Chuo-ku, Niigata
Encyclopedia
Wards of Japan
A is a subdivision of one of the cities of Japan that is large enough to have been designated by government ordinance. Wards are used to subdivide each city designated by government ordinance...
of Niigata City
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
, Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
. It comprises much of the city center.
The area comprises the old city as well as the Sonoki, Nuttari, Toyano and the Yamagata districts. It is bounded by the Sea of Japan coast to the North and the Tohoku Expressway to the south.
Central Business District
Chūō-ku is the heart of Niigata in terms of economic and political importance. The City Office is located here along with several central government and prefectural agencies.Japan's national broadcaster NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
has its prefectural TV station and radio station in Chūō-ku.
There are several company head offices based in the district. It is also the site of old Niigata City which extends from Niigata Station
Niigata Station
is a train station operated by East Japan Railway Company in Chūō-ku, Niigata, Japan. It opened on May 3, 1904.The station is at the centre of Niigata city, the largest city on the Sea of Japan coast in Honshū...
downtown to Bandai Bridge
Bandai Bridge
The is a bridge crossing the Shinano River in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan via Route 7. The current bridge was constructed in 1929, and was designated as a nationally Important Cultural Property in July 2004.-Outline:...
and Furumachi
Furumachi (Niigata)
, literally meaning "Old Town", is the name of a central business district in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The district is centered around Furumachi-dori street and extends north to Honcho-dori street and south to Nishibori-dori street...
.
Furumachi
Furumachi (Niigata)
, literally meaning "Old Town", is the name of a central business district in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The district is centered around Furumachi-dori street and extends north to Honcho-dori street and south to Nishibori-dori street...
in Niigata city is located on left bank of Shinano River across Bandai Bridge. It lies on Niigata Island and faces the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
. The area has been developed around Masaya-koji, which is a wide six-lane thoroughfare connecting Furumachi with Niigata Station.
Furumachi has business districts as well as several historic parts. Narrow alleyways and streets criss cross beneath the modern office buildings. The historic Honcho market is also here.
Much of the area contains modern buildings. This is because Furumachi was rebuilt after an earthquake devastated this part of eastern Niigata in 1964. This is in marked contrast with areas on the west side of the river which still retain traditional-looking streets containing older houses.