niigata in late October

Hi,

I have been browsing through a few sites for Autumn viewing in Niigata. These sites are suggested,
1. Dragondola in Yuzawa
2. Yahiko park

Was wondering if its possible to do both on 1 day?
Is it worth it to go in late october?

Or do u have any other suggestions? Want to give niigata a try.

In a summary, you could do Dragondola and Yahiko Park in a day.
Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 820-857 Naeba Prince Hotel 1240-1322 Echigo-Yuzawa 1401-1555 Yahiko 1821-2100 Tokyo

But, I might pefer Yahiko as one, Okutadami and Nagaoka Momijien as one, or Echigo-Yuzawa as one.
Tokyo 748-1032 Yahiko 1721-1952 Tokyo
Tokyo 608-737 Urasa 750-905 Okutadami Dam (30 min Okutadami Round course boat) 1135-1235 Urasa 1248-1405 Nagaoka Momijen 1605-1840 Tokyo
Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 755-822 Daigenta Canyon 1034-1100 Echigo-Yuzawa 1140-1217 Naeba Prince Hotel 1400-1442 Echigo-Yuzawa 1510-1533 Kiyotsukyo 1747-1813 Echigo-Yuzawa 1828-1952 Tokyo

The followings are the materials with which I have reached the conclusion above.

Jorudan lists nine sites for Niigata prefecture in late October.
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/migoro_10c_4.html

Yahiko Koen Momijidani (1st in Koyo popularity in Niigata: late Oct - mid-Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55024.html
Just in front of JR Yahiko station

Okutadamiko (2nd in Niigata: mid-Oct - late Oct) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55023.html
1h20m bus ride from JR Urasa and 10 min walk from the bus stop

Myoko Kogen Imori Ike (3rd in Niigata: mid-Oct - early Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55022.html
15 min bus from Myoko Kogen station.

Momijien (4th in Niigata: late Oct - mid-Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55020.html
10 min walk from JR Raikoji in Nagaoka city

Kiyotsukyo (5th in Niigata: mid-Oct - early Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55021.html
23 min bus from JR Echigo-Yuzawa and 25 min walk from the bus stop

Arakawa Kyoukoku Momiji Line (6th in Niigata: late Oct - early Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55026.html
It needs a car to get there.

Aganogawa Rhein Funakudari (7th in Niigata: late Oct - mid-Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_55025.html
It needs a car to get there.

Dragondora Tashiro Ropeway Naeba Ski Resort (mid-Oct - mid-Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_J0169.html
50 min bus from JR Echigo-Yuzawa, 25 min Koyo viewing from the ropeway

Daigenta Canyon (mid-Oct - early Nov) https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_J0170.html
20 min from JR Echigo-Yuzawa, there would be rental rowling boats.

1. Yahiko Park is near JR Yahiko, but Yahiko Shrine, 15 min walk needed, should be regarded as a must. Jalan rates Yahiko Shrine as #1 destination (not limited to Koyo) in Niigata Prefecture in October. There is Otorii along the railway toward Yahiko. You may consider Yahikosan Ropeway as well. Yahikosan Skyline road also has an entry in Jalan. Jalan estimates 2 hours each for Yahiko Park, Yahiko Shrine, and Yahiko Ropeway, and 3 hours for Mt Yahiko. You could arrive there at around 11:00 from Tokyo. You would have 6 hours before it gets dark. If you just do Yahiko Park, you could leave here early afternoon.
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15342ah3332082764/
http://www.yahiko-jinjya.or.jp/
http://www.yahiko-jinjya.or.jp/meguru/index.html
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15342ag2130009863/
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15342ae2182089519/
https://www.hotel-juraku.co.jp/yahiko/
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15342ee4572082681/
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15342ab2012089510/
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15342aj2202082487/

2. Here is the Timetable for Okutadami.
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/koide/okutadami.pdf

Okutadami is the gateway to Oze in summer. That route will be shut down on 15 Oct. The boat to Ozeguchi and the following bus to Numayama Pass are to be closed on that day. The route over Shiori Pass to Ginzandaira will be closed on the previous day.
http://okutadami.co.jp/boat/route_ozeguchi.html

The remaining parts are operating until the Koyo season would be over.
Okutadami Round course boat until 8 Nov.
http://okutadami.co.jp/boat/route_okutadami.html
Ginzandaira course boat until 6 Nov.
http://okutadami.co.jp/boat/route_ginzan.html
The bus to Okutadami Dam until 3 Nov. This bus goes through Okutadami Silver Line road. Jalan estimates one hour for it.
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_guide000000172309/

