakfast becomes more delicious. Like this. Actually, everything is pretty good. But I think this mackerel is one of the less tasty ones I’ve had. Because most other places make mackerel so well. When my expectation is over 90 points, I’d give this breakfast a maximum of 80 points. I’ve had breakfast at other Toyoko Inns. I think the others were slightly better. That’s the slightly disappointing part. But if I have the chance again, I would still choose to stay here. But I think the view adds points back. At this price, it’s fine even without breakfast. There are many options nearby. And this, during this trip, was the most comfortable night’s sleep I’ve had. And its facilities are all new. I quite like it, I really do. In the past year, I’ve driven over 10,000 kilometers in Japan. The Japanese sights I’ve visited and the food I’ve tasted are over 200. And the sights and foods I’m sharing today are definitely among my top favorites of the year. This time, we came to the ‘Yahiko area’ of Niigata Prefecture, including must-visit places like Yahiko Shrine and Yahiko Park. I can only say that the facilities here are excellent, and there are interesting little shops scattered around. The beautiful autumn leaves paired with “power spots” make you want to linger and not leave. If you love traveling in Japan, this is definitely a place you must visit in your lifetime. Additionally, we also visited the famous Teradomari Fish Market in Nagaoka, Niigata. The seafood here is fresh and affordable. For example, a four-color donburi is only about 200-something TWD. It’s such an incredible value. And the much-sought-after snow crabs and red snow crabs, the prices are jaw-dropping. If you’re interested in the content of this episode, hurry up and add these sights and foods to your life’s bucket list. Wow. This torii gate is so big. So huge, I’ve never seen one so big. This is the Yahiko Shrine Grand Torii Gate. The largest torii gate in all of Japan. This is the Yahiko Shrine Grand Torii Gate. This torii gate is huge. Its height is 30 meters tall. It was built in 1982 to commemorate the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen line. Wow, it’s really huge. We’re super far away right now just to be able to fit the whole thing in the shot. Go stand over there for scale. It’s one of the largest torii gates in Japan. Okay, I’ll go have a look. Let’s give you a sense of scale. People become super tiny. Wow, 30 meters. That’s about eight or nine stories high. And behind it, you can see Mount Yahiko. Just the shrine is this amazing. Just the torii gate is this amazing. Then the shrine must be even more incredible. Just from reading other people’s introductions, I was thinking, “Hey,” everyone says, “Wow, it’s huge, it’s huge.” But when I came here myself, I was shocked. Stunned. I think all the attractions in Japan are actually very well done. Like this, there’s even a parking lot next to it. And next to it, there are small shops to eat at. It’s just that we came too early, so the small shops haven’t opened yet. Turn, then turn right. This is Yahiko Park. It’s also one of Niigata’s most representative attractions. When we came here, we can walk through the tunnel and see the waterfall inside. And the autumn leaves. Actually, there’s a very famous spot inside called Momijidani Kangetsukyo Bridge. And at night, they light it up. So enjoying the autumn leaves here is quite beautiful. And actually, in the spring, you can also enjoy cherry blossoms. The cherry blossom season is quite long. Even the tunnel in the park is a Tangible Cultural Property. This is a great place for singing. Wow, the autumn leaves are already turning red. They’re beautiful, yes. The reason the tunnel is a Tangible Cultural Property is because of its construction period, which was around the Taisho era, that is, about 100 years ago from now. And, the area around its arch is made of granite. It has preserved the architectural style of that time. This is the famous autumn foliage viewing spot, Momijidani (Maple Valley) feat. Kangetsukyo Bridge. It’s really very beautiful. Especially these autumn leaves, reflecting against this red bridge. It has a great atmosphere. So everyone is taking tons of photos here. On the forecast websites, it said it would be another week before they reach their peak here. But I think it’s already beautiful like this. Especially seeing some of the green leaves that are slowly starting to turn red, that’s also very beautiful. The illumination event at Yahiko Park is one of their highlights during the autumn foliage season. This is Yahiko Station. When we were walking over from there just now, we thought, there’s