Although many of the hidden treasures of Niigata prefecture require a car to visit, one of Niigata’s most stunning displays of its rich history can be easily accessed via the JR trainline. Yahiko Jinja, an ancient shrine at the base of the Yahiko mountain, is roughly an hour and a half train ride away from Niigata City, and from my experience, well worth the trip for hikers and sight seers alike. Yahiko is a small town located to the south of Niigata City. To some, the town may feel like a trip back in time, reflected in its display of stylized wooden houses and its rustic, quaint, quiet streets. The … Continue reading Yahiko Shrine: time travel for hikers and sightseer alike