Hakusan Park, Niigata

Last December, I took a side trip for a few days to Niigata, Japan. I had never been to the Sea of Japan side of Honshu before, so I picked Niigata as the place to visit.

While in Niigata, one of the places I visited was Hakusan Park. The park was built in 1873 as Japan's first municipal park. Niigata residents find Hakusan Park an excellent place to unwind and relax.

Above, a ceremony being conducted at Hakusan Shrine.

Hakusan Park also includes Hakusan Shrine ("Hakusan-sama"). It is said that this Shinto shrine is "known as the god of marriage. If you visit here and worship, you may succeeded in love."

Above, an Akita statue.

The park is landscaped in a Dutch style with ponds, hills and much greenery. The park contains ume trees, cherry blossoms, wisteria and lotus plants.



Statues, plaques and a row of torii gates can be found at the park.

Above, a row of torii gates at one of the entrances to the park.

To get to Niigata from Tokyo, take the Joetsu-Shinkansen. Travel times range from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 2 hours, 10 minutes. It depends upon which train that is taken.