a shrine over here. Let’s go take a look. Then we discovered, it’s actually a station. And as it happens, this area’s most famous attraction is Yahiko Shrine. So the exterior of this station perfectly showcases the character of this place. We’re at Bunsui-do Confectionery. This is a local specialty of Yahiko. And this is their signature snack. It’s a pastry made with a mix of rice flour and wheat flour. And, what’s interesting is, the flavor inside is edamame. “Orimame” is edamame. And every month, they actually have some limited edition flavors. Hey, this is a must-eat when you come here. Because this is an old shop. And for many people, it’s a childhood memory. Let’s try it. This thing, it once appeared on the national snack rankings. It’s quite chewy when you bite into it. Like a very chewy steamed bun. Inside, this flavor, although it’s edamame, it doesn’t have that vegetable-like bean taste. It’s actually similar to the feeling of red bean or mung bean. I saw in the comments that many people were giving instructions, saying when you get home, you should toast it in an oven so the outside gets crispy. It’s true the outside isn’t crispy. But I think it’s delicious. So it’s up to you. You can take it home and try toasting it. You can tell from the wall that this is a famous shop. There are many celebrity autographs. Today is a Monday. Around the park, there are many small markets. So you can tell that this attraction is quite popular. The mountain you see in the distance from Yahiko Park, the autumn leaves should be at their peak. This is Yahiko Shrine. Its construction history can be traced back over 2,400 years. What does that mean? This year is 2024, which means it already existed before the common era. We’ve just walked in, we haven’t even seen the main shrine building yet. But we’re already stunned by its beauty. Yes, there are towering trees here. And as soon as you enter, you can hear the sound of flowing water. It truly gives you a feeling of cleansing your mind, body, and soul. We just found out that Yahiko is currently holding a Chrysanthemum Festival. So the many markets we saw earlier, and the large crowds here, are probably because of this. I think I see the main point. This seems to be a competition. And, the goal is to grow the chrysanthemums big, tall, and round. And they are also divided into first, second, and third prize. So as you look down the line, you’ll know that, wow, the people who grow them are really amazing. Wow, they’ve used chrysanthemums to create a landscape of a mountain. It’s really amazing. Let me tell you, this mountain is called Mount Bandai. It connects Fukushima and Niigata prefectures. They’ve shaped it like a mountain and filled it with chrysanthemums. I think it’s so creative. I personally love it. This is another variety on display. And so, this one next to me is a first prize winner. Its first prize, second prize, and third prize winners are actually numerous. It seems there’s no limit to the number of winners. As long as it’s grown beautifully, you can win. Finally, we see the main shrine building. Niigata has the largest number of shrines in Japan. And this shrine, among all these shrines, is one of the most remarkable. The deity enshrined here is the great-grandson of Amaterasu Omikami, named ‘Ameno Kaguyama no Mikoto’. He was the one who developed the Echigo Province. And after his death, he was buried on Mount Yahiko. So the sacred origin of this place stems from this. What do you pray for? I’ve heard that it’s known for bringing good fortune in finding a good relationship. There are so many people queuing up to pray here. Old and young, everyone is praying for a good relationship. Not really, because this shrine is a very important center of faith in Japan. So many people come from all over to worship here. We’re now waiting for the shuttle bus to go up and take the ropeway. The amazing things about this shrine are endless. It even has a ropeway. I think what’s amazing is that it also has a shuttle bus. Hehehe. We’re going to ride the ropeway. As for the ticket prices, for adults, a one-way ticket is 800 yen. And a round trip is 1,500 yen. For children, a one-way ticket is 400 yen, and a round trip is 700 yen. Riding the ropeway up, we can enjoy the autumn leaves covering the mountainside. The autumn leaves should be at their peak now. And looking down, it’s a vast plain. It feels like looking at Taiwan’s Brown Boulevard, but with autumn leaves. It’s beautiful. On Mount Yahiko, there are many important shrines. So I’ve seen some people say that Mount Yahiko is basically the realm of the gods. And Mount Yahiko in Niigata is