Gono no yakata - Northern Culture Museum

This museum preserves and exhibits the former residence and garden of the Ito family, which prospered as the largest landowner in Echigo during the Meiji period.
Within the spacious grounds of approx. 29090 sqm, there are many valuable buildings registered as tangible cultural properties, including the main building, which was built over a period of eight years, a large hall of approx. 155 sqm, and the mondozo, which serves as both a gate and a storehouse.
In addition, some of the approx. 6,000 works of art, including vessels, calligraphy, and paintings, collected by successive heads of the family are displayed on the second floor of the main building and in the hall, allowing visitors to enjoy both the stately modern Japanese-style architecture typical of wealthy farmers and the valuable art collection at the same time.

The garden, which can be viewed from the hall, was created over a five-year period by Echigo garden master Tanaka Taiami, who was also involved in the restoration of the garden at Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto.
The changing seasonal scenery, such as the changing leaves in autumn and the snowy landscape in winter, is a delight to the eye. Seasonal flowers such as cherry blossoms, wisteria, and lotus in the pond are also beautiful.

The restaurant, which was renovated from a Meiji-era (1862-1912) miso warehouse, offers a variety of Niigata's unique cuisine, including local Koshihikari rice and other delicacies from the sea and mountains (reservations required).
The premises also include a souvenir store featuring Niigata's specialties and an inn nestled in a bamboo grove.