Traditional Art crafts 
Neko-chigura (straw products)
Straw work was originally developed by farmers as a means of providing income during Niigata's severe winter. There is a unique kind of product called neko-chigura which is for cat houses. These straw cat houses are cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Kami-fusen (paper balloon)
The beginning of Yedo period (1603 - 1867), kami-fusen was originated by masterless samurai as their side job. Kami-fusen are traditional balloons which children played with, and are still sold at cheap sweet shops today. 90 percent of all the kami-fusen products in Japan are produced here in Niigata.
Take-nuri (lacquered products)
Take-nuri includes products such as wooden tea canisters, tea tables and trays. Although these products are made from wood, the lacquered techniques give them a bamboo texture. Take-nuri chop sticks are especially popular.
Specialities 
Rice
Niigata has a long history of rice making, especially in the Echigo-heiya Field. After the Yedo period (1603 - 1867), dry beaches were reclaimed for new rice field development. One of Japan's most popular rice brands, koshi-hikari, is grown here and has established its reputation by staying in the top rank of the Japanese rice market.
Sasa-dango (bamboo leaf-wrapped rice cakes)
This is a traditional Niigata sweet for the boy's festival on May 5. In the old days, a general of Echigo, whose name was Uesugi Yoshinobu used to carry the sweet as his supplemental foods. Sasa-dango is made from fine quality non-glutinous rice and glutinous rice and is spiced with mugwort. It is wrapped around bean jam, and is itself covered by bamboo leaves. After being steamed sasa-dango, the taste of the bamboo stays inside.
Sake
Tanrei-karakuchi (smooth and bitter taste) is famous as Niigata's local sake brew. Within Niigata Prefecture, there are more than 100 sake cellars where the sake is brewed by Niigata's professional brewers. Try Niigata's local sake brew in its most famous drinking district, Furumachi Town.
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