basically a landmark. Niigata’s landmark. And from the top of Mount Yahiko, we can see the entire Niigata Prefecture. There are many facilities here. You can take that kind of rotating tower up. There are various ways to come up here and enjoy the view. It’s really great. Next time, I want to take that one. Coming up this side, you can see the Sea of Japan. And across, what looks like a mountain, is actually Sado Island. When we walked over from the other side just now, seeing the various shades of blue intertwined in the distance was incredibly beautiful. The mountains below are also nearly at their peak. You can actually drive up here too. But today we chose to take the ropeway. Look, look. Over there, there’s even this kind of box-car that can climb up. So there are really so many ways to come up and enjoy the scenery. If I have the chance to come again in the future, I would like to stay in this Yahiko area for one or two days. Because our whole experience today, starting from Yahiko Park, Yahiko Shrine, Mount Yahiko, and the Mount Yahiko Ropeway, I truly feel it’s a very worthwhile set of attractions to visit in Japan. I think this is definitely one of the must-visit places in Japan. This is the Teradomari Fish Market Street. And right next to it, is the Sea of Japan. This sea area, its fish catch is very abundant. And so, here you can buy fresh and cheaply priced seafood. The famous seafood here is the red snow crab. The red snow crab is also called “beni-zuwaigani.” It’s more affordable than the snow crab. So I think when you come here, you must give it a try. Let me tell you, this is the first time I’ve seen this. The price of red snow crab really shocked me. It’s so affordable. The fish market here is unlike ours where it’s one big space with the whole interior opened up. Here it’s like individual shops. And inside, it looks like a small fish market. A small fish market. There are many seafood barbecue stalls like this. And besides seafood, there are also chicken skewers, pork skewers, and scallops. Wow, amazing. I’m so envious. I’ve seen grilled fish like that, but have you ever seen one with so much meat? Wow, I want it. Let’s order one to eat later. That grilled crab is completely de-shelled for you. We chose the one with the best reviews here, called Kakujo Gyrui. Let’s go take a look inside. Wow. I’m shocked. This basket costs only 1,000 yen for three crabs. Go compare and show everyone how big they are. They’re huge. However, it says on here “for miso soup,” so they might be of a slightly lower grade. Like over here, it says “ippai,” which means one crab. And there are options for 800 yen, 1,000 yen, and 1,500 yen. I think they get bigger and bigger. This is a super bargain. Really. 1,500 yen, converted to the current exchange rate, is only about 330 TWD. I’m telling you, even the 800 yen one, you’d think, “wow, that’s too cheap.” For such a big one. Wow, these fish are all glistening and beautiful. I’m going to buy some sashimi. This is fantastic. Oh my god, this four-color donburi is only 1,200 yen. It has sea urchin, and salmon roe. I’m dumbfounded, really! The people living around here are living too well. We’re just filled with envy, jealousy, and hate. Let me tell you. Japanese fish markets, I’ve been to at least a dozen. Only Hokkaido and here, I really think are super affordable. Amazing. Wow, you’re enjoying yourself too much. Eating this one first. Actually, no matter which one you eat first, it’s ridiculously good. You’re about to make the “Tudou-ge” face. Stop saying I’m copying “Tudou-ge.” I’m not copying him. Alright, alright. This sea urchin is super sweet. There’s no bitterness or fishiness at all. Usually, with 1,200 yen, which is about 200-something TWD, you can probably only buy this amount of sea urchin. It’s this feeling. Look at its gloss. When you bite into it, it has a firm texture. And that sticky texture. Wow, it’s so good. I think this is too good. It’s so delicious. The donburi I just had was amazing too. This box is already the most expensive one in the fridge. 