Tokyo 608-737 Urasa 750-905 Okutadami Dam (30 min Okutadami Round course boat) 1135-1235 Urasa 1355-1528 Tokyo

3. Myoko Kogen is at the Hokuriku Shinkansen side. Jalan estimates one hour for Imori Ike and 2 hours for Sky Cable.
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_guide000000176644/
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15217ee4572089869/

4. Jalan estimates 2 hours for Nagaoka Momijien.
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_guide000000176645/

5. Echigo-Yuzawa has three Koyo sites.

Jalan estimates 2 hours for Kiyotsukyo. Here is the timetable for Kiyotsukyo.
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/morimiyanoh...
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15210ab2042089120/

Jalan has an entry for Naeba, stating half a day. But it is for a ski resort in winter. It would be 2 hours by an estimate for Myoko Kogen Sky Cable above. Here is the timetable for Naeba.
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/crystal.pdf
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15461ca3470058299/

No entry for Daigenta Canyon by Jalan. I assume 2 hours. Here is the timetable for Daigenta Canyon.
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_J0170.html

You may marginally do all the three in a day from Tokyo, though this one includes one hour dark time at Kiyotsukyo.
Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 755-822 Daigenta Canyon 1034-1100 Echigo-Yuzawa 1140-1217 Naeba Prince Hotel 1400-1442 Echigo-Yuzawa 1510-1533 Kiyotsukyo 1747-1813 Echigo-Yuzawa 1828-1952 Tokyo

This is for Daigenta Canyon.
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/daigenta.pd...

It seems Mt Yahiko is called as Yahikoyama not Yahikosan.

Prince has a dedicated site for Dragondola. They recommend three courses.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/map/

1. Dragondola roundtrip (120 min)
Naeba bus terminal - Doragondola - hike at the summit - Doragondola - Naeba bus terminal

2. Doragondola and Tashiro Ropeway triangle (80 min)
Tashiro bus stop - Tashiro ropeway - Doragondola - Naeba bus terminal

3. Naeba and Tashiro (105 min)
Tashiro bus stop - Tashiro ropeway - Panorama lift - Doragondola - Naeba bus terminal

Dragondola (25 min)
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/dragondola/

Tashiro Ropeway (10 min): 230 meters above the ground (highest in Japan), 25 min walk down to Dragondola
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/tashiro_rop...

Thank you Luisjp for the detailed information. Can i ask which 3 do u mean that i can do in a day?
I am thinking of traveling to Yahiko from Tokyo then to Dragondola for a day trip.
Not sure if it rains, will the dragondola be cancelled?

Anyway, if the weather is good, based on the website, I can take a shuttle bus from Echigo Yuzawa station for about 50minutes. But where do I alight? Or it will take me directly to the dragondola?

You need to go to Naeba first.

The last Dragondola departs at the foot of the mountain at 15:00.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/
Then, you need to catch the Minami-Echigo Bus at 13:00 at JR Yuzawa.
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/crystal.pdf
Then, you need to leave JR Yahiko at 8:20.
https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/?p=0&xpd=1&from=Yahiko&to=Echigo-Yu...
But, it is not possible to get to JR Yahiko before 8:20 on that day from Tokyo.
https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/?p=0&xpd=1&from=Tokyo&to=Yahiko&dat...

On the other hand, Yahiko Park will be lit up. The light-up is scheduled from 17:00 to 21:30 in a period from late October to mid-November.
http://www.niigata-kankou.or.jp/sys/data?page-id=10628

The sunset time at Yahiko is just before 17:00. You could stay at Yahiko until 20:25.
Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 820-857 Naeba Prince Hotel 1240-1322 Echigo-Yuzawa 1401-1555 Yahiko 2025-2340 Tokyo
https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/?p=0&from=Yahiko&to=Tokyo&date=10%2...

With this setting, you would have more than 180 min at Naeba. The three recommended courses by Prince Hotel is from the bus stop to the bus stop. Even you selected the longest 120 min course, you would have a time for a lunch.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/map/images/...
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/map/images/...
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/map/images/...

The Doragondola station is 20 min walk away from the bus terminal. You may choose a free shuttle bus to avoid this hiking course. This short course for the shuttle bus is shown as a dotted blue line in the map on the brochore below.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/map/images/...
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/pdf/2018aut...

My recommendation is a triangle course to experience all the three; Tashiro Ropeway, Panorama Lifts, and Dragondola.

Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 820-848 Futai Tashiro Ski Resort
10 min Tashiro Ropeway
25 min walk down
20 min Tashiro Kogen Panorama Lifts
3 min walk
25 min Naeba Kogen Dragondola
5 min free shuttle bus, or 20 min walk down
Naeba Prince Hotel 1240-1322 Echigo-Yuzawa 1401-1555 Yahiko 2025-2340 Tokyo

In a ski season, snow falls. So rain is not a problem to operate the facility. But, wind could stop the operation. I may switch to Lake Okutadami, if the weather is not good enough. If you want a more relaxed itinerary, you may consider Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway. It is just 10 min walk from JR Echigo-Yuzawa.
http://www.e-yuzawa.gr.jp/language_eng/sightseeing/
http://www.yuzawakogen.com/hours_fare/hours_fare_list/

For a more clarity.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/pdf/2018aut...

Minami-Echigo Bus runs on a green dotted line on the map above. You come from JR Yuzawa at the right on this map. Get off Futai Tashiro Ski Resort bus stop (shown as a pole), just after coming out from a tunnel. You should see Tashiro Ropeway station on the right. It would take four minutes on foot to get there from the bus stop.

After getting up to Tashiro Ropeway summit station, you would have some choices before taking Naeba Dragondola. Just hiking around the area, riding Rakuraku lift at the Lake Tashiro side, or Panorama Lift at the Mt Naeba side.

After getting down to Naeba Dragondola mountain foot station, you need to go to Naeba Prince Hotel to catch a bus to JR Yuzawa station. The shuttle bus shown as a blue dotted line goes to Tour Bus Terminal for visitors coming by car. It is not a Minami-Echigo Bus bus stop. An independent Naeba-Tashiro bus connecting Naeba Tour Bus Terminal and Tashiro Ropeway station is run by Prince Hotel. It costs 500 yen and shown by a red line.

Thank you Luisjp one again for such a detailed information.
I think I have a plan which would be to go to Naeba in the morning, then probably Yuzawa Kogen or head down to Yahiko park in the afternoon. Plan will depend on the weather and also how fast the season will evolve.
I would expect crowd for the season and would be adding 1-2 hours of wait time in between each. So will make it simple. In fact, I might just head to Yuzawa Kogen then Yahiko park instead as my objectives for this trip to niigata would be to view autumn foliage and also tasting niigata rice and sake.

I have another question would be how to head to Naeba if I am not planning to stay at the prince hotel. Will there be a separate shuttle bus service or can I still pay by taking the prince hotel's shuttle bus?

https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/pdf/2018aut...

You are only likely to use the green line.
530 yen: Yuzawa Station - Futai Tashiro Ski Resort
660 yen: Naeba Prince Hotel - Yuzawa Station
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/crystal.pdf

Tashiro Ropeway is 5 min away from the Tashiro bus stop. Naeba Dragondola is 25 min away from the Naeba bus stop.

The blue line bypasses the walk from Dragondola, but to the bus terminal, not to the hotel.
0 yen: Dragondola - Naeaba-skijo bus terminal
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/map/images/...

The tour bus terminal (Naeba-skijo) is in Parking Lot #4 (P4) and the Naeba Prince Hotel bus stop is in Parking Lot #1 (P1) on this map. It would take 5 min between the bus terminal and the bus stop.
http://www.naeba.gr.jp/pdf/townguide_en.pdf

You do use the bus stop in front of Naeba Price Hotel to go back to JR Yuzawa. The bus stop is in front of Building 4. You may go into the hotel if you want. At Building 6, there is a lunch buffet. There is another restaurant near the summit station of Dragondola.

So, you would not be likely to use the red line. It is open to the public, and frequent, but costs 500 yen.
500 yen: Naeba-skijo bus terminal - Tashiro Ropeway

Uonuma, Iwafune, and Sado are the top three sites for rice.
https://www.tsunagi-japan.co.jp/blog/area/three-major-areas/

Uonuma is a town near Lake Okutadami. Iwafune is in between Niigata City and Sakata in Yamagata. It is in Murakami City. Sado is a large island far out from Niigata City. It would be seen from the summit of Mt Yahiko.

