Itinerary
Japan's Flavour Arc: Sake, Sea & Ramen by Rail
9 days · 22 stops · ¥180,000–¥280,000
Mon, Oct 5 – Tue, Oct 13
A 9-day train journey tracing Japan's great food traditions — Niigata's legendary sake and rice, Kanazawa's Sea of Japan seafood, Sendai's Tohoku bounty, and Tokyo's ramen soul — with hidden temples and gardens between bites.
Days
Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery
Niigata
Schedule
Day 01 of 09🛬
Arrive 14:00 · first activity from 16:30
2.5h customs + airport transit buffer
Land at KIJ · Mon, Oct 5 · from JFK · 1 traveler
Renting a car? Check the license rules
Some licenses (FR/DE/CH/BE/TW) need a JAF translation, not an IDP — 5-min guide.
Stay
Niigata · 2 nights
Mon, Oct 5 → Wed, Oct 7 · 1 guest
16:30
EXPLORE
今代司酒造
Stay ~1h 30m
Niigata Station
Start your journey at this Niigata City brewery — taste the rice-forward sake that defines the region, with a guided tour of the brewing floor.
~15 min by train
18:15
EXPLORE
新潟市民プラザ
Stay ~45 min
⚠ likely closed by then — usually closes ~5:00 PM; double-check before going
Catch golden-hour views over the Sea of Japan and the Shinano River — a quiet perch to orient yourself in this port city.
~35 min by train
19:35
EXPLORE
北方文化博物館
Stay ~1h 30m
⚠ likely closed by then — usually closes ~5:00 PM; double-check before going
Ogikawa Station (JR Shin'etsu Main Line), via YOKO-BUS shuttle
Wander the Meiji-era mansion of the Ito family — rice tycoons who built their fortune on Niigata's grain, with a sublime Japanese garden.
Getting around, region by region
Your route mixes city and countryside — here's the best mode for each leg.
Niigata City & Yahiko · Days 1–2
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Kanazawa & Noto · Days 3–5
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Toyama & Tateyama · Day 6
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Tokyo central → Kanazawa & Noto · Days 7–9
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Rental 1: Niigata City & Yahiko · Days 1–2
Rental 2: Toyama & Tateyama · Day 6
Separate rentals — you fly (or ferry) between these regions, so return each car before you leave it.
Browse rental cars on Klook →Getting around
🚗
Rental car recommended
Several stops on this route are in rural areas with limited rail access. A rental car from the nearest city hub gives you the freedom to reach places no bus serves.
Browse rental cars on Klook →⛴️
Ferry required
At least one destination is accessible only by ferry. Book in advance — island ferries sell out weeks ahead in peak season (Apr–May, Jul–Aug).
Browse ferry options on Klook →01 / 09
Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥17,000–¥29,000 / person / day
¥155,000–¥260,000 total
💴 Carry ~¥5,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 21 travel legs and 8 hotel nights. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
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Sleep in a centuries-old ryokan. Tatami floors, onsen, and a 7-course kaiseki.
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