1,300 yen. I chose it because I thought this tuna looks very beautiful. Oh, I think the four-color donburi is super worth it. Everyone must come and try it. It also uses Niigata rice. Let me tell you, after these few days, I’ve completely memorized what Niigata rice looks like. It’s so plump. Every grain is as plump as a BB pellet. Let me tell you, you’re just shoveling it in spoonful after spoonful. You didn’t even think that I haven’t eaten yet. Excuse me. At the entrance, they’re selling fish cakes and various tempura. Grandma bought one. I took a bite. It’s so delicious. It must be delicious. The fish paste content must be super high, so delicious. And the radish and other things inside are very sweet and tasty. Also a Niigata specialty, called “Banya-jiru.” A 200 yen fish soup. Wow, the pieces of fish inside are so big. I wish I lived next door. It’s sweet, isn’t it? It’s so good. This mixed fish soup is just too much, really. This one is Teradomari Chuo Suisan. On its first floor, there’s a retail area. And a restaurant on the second floor. It’s not like in Taiwan where you can buy it here and have it cooked for you right away. These sashimi-grade shrimp, a plate is also only 1,000 yen. Let me tell you, you need to schedule a whole day here. For us who have to catch a flight later today, it feels a bit rushed. Wanting more but having to leave. We originally wanted to eat cooked red snow crab here. But today, it’s no longer open. They’re closing for a break. I’m telling you all, when you come here in the future, it’s best to rent a guesthouse with a kitchen. This way you can buy it back and cook it yourself. Yes, and buy some miso soup. Just cook it simply, it would be amazing. We’ll plan it for the next trip. I will definitely come back here next time. This place is too amazing. I want to eat red snow crab. Oh, I was wrong. I should have scheduled this as the first stop. It’s called “Kora-yaki.” We bought it at one of those barbecue stalls. We can still eat crab, which is great. Hey, this is from the first stall we saw when we came in. It’s sweet. And it’s so thoughtful, it’s actually all been de-shelled. Although it’s slightly more expensive than buying it raw and fresh inside, this one is 1,500 yen. But, you don’t have to sit in a restaurant and spend a lot of time. For us, who have to catch a flight later, ordering this is very suitable. Crab paste! And the whole crab, actually has quite a lot of meat. I think their preparation method is quite good. The entire crab meat is soaked in its crab juices. They’ve mixed it all together. If I prepared it myself, it probably wouldn’t be this delicious. You could put some white rice in it. So delicious. I really want to live here. The crab paste is just blissful. Wow, if you mix it with rice, it would be a luxury. It’s more worth it than the crabs we eat in Taiwan for nearly 1,000 TWD. It’s more worth it. Because all the crab meat has been de-shelled. You can have a satisfying mouthful all at once. Saying this might offend some people, offend some people. Our last dance at Teradomari Fish Market. Wow, all shellfish, feasting. And octopus. I won’t tell you how it is. It’s definitely delicious. Say something, say something. Just eat it. This is the Niigata Crown Hills Hotel. The reason we chose this place is because it’s cheap. One night, including breakfast, is only 7,000 yen. And our bed, it’s a 150 cm wide double bed. It’s big enough. The main point is, although this place is just ordinary, nothing special, it’s very suitable for when you just need a place to sleep and then leave. Its reviews are actually quite bad. But I took a closer look later. It was actually recently acquired by a company called BBH. It was acquired. So the recent reviews are quite good. So I took a risk and decided to stay here. So far, it feels pretty good. It looks like an old hotel that has been tidied up a bit, it’s quite clean. That’s enough. The bathroom is quite small. It’s just like the old Toyoko Inns, that kind of prefabricated bathroom. This hotel provides a public hot spring bath. However, it only has one pool. So men and women have to take turns. They use it during separate time slots. I definitely can’t film inside for you to see. It’s roughly this small. This is my mother’s room. It’s a small double bed, which is a 140 cm wide bed. Many of the amenities needed for the room can actually be freely taken from the lobby here. So you can choose what you need and what you like. Like body wash, shampoo, there are actually several types to choose from. I think that’s quite thoughtful. Walking out from the hotel, you’re right on a shopping street. So if you want to shop or eat, it’s very convenient. Time for breakfast. Basically, it’s a very standard hotel breakfast. But, it has some local characteristics. Like Niigata rice, and fried tofu. So we get to eat famous Niigata food first thing in the morning. We’ve finished our meal. Overall, I’m not quite used to the selection of dishes. However, there are a few things I liked. Those few things were really quite delicious. I think overall, for this price, having breakfast included is already quite good. Oh. If a place with this price was next to my house, I would probably eat there all the time.

