Niigata, Niigata

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**Niigata City**
**新潟市**
Niigata City's location in Niigata Prefecture (capital), Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Niigata Prefecture (capital)
Physical characteristics
Area	726.09 km²
Population (as of July 1, 2006)
Total	812,658
Density	1119.22/km²
Symbols
Tree	Willow(Yanagi in Japanese)
Flower	Tulip
Niigata City Hall
Official website: Niigata City

Niigata (新潟市, Niigata-shi^?) is the capital city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It became a free port following the Meiji Restoration, and today is the largest city along the Sea of Japan coast, facing Sado Island. It was founded in 1889.

1 History
2 Geography
- 2.1 Adjoining communities
- 2.2 Climate
3 Sister cities
4 Transportation
- 4.1 Railroad
- 4.2 Airport
5 Famous people from Niigata
6 External links

[edit] History

People have inhabited the area since Jomon times, according to the Nihonshiki. However, the area did not rise in importance until a port was built there.

Niigata was one of the four cities besides Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki picked for the atomic bomb drop if Japan did not surrender during World War II, as such, it was already a large port city. However, Niigata was ultimately discounted as a target for the bomb due to its distance from the American forces and its unreliable weather. Kokura was the original target for the second bomb and not Niigata as sometimes believed.

The city suffered from several cases of Minamata disease in the 1960s.

The Big Swan Stadium hosted three games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

After three successful mergers during the four year period (2001-October 2005), Niigata is ready to become a designated city some where around April 1, 2007.

[edit] Geography

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.

[edit] Adjoining communities

From the north, following Niigata's border clockwise:

Seiro, Kitakanbara District
Shibata
Agano
Gosen
Tagami, MinamiKanbara District
Kamo
Sanjo
Tsubame
Yahiko, Nishikanbara District
Nagaoka
In addition Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.

[edit] Climate

A view of Niigata out the window from Hotel Rich.

The most remarkable feature of the climate in Niigata city in winter is its high Humidity brought with the Northeast wind along the Sea of Japan, which causes great snowfall. While most of many other parts of Niigata Prefecture tend to have heavy snow, Niigata city itself usually has somewhat lighter.

In summer, on the other hand, the south wind makes its climate rather hot. Moreover an ordinary Typhoons usually bring Strong Föhn winds to this area, usually causing a bit higher temperatures there than any other part in Japan.

[edit] Sister cities

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 Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom and Nantes, France.

[edit] Transportation

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[edit] Railroad

East Japan Railway Company runs some stations in the Niigata urban area. The Joetsu Shinkansen, which terminates at Niigata Station, provides daily service to Tokyo. There also run Shin'etsu Line, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line, Uetsu Line, and Ban'etsu West Line through the city.

Trains on these local lines come every 20 minutes in the daytime; slightly more often in the morning and in the evening. Those who use these trains usually caught in a heavy rush every day, though.

Niigata Kotsu Dentetsu Line and Kambara Dentetsu trains used to run through the city until later 1990's. However, They no longer exist.

The largest station in Niigata city is Niigata Station. It is placed at the center of Niigata urban area. The estimated number of passengers who take trains at Niigata station is no less than 37,000 every day. Joetsu Shinkansen, Hakushin Line, Shin'etsu Line and Echigo Line are available there. The destinations served there are: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Toyama, Aomori, Akita and Sakata. There many local trains are also available, so Niigata Station will be found a little larger than it is usually thought to be.

[edit] Airport

Niigata Airport is placed about 15km north of central Niigata. It handles some international destinations as well as many domestic ones. The domestic destinations available there 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 is well known as the entrance airport of Japan from the far east. Additionally, Nigata airport handles most of the scheduled passenger flights destined for Russia from Japan. The international destinations available there 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).