One day, I unexpectedly had the chance to visit Joetsu City in Niigata Prefecture. Although it was my first time exploring Joetsu, I decided to make the most of the opportunity by embarking on a half‑day local food tour, traveling by train from Naoetsu Station down to Joetsu‑Myoko Station while sampling a curated selection of regional specialties.
Even within the limited time of a day trip, I discovered several fantastic local dishes I had never known before. If you’re planning a visit to the Joetsu area, I hope this guide helps you find some delicious spots to enjoy during your trip.
Starting the Journey at Naoetsu Station
I took the Echigo Tokimeki Railway from Joetsu‑Myoko Station and arrived at Naoetsu Station.
Naoetsu is a historic port town in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, and has long thrived as a key hub for both maritime transport and railway travel. The area developed around its strategic location, making it an important gateway for trade and transportation in the region.
On the platform at Naoetsu Station, I found myself drawn to the charming local train cars. Even though I’m not a railway enthusiast, I always feel a sense of curiosity when I encounter regional trains in unfamiliar places—whether in Japan or abroad. There’s something about these rural railway lines that captures the spirit of local travel.
Here’s a look at the street near Naoetsu Station. Although I visited outside the winter season, the reddish pavement and the vertical traffic lights instantly reminded me that I was in Japan’s snow country. These small details give the town its distinctive northern atmosphere.
Gunchan’s Signature Seafood Donburi
I arrived at my first stop of the food tour, Gunchan, a well‑known local seafood restaurant in Naoetsu.
Gunchan is a highly regarded Japanese seafood restaurant known for sourcing fresh local fish directly from the Sea of Japan. It’s one of the most popular spots in the area, operating two locations in Joetsu City.
When I visited, it was a weekday lunchtime, and although I was able to get a seat without a reservation, the restaurant was already quite full. As you’d expect from a coastal town along the Sea of Japan, I ordered Gunchan’s popular seafood donburi.
Their seafood bowl is served in a distinctive style, with the rice and sashimi presented separately. I originally wanted to splurge on the premium version, but considering the rest of my food tour, I decided to go with the regular portion instead. Even so, the serving size was impressively generous.
By the way, I had planned to try suruten—a local Joetsu specialty made from tempura‑fried dried squid—but I completely forgot to order it and ended up missing out.
If you visit Gunchan, make sure to try their suruten as well. It’s one of the must‑try Joetsu local dishes.
Ryouhin Shokudo — Naoetsu’s Local Diner for Regional Specialties
Next, I headed over to Naoetsu Ryouhin Shokudo. This spacious food court inside MUJI features a variety of local Joetsu and Niigata specialties, making it a great spot to sample regional dishes. It’s conveniently located about a 10‑minute walk from Naoetsu Station, so it’s easy to stop by during a food tour.
Here, I’ll introduce two local favorites: the Tonjiru Set Meal recommended by Tachibana‑san and the gelato from Sonnyāre.
The Tonjiru Set Meal Recommended by Tachibana‑san
First, I tried the Tonjiru Set Meal recommended by Tachibana‑san.
As the name suggests, the original version comes from Tonjiru no Mise Tachibana, a famous specialty restaurant known nationwide for its rich pork miso soup made solely from the natural sweetness of slow‑cooked onions.
I couldn’t visit the main restaurant this time due to my schedule, so I opted for the version served here at Naoetsu Ryouhin Shokudo instead.
The pork was tender and flavorful, as you’d expect from a good tonjiru, but what really stood out were the onions. They were used generously, and their natural sweetness made the soup exceptionally delicious.
Both this location and the original Tonjiru no Mise Tachibana are famous not only for their set meals but also for their tonjiru ramen, which has become a well‑known specialty. Next time, I’d love to visit the main restaurant and try their ramen version.
For reference, the main Tachibana shop is about a 20‑minute walk from Kita‑Arai Station on the Myoko Haneuma Line. Since the restaurant also has a parking lot, it’s probably more convenient to visit by car if you plan to go to the original location.
Gelato from Sonnyāre
After the tonjiru, I refreshed my palate with gelato from Sonnyāre. Sonnyāre is a popular gelato shop based in Joetsu City, known for its commitment to local ingredients. They also operate a counter inside Naoetsu Ryouhin Shokudo, making it easy to enjoy their desserts during a visit.
They offer four sizes—Small, Single, Double, and Triple. I ordered a Single, but they kindly added a second flavor as a little bonus, which made the experience even more delightful.
The main Sonnyāre shop is located about a 15‑minute walk from Kasugayama Station, just one stop from Naoetsu Station.
Sasadango Bread from Kotake Seika
Next, I moved on to Minami‑Takada Station and walked just a short distance to Kotake Seika, the local bakery famous for its Sasadango Bread.
Kotake Seika is one of the well‑known bakeries in Joetsu, and I picked up their popular Sasadango Bread. This unique item is a local specialty from Joetsu City: a whole sasadango—a traditional yomogi mochi wrapped in bamboo leaves—is enclosed inside soft bread dough.
The combination of the chewy bread and the fragrant yomogi‑flavored mochi is outstanding, and the product has been featured on TV many times due to its popularity. The gentle yomogi aroma and the pleasantly chewy texture of the rice‑flour bread made it incredibly delicious.
It’s perfect not only as a treat for yourself but also as a thoughtful souvenir.
Tarekatsu Bowl from Wakinodatei
As it was getting close to departure time, I headed to Joetsu‑Myoko Station and stopped by Wakinodatei, the restaurant located inside the station building. The shop was previously known as “7-tsu no Omotenashi”, but it appears the name has since been changed.
Here, I ordered the Tarekatsu Bowl.
Tarekatsu is a Niigata‑style pork cutlet bowl made by dipping freshly fried, thin tonkatsu into a sweet‑savory soy‑based sauce and placing it directly over rice—without eggs, unlike the typical katsudon found elsewhere in Japan. Although the dish originally comes from Niigata City rather than Joetsu, it’s still considered a beloved part of Niigata’s regional cuisine.
The cutlets were juicy, and the sauce soaked in beautifully, making it incredibly easy to keep going back for more rice. And since this was my final meal of the day, I paired it with a beer—an excellent match to finish the trip.
With that, my half‑day gourmet tour came to an end, and I began my journey home. Although most of the dishes I tried were completely new to me, I already feel eager to revisit them. As I wrapped up the trip, I found myself thinking about when I might return to Joetsu to enjoy these flavors again.
If you ever find yourself in Joetsu City, I highly recommend trying these local specialties for yourself.