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影片一：新潟魚沼・越後湯澤篇
詳細重點整理
* 魚沼之里 (Uonuma no Sato)
* 特色：將魚沼地區的「米」與「酒」特色集結於一個森林聚落中的複合式景點。
* 內容：包含餐廳、和菓子店、伴手禮店等，環境優美舒適。
* 推薦停留時間：約2小時。
* にぎりめし てっぺん (飯糰店)
* 特色：專賣使用最高級「魚沼越光米」製作的飯糰。
* 重點：米飯是主角，口感Q彈飽滿，甚至有昆布包裹的特殊口味。影片中阿嬤評價為「沒吃過這麼好吃的米」。
* 八海山雪室 (Hakkaisan Yukimuro)
* 特色：利用1,000噸的雪作為天然冰箱來儲藏清酒與蔬菜的「雪溫庫」。
* 體驗：可參加500日圓的導覽，參觀雪室並試飲「八海山純米大吟釀」或無酒精發酵飲品，CP值高。
* 亮點：酒窖儲藏了大量清酒，非常適合拍照。
* 奧只見隧道群探險自駕 (Oku-Tadami Tunnel Group)
* 特色：前往奧只見水壩的必經之路，由19個大小隧道組成，部分為手工開鑿。
* 體驗：路面較顛簸，有坑洞，充滿冒險與探險感，隧道間的紅葉風景極美。
* 奥只見ダム (奧只見水壩)
* 特色：日本最大的人工湖（又稱銀山湖），與立山黑部水壩齊名，是北陸三大水壩之一。
* 景觀：秋季時滿山遍野的紅葉絕景，搭配枯枝與雲霧更顯蕭瑟之美。
* 故事：湖底據說沉睡著18世紀的廢棄銀礦與村莊。
* おかしとおやき ことう (和菓子伴手禮店)
* 特色：販售多種新潟在地和菓子。
* 推薦品項：笹糰子（像抹茶味的草仔粿）、六饅頭（像包餡的黑糖糕）、起司千層蛋糕（味道香濃）。
* 無人商店甜甜圈
* 特色：米粉工廠附設的無人商店，販售米製甜甜圈，每個僅100日圓。
* 口感：口感非常Q彈，味道單純、真材實料。起司與楓糖口味特別受歡迎。
* 三国街道 牧之通り (Mikuni Kaido, Boku-shi no Toori)
* 特色：江戶時代的宿場（塩沢宿），保留了古老街道風貌，有時代劇場景的感覺。
* 建築：獨特的「雁木」結構，是為了防止冬季大雪而建的遮雪走廊，類似台灣的騎樓。
* 提醒：店家約下午4點半就休息，建議提早前往。
* 越後湯澤車站周邊
* CoCoLo湯沢・がんぎどおり：車站內的商場，伴手禮、清酒、米製品貨色齊全，名物是超巨大的「爆蛋飯糰」。
* ぽんしゅ館：清酒愛好者天堂！可用500日圓換代幣與酒杯，從「清酒扭蛋機」自助試飲多款新潟清酒。
* 温泉咖啡水屋：車站對面的咖啡店，門口有免費足湯，氛圍極佳。
* 魚沼の畑：車站內餐廳，主打新潟米飯，豬排丼的米飯Q彈飽滿，水準很高。
* ホテルシャーレゆざわ銀水：住宿點，較老舊但空間寬敞的和洋式混合房，附有溫泉。

影片二：新潟十日町・長岡篇
詳細重點整理
* 清津峽 (Kiyotsu Gorge)
* 特色：日本三大峽谷之一，以壯觀的「柱狀節理」地形聞名，是大地藝術季的重點作品。
* 體驗：需提前上網預約購票，遊覽路線為一條750公尺長的隧道，內有四個觀景台。
* 必拍景點：終點的「水鏡」，地面鋪設淺水，能完美倒映出峽谷景色，是IG打卡爆紅點。
* 美人林 (Bijinbayashi)
* 特色：樹齡約100年的山毛櫸森林，因姿態優美而得名，是「森林浴百選」之一。
* 交通：從停車場步行1分鐘即可抵達，非常容易親近。
* 景觀：四季景色各異，秋季時整片森林會轉為金黃色，非常夢幻。
