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Joetsu City One Day Walking Tour, Takada Area

Takada Castle Site Park in fall.

A Tokitetsu train

Takada Komachi and Gangi Streets

A store in Gangi Street

Musashino Sake Brewer

Cherry blossoms in Takada Castle Site Park

An old Japanese restaurant with the history more than 100 years

Putting the glue on the wooden frame of a paper sliding door: an experience of Japanese culture

Enjoying time to fish at the mouth of a river is a way for your trip.

Paper Craft Workshop / using using empty box

Joetsu City One Day Walking Tour, Takada Area

Day Trip

Joined 2019

Keiichi S.

5.00 / 5

(16 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Niigata

Japanese (Native), English

7 hours

Private tour (only you and Keiichi S.)

Up to 6 people

Interested in historical sites in Japan?

How about Joetsu City? Just a short ride from Tokyo (two hours.)

Joetsu City is located in Niigata Prefecture, along the Sea of Japan.

Takada Area, a famous sightseeing spot in Joetsu, has interesting features: a castle town, a snowy town, and tasty food and sake. By walking along a local town and communicating with local people, you will feel refreshed and energized.

I hope to see you soon!

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:00 AM

Meeting Point

At Joetsu-Myoko Station on Hokuriku Bullet Train Line

10:00 AM

Meeting point: Joetsu-Myoko station on the Hokuriku Bullet Line

Departing from Tokyo at 7:52, The Hokuriku bullet train arrives at Joetsu-Myoko station at 9:58. We will meet at the station. Then take a local train named Tokitetsu Line to Takada station, two-stations away.

10:30 AM

Takada Komachi, a traditional townhouse and Gangi Streets, snow shelter spaces

Takada area is a former castle town in a snowy country. Walking along this area you will find what was like a castle town and how local people live in snowy country.

11:30 AM

Sake brewery and having lunch: enjoy tasting sake and learn how sake is brewed

Niigata prefecture is famous for delicious rice and sake. How about visiting a sake brewery and tasting some of it? Musashino Sake Brewery provides an opportunity to learn how sake is brewed and to taste it.

The brewery has a beautiful Japanese garden. If you prefer, you may eat a tasty lunch there.

01:30 PM

Takada Park: a former castle site

You can enjoy the beautiful scenery and get refreshed according to the four seasons while taking a walk in the park. 4000 cherry trees bloom in spring, locus flowers occupy surrounding moats in summer, yellow and red leaves decorate the park in fall, and the snow paints white in winter.

Takada Castle was built in 1614. It was one of the largest castle sites in those days.

03:00 PM

Temple streets: 66 Buddhist temples line up two temple streets

How about paying a visit to one of the temples and have time to talk to a priest?

Temples were located on the west side of town for security when the castle was built in the 17th century.

05:00 PM

Buy an ekiben and take a train back to Tokyo

An ekiben is a boxed lunch or dinner. "Sake-meshi, or salmon and rice" is the ekiben selling at Joetsu-Myoko station and won the first prize in the ekiben contest in 2019.

Ending Point

At Joetsu-Myoko Station on Hokuriku Bullet Train Line

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Guide fee

What‘s not included

Your travel expenses to Joetsu-Myoko Station where the guide meets you.

Your travel expenses in Joetsu City; local trains with a few stations, taxi if necessary.

Sake tasting and learning; there are three courses at Musashino sake brewery; 700yen, 1,500yen, 2,000yen

depending on how you taste and learn sake.

Entrance fee some of the facilities listed above for you and the guide.

Lunch for you and the guide.

JPY 1000 for guide's transportation fee to/ from Joetsu-Myoko Station

JPY 5000 is needed, If I use my car to show you around in the area.

Tour Important Information

1) There are two types of Bullet train in Hokuriku Line: Hakutaka and Kagayaki. Only Hakutaka trains stop at Joetsu-Myoko Station.

2) Warm clothes and shoes are recommended for walking in winter.

3) Please inform us if you have any religious or health restrictions, allergies, or have other specific requests.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2019

Keiichi S.

5.00 / 5

(16 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Keiichi S.

Hello! My name is Keiichi. Please call me Kei.

I was born and raised in Joetsu City, located in the southern part of Niigata prefecture. Joetsu was the former capital city of Echigo Province until the mid 19th century. It has a lot of historic sites and scenic spots, and most of all good people. I love my city very much.

I worked for the Joetsu City office for over thirty years. During my time there, I was in charge of international relations for about ten years. After retiring from the office, I began working as a licensed tour guide. I am very excited to introduce my city to people all over the world.

Reviews

Marie R.

5 / 5

Sep 30, 2025

Discover Niigata’s Autumn: Fields, Craft, and Flavors

Sep 30, 2025

Niigata

7 hours

Customized

“Super knowledgeable of Niigata area”

We booked Keiichi for a one day guided tour of Niigata. Via messages, he asked questions to get an idea of activity level and interests and then created two itinerary options for us to choose from. He greeted us with an itinerary printout and Niigata maps for us to use the following day. We used his vehicle to travel around the different spots, which he held a wealth of knowledge about each area. Kei is a must for the Niigata tourist, you will not be disappointed with your experiences he provides. At the end of the day he shared photos he captured of us during our experiences. The highlight of the day was the fruit farm and picking our own grape bundles to cut off the vines.

Keiichi S.

Thank you so much for your wonderful review—it truly means a lot to me. We were really lucky to spend such a refreshing autumn day together exploring the Niigata City area. I was especially touched by how close and caring you are with each other. I heard that you enjoyed your time on Sado with my fellow guide Fujiko-san yesterday. I hope today also brings you lots of happiness, relaxation, and safe adventures as you continue to enjoy Sado Island.

Ira sophia H.

5 / 5

Sep 19, 2025

A Day Tour for Snow Monkey and Obuse Town

Sep 19, 2025

Nagano

6 hours

“Snow Monkey and fruits.”

Kei is a very polite and committed person. He responded to all requests. I highly recommend this friendly guide.

Keiichi S.

Thanks to your enthusiasm, we were able to see the snow monkeys. That's wonderful. I hope your stay in Nagano was a great one for everyone. Please continue to enjoy your time in Japan.

Kichi J.

5 / 5

Jul 30, 2025

One day tour for Hakuba Resort and Lake Aoki

Jul 30, 2025

Nagano

7 hours

Customized

“Fantastic time in Hakuba with Kei”

We spend a wonderful day with our guide interpreter in Hakuba. He was very helpful in every way and made our time so much more enjoyable!

Keiichi S.

Thank you very much for your comment. I am very happy to find that you enjoyed your time in Lake Aoki and Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort. The temperature was extremely high, so I was worried about heatstroke, but thanks to the cool lake water flowing in from the Northern Alps into Aoki Lake and sunshine filtering through foliage, we were able to enjoy a day outdoors even in the middle of summer. And the view of the Hakuba Happone ski resort from Iwakura Resort summit was stunning, with the lush greenery in full bloom.