There are many Sakagura. Tamakawa Shuzo Yukikurakan is in Uonuma, 5 min walk from JR Yuhara station on Tadami Line. You could sightsee there without reservation. Half an half would be enough to finish the course. But, Tadami Line is notoriously less frequent. You may be better to search other Sakagura.
https://retrip.jp/articles/7907/
http://www.yukikura.com/yukikurakan.html
https://digjapan.travel/en/blog/id=11611

Echigo-Zakura Syuzo Hakuchokan is in Agano, north of Niigata City. It is 15 min walk from JR Suibara, where Hyoko Suikin Park is famous for swan. Swan comes there in winter.
http://www.nihonsakura.co.jp/sakagura.html
http://www.city.agano.niigata.jp/site/kankou/73.html

Ichishima Shuzo is 5 min walk from JR Shibata.
http://www.ichishima.jp/eng/

Ponshukan is 0 min from JR Niigata.
http://ponshukan-niigata.com/17.htm

Their brunch is in CoCoLo Yuzawa, 50 meters from JR Echigo-Yuzawa. You have known it, haven't you? They provide the best rice, Koshihikari from Minami-Uonuma. Sake tasting is available until 19:00. Rice ball until 18:00. That is why you want to place Yuzawa later.
http://www.ponshukan.com/03.htm
http://www.ponshukan.com/08.htm

But, it seems you may go to JR Niigata, instead. Sake tasting until 20:30, rice ball until 21:00, and a restaurant until 23:00. I mean the following, though it is a very long day.

Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 820-848 Futai Tashiro Ski Resort
1) Dragondola
Naeba Prince Hotel 1240-1322 Echigo-Yuzawa 1401-1555 Yahiko
2) Yahiko Park
1821-1933 Niigata
3) Ponshukan Niigata
2134-2340 Tokyo

Ok. I think i got what you meant for the Naeba trip.
If I may summarized it, its taking the green line bus from Echigo Yuzawa to either Prince hotel or Futai Tashiro ski resort for 600 yen or 530 yen respectively.
if I were to alight at Prince hotel (which is P1 of http://www.naeba.gr.jp/pdf/townguide_en.pdf), I would have to trek up for ~ 25mins to reach the dragondola.
I can take a blue line bus for free up to the dragondola by crossing over to the bus terminal for ~ 5mins
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/pdf/2018aut...
Red line is also available at 500 yen and it takes me straight to the bus terminal to take the blue line.

Do let me know if I understand it wrongly.
Appreciate your time and help.

You are right.

In another word, the blue and red lines directly connect Dragondola and Tashiro Ropeway, with no walk. The blue line is free, while the red costs 500 yen. These are under Price Hotel Company.

Dragondola =(blue)= Bus Terminal =(red) = Tashiro Ropeway

The green line is not dedicated to this Koyo event, operated by Minami-Echigo Bus. This is the only access route to JR Yuzawa station. You need to walk 25 minutes from Naeba Prince Hotel to Dragondola, or 5 minutes to Bus Terminal. Another 5 minutes from Futai Tashiro Ski Resort to Tashiro Ropeway. It costs 530 yen from Yuzawa to Tashiro, while 660 yen to Naeba (not 600 yen, though).

Naeba Prince Hotel =(green)= Futai Tashiro Ski Resort =(green)= JR Yuzawa

http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/crystal.pdf

Koyo Top: https://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/autumn/
This page gives the current Koyo status at four locations. The Koyo levels are shown in seven steps from green and to grey (no leaves left). The middle fourth level shows the peak (red). They pick up four locations. From left to right, they are at Panorama Lift, the summit, the 50% height, and the mountain foot. Now, all of the four are green (recorded on Aug 1).

Dragondola Top: http://www2.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/dragondola/
Dragondola itself is available in a fresh green season as well.

Naeba Top: http://www2.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba/
They have other language pages, but all of them are for winter. But, they could be still useful to some degree.

Kagura Top: http://www2.princehotels.co.jp/ski/kagura/
Tashiro is a part of Kagura Ski Resort. With Dragondola, Naeba and Kagura are just called as Mt Naeba, one of the biggest ski resorts in Japan.

Thank you so much once again for your information.
I will write back again after my trip!

Kiyotsukyo shown in my first post has been reported in a recent post by a Japan-Guide staff. Try to search "The entrance of the Kiyotsu Gorge tunnel" there.
https://www.japan-guide.com/blog/lori/180805.html

Hi Luisjp,

If I want to go to kiyotsukyo, is there any other way besides the shuttle bus?
I have checked the timetable, the earliest i could get is 15:10 from Yuzawa station. I cant make it for the 13:10 as I will still be on the bus back from Naeba.
http://www.minamiechigo.co.jp/pdf/jikoku-300401/muikamachi/morimiyanoh...

