Naoetsu Travel Guide

 kiwigal_1 Says:  Apart from the great seafood you can eat here the beaches are certainly the main attraction of Joetsu/Naoetsu area. The better beaches are reached by train from Naoetsu Station towards Niigata city. You don't have to travel far to find a good one. This pic is of Unohama... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  I didn't have much choice in accomodation when I came here. It is the high season for beach areas such as Naoetsu and so I guess prices are higher. I managed to find a Business Hotel which was about 20 mins walk from the Station near the Ito Yokado Shopping Mall.A single... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  I was hungry and was walking around the main street where the festival was being held looking for a cheap Izakaya (family owned eating establishments, usually Yakitori) to eat in. I saw a restaurant that had the appearance of an Izakaya... walked in only to discover it was... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  Naoetsu is not really a nightlife kind of place! Luckily though, there was a festival on when I was there. Lots of drums, colour, noise and beer! It was a great night of entertainment... for free! :-) Dress up in a happi coat and join in the fun! 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  Naoetsu is a port town with ferried that run out to Sado-ga-shima Island just off the coast of Niigata. There are ferries which take 2 and a half hours and also a jet-foil ferry which will get you there in 60 minutes. Contact the Sado Kisen Company (025)2451234 for more... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  In Japan there are many summer festivals all over the country. Often they include fireworks displays. The one in Naoetsu consisted of large Yamakoshi floats with Taiko drums on them. The people wear Happi coats or Yukata and play instruments, dance around and... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  Not so much a danger but a warning to foreigners travelling in places like Naoetsu. This is a really small town and they don't get quite so many gaijin (foreigners) travelling through here as places like Tokyo or Kyoto. Be warned that people WILL look at you here and that... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  If you plan on doing a lot of train travel when you are in Japan then I suggest that you decline from bringing large, heavy suitcases. Most train stations in Japan have huge staircases (often no lift) so lugging a big suitcase is not an easy task. I suggest a good backpack... 

 kiwigal_1 Says:  I think it is safe to say that the whole town is off the beaten path . It isn't a large city and certainly isn't one of Japan's main tourist attractions. All I can say is that I had a lovely time there. This pic is another one from the festival on the main street.