Niigata, Niigata

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**Niigata**
**新潟市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Niigata
Physical characteristics
Area	726.09 km² (280.3 sq mi)
Population (as of March 1, 2007)
Total	812,705
Density	1,119.22/km² (2,898.8/sq mi)
Location	37°55′N, 139°2′E
Symbols
Tree	Willow
Flower	Tulip
Niigata Government Office
Mayor	Akira Shinoda
Address	〒951-8550 1-602-1 Gakkōchō-dōri, Chūō-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken
Official website: City of Niigata

Niigata (新潟市, Niigata-shi^?) is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshū, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island.

Following the Meiji Restoration it became a free port. Niigata was elevated to a city from a town in 1889, and on April 1, 2007, it became the first government-designated city on the Japan Sea coast of Honshū.

1 History
2 Climate
3 Geography
- 3.1 Wards
- 3.2 Adjoining Communities
4 Sister Cities
5 Sports
- 5.1 Professional
- 5.2 Amateur
6 Transportation
- 6.1 Railroad
- 6.2 Airport
7 Sightseeing
- 7.1 Points of interest
- 7.2 Events
8 Famous People from Niigata
9 References
10 External links

A view of Niigata City and Shinano River from observation deck of Niigata Prefecture Building.

People have inhabited the Niigata area since the Jōmon period. According to the Nihonshoki, a fortress was built in the area in AD 647; however, the area did not rise in importance until the 16th century when a port was built there.

Niigata prospered as a port town and became one of the five ports that were opened for international trade in the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1868.

During World War II, Niigata was one of four cities, including Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, picked as a target for the atomic bomb if Japan did not surrender. The city was evacuated, but poor weather conditions prevented the bomb from being dropped.Nagasaki was bombed instead.

In 1929, the Bandai Bridge was built across the Shinano River to connect the settlements of Niigata on the east and Nuttari on the west, turning the Bandai area into the city center that it remains today.

Some effects of liquefaction during the 1964 Niigata earthquake

In 1950, construction of Niigata Station was completed, extending the downtown area from Bandai Bridge.

On June 16,1964, at 1:23 p.m. Japan Standard Time, (0423 UT same day) an earthquake of 7.5 Richter scale struck the city, killing 29 people and causing large-scale property damage, with 1,960 totally destroyed buildings, 6,640 partially destroyed buildings, and 15,298 severely inundated by liquefaction^[1].

In 1965, the Agano River running through Niigata was polluted with methylmercury from the chemical plant of the Showa Electrical Company. Over 690 people exhibited symptoms of Minamata disease and the outbreak became known as Niigata Minamata disease.

Big Swan Stadium in Niigata City hosted three games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

The 2004 Chūetsu earthquake did not cause any significant damage in Niigata City itself, allowing the city to work as a relief base.

After a series of municipal mergers over a four year period between 2001 and 2005. The size and the population of Niigata city increased over this four-year period between 2001 and 2005, due to these mergers. On April 1, 2007, Niigata City became first city on the west coast of Honshū to become a government-designated city.

In July 2007, the Chūetsu offshore earthquake, measuring 6.9 on Richter scale, rocked Niigata Prefecture. Though the earthquake was felt in the city, again there was little damage, which allowed Niigata City to help provide relief to the devastated areas.

In May 2008, the city is scheduled to host the 2008 G8 Labor Ministers Meeting.

The most remarkable feature of the climate in Niigata City is its high humidity brought with the northeast wind over the Sea of Japan in winter. While many other parts of Niigata Prefecture tend to have heavy snow, Niigata City itself usually has somewhat less due to its low-lying elevation.

However, Niigata City does receive much precipitation, mostly in the form of rainfall. On average, Niigata City has 250 days of precipitation each year, about 170 days of which see rain or snowfall measuring over 1 mm. The rainy season in July brings large amounts of rain, while the winter months, especially November and December, also have much precipitation.]."^[2]

In summer, the south wind makes the weather rather hot. Typhoons usually bring strong Föhn winds to this area, generally causing somewhat higher temperatures than in other parts of Japan.

A view of Niigata out the window from Hotel Rich.

Willow-lined Streets of Niigata

Niigata is situated on a fertile coastal plain on the Sea of Japan coast, facing Sado Island. The Shinano River and Agano River flow through the city.

The city is sometimes called the "City of Water"(水の都 Mizu-no-miyako) because of the two rivers that flow through it, its position next to the Japan Sea, its many wetlands, and the canals that used to run through the city. It is also sometimes referred to as the "City of Willows"(柳の都 Yanagi-no-miyako or 柳都 Ryuto) because of the willow trees that lined the old canals. In recent years, the city has been promoting itself as a "Designated City of Food and Flowers" (食と花の政令市 Shoku to hana no seireishi), highlighting its agricultural areas outside of the city center.

Niigata has been made up of wards (ku) since 1 April,2007 :Map

Kita Ward (北区)
Higashi Ward (東区)
Chuo Ward (中央区)
Konan Ward (江南区)

Akiha Ward (秋葉区)
Minami Ward (南区)
Nishi Ward (西区)
Nishikan Ward (西蒲区)

From the north, following Niigata's border clockwise:

Sanjo
Tsubame
Yahiko, Nishikanbara District
Nagaoka
In addition Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.

Niigata maintains sister city ties with five cities:

Galveston, Texas, United States (January 28, 1965)
Khabarovsk, Russia (April 23, 1965)
Harbin, China (December 17, 1979)
Vladivostok, Russia (February 28, 1991)
Birobidzhan, Russia (Once a sister city of Toyosaka, Niigata assumed the sister city honors on August 30, 2005)

In addition, special exchange agreements have been set up with two cities :

J. League (Football/Soccer)
- Albirex Niigata play at Big Swan Stadium
Bj league (Basketball)
- Niigata Albirex BB play at Toki Messe

Granscena Niigata FC (Football/Soccer)

Image:Niigata city.png

Niigata city within Niigata prefecture.

East Japan Railway Company runs a number of stations in the Niigata urban area. The largest station in Niigata City is Niigata Station. It is centrally located in the Bandai area, one of the two main shopping districts in downtown Niigata. Approximately 37,000 passengers use the station daily. The Joetsu Shinkansen, whose last stop is Niigata Station, provides daily service to Tokyo. The Shin'etsu Line, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line, Uetsu Line, and Ban'etsu West Line are also serviced by Niigata Station. From there you can reach Kanazawa, Toyama, Aomori, Akita and Sakata.

Niigata Kotsu Dentetsu Line and Kambara Dentetsu trains used to run through the city until the late 1990s; however, they no longer exist.

Niigata Airport is located about 15 km north of central Niigata. It handles some international destinations as well as many domestic ones. The domestic destinations available are: Osaka (8 times a day), Sapporo (twice a day), Fukuoka (twice a day), Okinawa (once a day), Kobe (3 times a day), Nagoya (7 times a day) and Sado Island (3 times a day).

Niigata Airport's international destinations are Khabarovsk (twice a week), Vladivostok (twice a week), Harbin (4 times a week), Seoul (daily), Shanghai (3 times a week) and Guam (twice a week).