Then i will reach kiyotsukyo at 1547 and i have to walk up for 30mins. Not sure if 30mins is a brisk walk pace or a fast walk pace. That would give me a time of 16:20 at the entrance of the gorge.
I saw online that the last admission is 16:30. The time seems too tight.
And the next bus would be 17:47 which is the last bus, if there is a crowd and i miss it, it will be a difficult situation.

Would you share your opinion on this?

It is 1533 that the express bus to Morimiyahara gets to Kiyotsukyo Entrance bus stop, costing 470 yen.
https://busmap.info/busstop/100030/

As I stated in the last part of my first post, you would have two hours and more in Kiyotsukyo.
Echigo-Yuzawa 1510-1533 Kiyotsukyo 1747-1813 Echigo-Yuzawa

You may marginally do all the three in a day from Tokyo, though this one includes one-hour dark time at Kiyotsukyo.
Tokyo 608-724 Echigo-Yuzawa 755-822 Daigenta Canyon 1034-1100 Echigo-Yuzawa 1140-1217 Naeba Prince Hotel 1400-1442 Echigo-Yuzawa 1510-1533 Kiyotsukyo 1747-1813 Echigo-Yuzawa 1828-1952 Tokyo


Google Maps estimates it would take 29 minutes for the road of 1.9 km to Kiyotsukyo Tunnel. It shows 58 meters up and 33 meters down in total. In the following article, this person walked for just 30 minutes for the portion to Parking #1. Google estimates 27 minutes for it. She/he seemed to walk leisurely, taking a promenade to avoid the tunnel between and taking some photos along.
https://tripbowl.com/kiyotsukyo/
http://www.city.tokamachi.lg.jp/ikkrwebBrowse/material/files/group/6/k...

In a return, it took her/him 25 minutes. So, the Google estimates there looks fairly reasonable.

She/he spent 70 minutes in the tunnel. She/he walked 40 minutes to the end, 10 minutes for a view, and 20 minutes for the return. These times match with Jalan's database, implying most spend 1-2 hours there. The data suggesting less than 1 hour and 2-3 hours are following.
https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_15210ab2042089120/

The official site says the tunnel opens until 1700. The entrance is until 1630.
http://nakasato-kiyotsu.com/tunnel

So, the situation would be like below. You could have a few minutes less than an hour at the tunnel.

1533 Kiyotsukyo Entrance Bus Stop from Echigo-Yuzawa
1603 Kiyotsukyo Parking #1
1605 Kiyotsukyo Tunnel Ticket Office
1700 The tunnel closing time
1747 Kiyotsukyo Entrance Bus Stop to Echigo-Yuzawa

The sunset time there is 1650-1700 in late October. Kiyotsukyo is a gorge. You might not have enough light to enjoy vivid colors of Koyo there.

On the weekend, this could be possible:
Tokyo 700-810 Echigo-Yuzawa 820-848 Tashiro/Naeba 1110-1152 Yuzawa 1310-1333 Kiyotsukyo 1547-1613 Yuzawa.
It depends on your way of spending time in Naeba. Koyo around Panorama Lift might be over already. Strong winds might stop some of the gondola or others.

One of the best would be a stay in Echigo-Yuzawa or near there. Kiyotsukyo itself is an onsen town. It has a few lodgings. Kiyotsukyo, Naeba, and Daigenta are all in Jo-Shin-Etsu National Park.
http://www.kiyotsukan.com/
http://www.env.go.jp/park/common/data/12_joshin_map_e.pdf

You can go to Kiyotsukyo from the opposite side from Morimiyanohara station by bus paying 650 yen. Echigo-Tazawa station is closer, but it could be difficult to find the nearest Yamazaki bus stop, 7-minute walk from Echigo-Tazawa. You could use Hokuriku Shinkansen via Iiyama on that side. Anyway, the trains there are rather infrequent.
https://www.niigata-kankou.or.jp/spot/6950
https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Attraction_Review-g1021360-d1655026-Reviews...

Needless to say, but rent-a-car at Echigo-Yuzawa should be handy for a day trip.

I get what you mean. Let me think about it and thank you once again for your comments.

Just a feedback on the trip.
I did not do the dragondola trip instead, i went to kiyotsukyo.

The trip up to the gorge was ~30mins up the road. I dont think it would be possible to go on a rainy day but that day was sunny. There are no shelter along the way.
Walking through the tunnel would take ~15mins with 3 observations deck. The day I went has alot of people.
The trip is doable for half a day. If anyone is interested, do visit this place.