3 Recommended Day Trips Using the Half-Price Shinkansen Ticket (Nagano, Sendai, Niigata)

The half-price Shinkansen ticket is coming back again this year.
I received a lot of reactions when I posted about it the other day,
and I'm so happy about that! ✨

Since this ticket can only be used for specific sections,
the stations where you can get on and off are also fixed.
Please check the details here.

Because the available stations and sections are fixed,
you can't just plan your trip however you like.

But... if the half-price Shinkansen ticket is being released,
you'd want to go somewhere a little further away, even if it's just a day trip, right?

So...
This time, I'll start by introducing 3 recommended destinations
that you can enjoy even on a day tripfrom Tokyo or Omiya.

Since I have actually been to all of these places,
I'll also include links to my past articles.

1. Nagano: A calm, mature day trip

It's about an hour and a half from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
Nagano is a place you can fully enjoy even on a day trip.

Truth be told...
Well, I wasn't really hiding it, but
I was a resident of Nagano until six months ago (lol).

There are so many things I want to recommend,
but first and foremost is a visit to "Zenko-ji Temple".

Furthermore...
Rather than just going straight to Zenko-ji, I recommend the "Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage".

It's a course that you can walk between Nagano Station and Zenko-ji Temple.
Collecting stamps on a special colored paper is also fun.

Since the walking route is in the city,

there are cafes, souvenir shops,
and convenience stores,
so you can enjoy the walk.

There is also the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum on the north side of Zenko-ji,
so if there's a special exhibition you like,
I recommend stopping by there as well.

You can start the Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage
from either Nagano Station or Zenko-ji Temple.
Please see my previous report for details.

▶︎ Click here for the Zenko-ji Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage report

Besides the Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage,
you could also venture a little further to "Togakushi Shrine".
You can get there from Nagano Station by bus or rental car.

There are five shrines: Okusha, Chusha, Hokosha, Kuzuryusha, and Hinomikosha,but I think the most famous one is "Okusha".
This is a mountain path,
so please wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

Togakushi is also famous for soba noodles,
so I recommend having soba for lunch.

How about a hot spring, too?
Actually, there is a hot spring relatively close to Nagano Station.

"Susobanakyo Onsen Uruoikan"
It's about a 7-minute taxi ride from Nagano Station.
There seems to be a shuttle bus, but
it looks a bit confusing, so a taxi might be safer...
In terms of location, it's behind the Nagano Prefectural Office.

It's more like a modern super sento than an old-fashioned hot spring,
but the water is from a free-flowing source.
The baths are spacious, so I think you can enjoy a relaxing soak.

After being soothed by the hot spring,
why not head back to Nagano Station,
and have a light drink standing at "Fermentation Bar Kamosu" located at the back of the first floor of the MIDORI station building? ♪

They offer Nagano-produced wine and sake tasting flights.

② Sendai: A Day Trip to Enjoy Gourmet Food and Great Nature

It takes about an hour and a half to get from Tokyo to Sendai by "Hayabusa",
but unfortunately, that is not available for this offer.
It takes just under two hours by "Yamabiko".

If you're going for a day trip, it might be a good idea to leave a little early.

First, I recommend the "Sendai Morning Market."
It's close to Sendai Station.

At the corner "Sendai Oyster Market," you can eat oysters while standing.
The size and other details vary depending on the season,
but this is a place I want you to stop by.

Speaking of Sendai, you can't miss the beef tongue.
First is "Gyutan Ryori Kaku."
It's a popular restaurant, so I recommend going early.

Next, I recommend "Gyutan-yaki Senmonten Tsukasa."
There's a line here too, but it's delicious.

If you want to venture a little further from the Sendai Station area,
I recommend either "Matsushima Coast" or the "Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery."

It takes about 40 minutes to get to Matsushima via the Senseki Line.
Make sure to check the return train times before you go.

The scenery is wonderful!

The "Sasa-kamaboko grilling experience" is also recommended.

To get to the "Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery," take the Senzan Line bound for Yamagata for about 40 minutes.
Get off at Sakunami Station, where there is a free shuttle bus.
However, be careful as the times vary depending on the day of the week.

Be sure to check the return time as well.
It is quite far by taxi, so the fare will likely be high...

There are paid tours and seminars, but
there is plenty to see for free as well.

The tasting bar is paid, but
you can compare various whiskies.

Carbonated water, ice, and other items are provided.
You can also buy limited edition items at the shop.
No reservation is required for this shop.

Since times and reservation requirements may change,
please check the official website before you head out.

▶Click here for last year's Sendai trip using the half-price ticket

3. Niigata: A gourmet trip to enjoy sake and rice

To reiterate...
what you need to be careful about is that the stations where you can board and get off are limited.

For example, since I live in Nagano Prefecture,
I want to go to Niigata by transferring at Takasaki!
Even if I think that,
you cannot board or get off at stations where the half-price ticket is not "set"so
I cannot board from Takasaki.

Therefore, I would have to pay for the trip to Omiya myself first...
that is what it comes down to.
You need to be careful about this.

Well then.
For me, Niigata is, above all,rice and sake(lol)

First, I want to go to "Ponshukan" at Niigata Station.
Actually, I have never been to the Ponshukan at Niigata Station,
but I have been to other locations.

It is the kind where you buy special coins
and press a switch yourself to drink the sake you like.

It is perfect for finding your favorite sake!

Another one is my top recommendation, Furukawa Fresh Fish.
It's a little far from Niigata Station, but
it's within walking distance.

It's a shop located in what looks like a market
inside the Oume Shopping Center.

Anyway, everything I ate was delicious!!!
The seafood in particular was exquisite!

They also have a wide variety of sake
and it's fun to do a tasting flight.

When I went alone, they told me it was okay to order 0.5 go,
so I tried a few different kinds, and they were all delicious.

The rice is truly delicious.
I personally eat rice that I buy directly
from a rice farmer in Nagano Prefecture,
so I pride myself on eating pretty good rice, but...
the rice I ate in Niigata was even better than that!

Even the rice balls at an izakaya I just wandered into were incredibly delicious!!

The set meal of rice balls and kenchin-jiru soup is also surprisingly good.

The food at the bars is also unexpectedly good.
I want to try the half-fried chicken near Niigata Station, but
I haven't had it yet.

Also, there's the super famous "Bus Center Curry" and
lots of other gourmet food!

In my case, I basically go to Niigata to drink sake lol.
I'm sorry I can only offer these photos and recommendations.

But walking along the banks of the Shinano River was also really nice,
and it's definitely one of those cities that I feel must have so much more to enjoy.

▶ Click here for my past trips to Niigata

Summary

With half-price Shinkansen tickets,
the range of your day trips will expand significantly.

Places you thought were "a bit too far"
feel much closer
at half the price.

However, please note that this ticket is limited to specific Shinkansen lines, sections, and boarding/alighting stations.

Even so, if I can go for half price,
I think that's totally fine!

I will be writing about other day trip candidates
that are great for half price,
so I would be happy if you followed me and stayed tuned.
✨

↓I've written them! Here are the "Morioka Edition," "Yamagata Edition," and "Akita Edition."↓

People often ask me,
"How do you manage to travel so much?"
Because even if you think "I'll go someday," it won't happen just by thinking about it,
I make the time to travel.
Please feel free to read the article where I've summarized my tips for this.

I will continue to post content that you can use as a reference for solo trips, gourmet trips, and regular travels.
The tips I receive will be used as part of the funds for such trips, and I will give back to everyone in the form of articles.
Thank you for your support!