NIIGATA Viet Nam Festival 2025. First time held in NIIGATA

There was a warning that “This video cannot be viewed in some regions,” so some of the music has been masked.

This video showcases the Niigata Vietnam Festival 2025, held for the first time in Niigata, Japan. The event brought together Vietnamese culture, cuisine, products, and community activities, attracting many visitors throughout the day. Food stalls, cultural exhibits, and live performances provided an opportunity for attendees to experience the rich traditions and vibrant atmosphere of Vietnam. Join us as we explore this memorable inaugural festival and discover the cultural connections between Vietnam and Niigata.

“Torigakubimisaki Lighthouse” located in Nadachi, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.

Torigakubimisaki Lighthouse is located on a cliff approximately 1 km long, which was caused by the Nadachi Kuzure in 1751.

This lighthouse was installed by Nadachi Town as a Nadachi Light Pillar in 1950, was rebuilt into its current lighthouse in 1950, and was renamed as Torigakubi Lighthouse in 1964, and remains the lighthouse to this day.
It is the lighthouse with the highest luminous power within the jurisdiction of the Niigata Coast Guard, and is used as an important maritime guidepost not only for local fishing boats but also for large ships entering the adjacent important port of Naoetsu Port.

05:54
Due to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred on January 1, 2024, a landslide occurred on National Route 8 in the Chayagahara area of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, between the intersection of Chayagahara and the Nadachi Tanihama Interchange entrance. However, on the 26th, the Takada River and National Highway Office announced that the road closure would be lifted at 10 a.m. on January 27, as the restoration work had been completed. Even now, fishing boats that have washed up from the Noto Peninsula testify to the magnitude of the disaster

Google Map : https://maps.app.goo.gl/zCRq2vHgtwdjMhVT9

Naoetsu Port Association Building Diner

The Port Hall Cafeteria is located inside the Port Hall at Naoetsu Port. The Port Hall also serves as accommodation, and anyone can stay there, not just those involved with the port. Of course, the cafeteria is also open to everyone. The menu isn’t extensive, and the food is reassuringly simple, but that’s what makes it so good! Do you understand what I mean? (laughs) The miso soup that came with the curry was also fantastic, packed with ingredients.

*Permission to photograph and post has been granted.

Port Hall
2-9-5 Minatomachi, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/8CvuNBVtrTGAwHes7

Sado Kisen Terminal Diner in Naoetsu: Sado Specialty Nagamo Soba is Exquisite!

I had Nagamo soba at the Naoetsu Terminal Restaurant located in the Sado Kisen Naoetsu Terminal.

Nagamo is a specialty of Sado Island, known for its strong stickiness, which pairs perfectly with soba noodles, making them slide down easily. I ate at an outdoor table, and the clear blue sky and pleasant sea breeze enhanced the atmosphere.

The following is quoted from the Niigata Prefecture website (https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/):
Nagamo, whose standard Japanese name is Akamoku, is a large seaweed that can reach a length of 3 to 10 meters. It has air bladders in its thallus, and uses this buoyancy to grow upright. It is a seaweed that grows in the winter when the water temperature is low, and in Sado, it is harvested from the end of December to around March.

Currently, Niigata Prefecture is conducting Nagamo cultivation trials on Sado Island to ensure a stable supply of Nagamo. Nagamo is a seaweed characterized by its unique stickiness. It is mainly eaten in miso soup and vinegared dishes.

To prepare Nagamo, scrape the leaves from the stems, place them in a colander, and blanch them in boiling water. The seaweed will turn a vibrant green when cooked. After cooking, cool it with cold water. Nagamo can be stored for a long time by freezing it after cooking. If you boil a large amount, you can portion it out and freeze it for later use.

Sado Kisen Naoetsu Terminal Restaurant
1-9-1 Minatomachi, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/AeDHGfUxg3qBwu8PA

Sashimi from a Vending Machine? Tuna Vending Machine in Picturesque Satoyama

I heard there was a frozen tuna vending machine in the suburbs of Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, so I drove all the way from Naoetsu along the Hokuhoku Highway to Tokamachi. It looks like a large factory from the outside, but there’s a modest “Tuna” banner at the entrance, and the vending machine is in the parking lot on the premises. I arrived just before noon. Two groups of customers came in within about 10 minutes, so it seems to be quite popular. I tried it, and it didn’t have the distinctive flavor of farmed tuna; I enjoyed the rich, authentic flavor of real tuna. I thought 160g might be a little small, but when I put it on rice, it made a huge pile, and I was completely full! (laughs)

Yamazaki Foods
1530-20 Babahei, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture
Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/XQ2isqtaH2nQPdqq8