Other interesting places to visit in Niigata

In spirng cherry blossoms make its way northward  in Japan. In Niigata you can see beautiful Sakura (Cherry trees) in mid April. Jyouetsu-shi（上越市） is close to Toyama prefecture and takes about one and half hours  from Uonuma-shi by car. Jyouetsu Takada is famous for its Cherry festival. 

Jyouetsu tourism site http://www.city.joetsu.niigata.jp/kankou/inter/english/index.html