糸魚川
Itoigawa's Neighborhood Tours and Activities
Itoigawa City is adjacent to the world-class snow resort Hakuba Valley, the first “hidden beauty” in Japan to be recognized as a UNESCO World Geopark.
Itoigawa’s extreme topography, ranging from minus 1,000 meters to nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, is also the secret of its rich food scene. It has one of the best fishing grounds in the Hokuriku region, bringing thousands of tons of fish, crabs, shrimp, and other delicacies to local markets and restaurants every year. The forested mountains provide ideal conditions for a variety of mushrooms and wild vegetables, and the lush river valley is dotted with small family farms producing exceptional rice and fresh seasonal vegetables.
In addition, since the Jomon period, the people of Itoigawa have collected jade from the coast and rivers and processed it into beautiful kagudama. Itoigawa is known as the world’s oldest jade producing region and is the largest jade deposit in Japan. Thousands of tourists visit every year to see the stunningly beautiful Otaki River Jade Gorge.