* 星峠の棚田 (Hoshitoge Rice Terraces)
* 特色：由200多片水田組成的梯田景觀，宛如山坡上的魚鱗，入選「梯田遺產」。
* 最佳觀賞時間：日出時分，水田會形成「水鏡」反射天空，搭配雲海景色最為壯麗。
* 小嶋屋総本店 (Kojimaya Souhonten)
* 特色：超過百年的老店，米其林必比登推薦，品嚐新潟鄉土料理「片木蕎麥麵 (へぎそば)」。
* 口感：麵條中加入「布海苔」作為黏稠劑，口感極度滑順、Q彈有嚼勁，顛覆對一般蕎麥麵的印象。
* 吉乃川酒ミュージアム醸蔵 (Yoshinogawa Sake Museum)
* 特色：擁有470多年歷史的「吉乃川」酒廠博物館，建築本身是國家有形文化財。
* 體驗：可以了解釀酒歷史，並品嚐限定的「梅酒冰淇淋」，味道香甜不膩。
* 亮點：曾有30分鐘清酒喝到飽的活動（影片中已結束）。
* 旧機那サフラン酒製造本舗 (Former Kina Saffron Sake Brewery)
* 特色：製造番紅花藥酒的舊址，建築外觀極具特色。
* 建築：牆上有被譽為「日本第一」的「鏝繪」（灰泥浮雕藝術），非常罕見且精美。
* 東横INN燕三条駅前 (Toyoko Inn Tsubame-Sanjo Ekimae)
* 特色：新穎的連鎖商務飯店，設備新，CP值高。
* 亮點：附設器材充足的健身房，房間設計貼心，USB插座多。

影片三：新潟彌彥・寺泊篇
詳細重點整理
* 彌彥神社大鳥居 (Yahiko Shrine Great Torii)
* 特色：全日本最大的鳥居之一，高達30公尺，為紀念上越新幹線通車而建，氣勢磅礡。
* 彌彥公園 (Yahiko Park)
* 特色：新潟代表性的賞楓與賞櫻名所。
* 必訪景點：「紅葉谷」內的紅色「觀月橋」，紅橋與紅葉相映成趣，夜間還有點燈活動。
* 文化財：公園內的隧道建於大正年間，是國家有形文化財。
* 彌彥車站 (Yahiko Station)
* 特色：車站建築本身模仿神社樣式建造，完美融入當地特色，本身就是一個景點。
* 彌彥神社 (Yahiko Shrine)
* 特色：擁有超過2,400年歷史的古老神社，是新潟最重要的信仰中心與能量景點。
* 主祭神：開闢越後國的「天香山命」，以祈求美好姻緣聞名。
* 活動：影片拍攝時正值「菊花祭」，有許多菊花造景藝術。
* 彌彥山 & 纜車 (Mt. Yahiko & Ropeway)
* 特色：新潟的地標，被稱為「神的領域」。
* 體驗：搭乘纜車可以欣賞滿山遍野的紅葉與新潟平原，景色壯麗。
* 景觀：山頂可眺望日本海與佐渡島。
* 寺泊魚市場大街 (Teradomari Fish Market)
* 特色：鄰近日本海，被譽為「魚的商店街」，能買到極度新鮮且價格便宜的海鮮。
* 必吃美食：
* 角上魚類：CP值爆表！海膽鮭魚卵四色丼只要日幣1200，換算台幣僅200多。
* 紅楚蟹（紅松葉蟹）：價格非常實惠，一隻約800-1500日圓。
* 番屋汁：在地特色魚湯，一碗200日圓，魚肉大塊、湯頭鮮甜。
* 甲羅燒：在蟹殼上燒烤蟹膏與蟹肉，香氣逼人。
* 新潟皇冠山飯店 (Niigata Hotel Crown Hills)
* 特色：價格便宜，一晚含早餐僅7,000日圓，適合過夜。
* 設施：老飯店翻新，乾淨整潔，有小型的公共溫泉池。

#日本 #新潟 #旅遊 #旅行 #景點 #美食 #自駕遊 #飯店 #開箱

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