Niigata

Niigata is located in the northernmost of Central Japan largely facing the Sea of Japan. It is known as a snowy region and has numerous fine ski resorts including Gala, Naeba and Kagura. Not only Niigata is famous for the top Japanese rice brands indigenous to the prefecture but also the freshest seafood caught in the Sea of Japan. You can get from Tokyo to Niigata by Shinkansen within an hour and a half.