Located in the precincts of Echigo-Yuzawa Station, on
the Joetsu Shinkansen line, Ponshukan features four
main attractions: the Sake-tasting Corner, where you can
taste the leading brands of sake produced by all of the
sake breweries in Niigata Prefecture, the Sake Bath,
where you can enjoy a hot spring bath, a restaurant
where you can savor meals that showcase Koshihikari
rice grown in the local Minami-Uonuma district, as well as
an abundance of other locally-produced ingredients, and
a souvenir shop offering a range of local sake and other
specialties from across the prefecture.
In addition to the leading brands of sake produced by the
95 sake breweries in Niigata, visitors can try another 22
brands that have been recommended by Ponshukan’s
sake sommelier, making a total of 117 different kinds of
sake. As well as enjoying old favorites among the famous
brands of local sake, you’re bound to have a great time
making new discoveries among those you’ve never tried
before. In addition, there is a wide range of Niigata
specialties, including rice crackers, sweets that feature
local sake as an ingredient, rice, and pickles. Also
popular is the Sake Bath, a 41 degrees Celsius lightly-
alkaline hot spring bath, to which is added sake that has
been specially blended for bathing purposes. Drink, eat,
buy, and then bathe in the hot spring: you’ll be able to
enjoy Niigata Prefecture’s famous sake and rice to your
heart’s content.
