Echigo-Yuzawa

Easy access to the snow & ski resorts around. The station has good connectivity through multiple options of bullet trains - Shinkansen, shuttling between Tokyo and Niigata. The station building is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Also, there is a beautiful food and souvenirs area inside the station, a convenience store too. Right outside the front of the station is a hot water feet dipping place.

Steam rises from rooftops; snow falls like feathers. Yuzawa hums with laughter and clinking sake cups — the warmth of strangers sharing winter. The train rests here longer, as if to taste the hot spring air. Tourist Tip: Famous ski and onsen town. Station has Sake Museum “Ponshukan” with tasting stations. Excellent overnight for snow or autumn leaves. Try onsen eggs and rice crackers.

Best places to go see snow if you want to go by Shinkansen. The only snow resort next to a shinkansen station. Only 2 hours from Tokyo and very easy to reach to. Also Genbi Shinkansen starts from here to Niigata which is an amazing art-sy kind of Shinkansen so it is fast but every compartment is designed by a different designer so it makes the ride fun as well. Highly recommended to go there. If you don't want to ski and just see snow conveniently from Tokyo, this is easy and faster way to reach. Also the station has souvenir shops and snow gear for rental of you do plan to go skiing. Lockers are available to keep your stuff if you want to just go out for fun. Food is also extensively available. Great place.

Train station with lots of restaurants and shops selling local produce. The ponshukan (sake shop) with many sake vending machines is a popular novelty though kids are not allowed. Free shuttle busses to various ski hotels and taxis are available just outside. A few restaurants too.

This station is the confluence of Shinkansen train (bullet train) and also the local train network in Niigata. The local train network in Niigata does not have automated gantry for stored value cards, eg seca. Stored value card can be used to purchase single trip tickets at the machine. When entering to the platforms, passengers need to show the ticket at the ticket counter to receive a stamp. Upon arrival, to present the stamped ticket to the ticket counter and will be collected. So it is still manual. The Shinkansen has its own automated gantry for its tickets. The station has a big area of duty free shopping for the local produce in Niigata. There is also a visitor information centre and postal service. There is a cafe with bakes and also a standing noodle bar. A convenient store is also present.