The stunning stadium in Niigata. (Allsport)

After an hour's ride on the Joetsu Shinkansen super-express, you traverse a long tunnel. This tunnel, connecting the Pacific and Sea of Japan sides of Japan, takes you into the snow country of Niigata Prefecture, which was the setting for a novel by the Nobel Prize-winning writer Yasunari Kawabata.

Deep snow in winter has become an asset for the mountainous areas of Niigata often referred to as a skiers' paradise.

Passing through this mountainous area, you are soon welcomed by the vast expanse of the Echigo Plain renowned as Japan's best and largest producer of rice and sake.

The terminal is Niigata City, built around the mouths of two large rivers - the Shinano and the Agano. The prefectural capital and the largest population centre on the Sea of Japan coast, Niigata City is another venue for the 2002 World Cup.

Off Niigata City lies the beautiful island of Sado, a major tourist destination famous for its gold mine and rich in history.

Accommodation

From economical to luxury western-style hotels, all kinds of accommodation requirements are catered for in the city of Niigata.

You can visit a famous hot spring resort like Iwamuro-onsen, Yahiko-onsen and Tsukioka-onsen near Niigata City, where it will be a memorable experience for you to stay at a Japanese-style inn, or ryokan, and enjoy experiencing traditional Japanese culture

Places of Interest:

Shinano-gawa Yasuragi Riverbank Park: Home to 200 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees. Niigata Spring Festa takes place between 10 April and 5 May, when Japanese lanterns light up the surrounding area at night.

Niigata Hometown Village: This complex features the Appeal Pavilion (displaying the tourist attractions, culture and history of Niigata Prefecture), the Bazaar Pavilion (featuring foods and crafts from around the prefecture) and the Beer Pavilion (featuring, as the name suggests, locally-brewed beer). Located close to the majestic Shinano-gawa River and the beautiful bridges that span it, this complex is a "must-see" for any visitor to Niigata Prefecture.

Nishi Ohata Park: This park, which was built on the site where Niigata Prison used to stand, contains two characteristic sculptures; located next to Niigata City Art Museum.

Terao Central Park: A great place to enjoy a picnic, as well as a colourful display of 90,000 tulips in springtime.

Local Delicacies:

Sasadango: It is said that this sweet, a mugwort and rice cake wrapped in a bamboo leaf, was a popular 'portable' food during the Warring States period (1482-1558). Nowadays, these handmade sweets are one of the most popular souvenirs for visitors to Niigata.

Edamame (green soybeans): The essential accompaniment to a long, cool beer in summer! The beans picked in and around Niigata are popular as far afield as Tokyo. Those with a faint brown tinge, known as 'tea beans', are particularly tasty.

Noppei (Vegetable Stew): This dish, consisting of finely-chopped taro potato, carrot, burdock, shiitake mushrooms, gingko nuts, shellfish and salmon roe boiled in a soy sauce broth, was originally a traditional New Year dish in Niigata.

Where To Eat:

Itoigawa Town Centre Jade Kingdom: This centre displays and sells local products, as well as holding demonstrations of precious stone cutting. There is a fresh fish centre, as well as various restaurants, including a sushi restaurant, seafood restaurant, Chinese restaurant, soba (buckwheat noodle) restaurant and coffee shop. Restaurant capacity: 250 people.

Michi no Eki Arai (Road Station Arai): Accessible by car from both the Joshin'etsu Expressway and National Highway Route 18. Constructed as a new tourist attraction and a centre for communications, Michi no Eki Arai consists of a local information facility, souvenir shops and restaurants.

Japan Sea Fish Centre: This huge fresh fish market, which has a frontage of 60 meters and one of the largest shopfloor areas in Japan, is well stocked with a variety of seafood from the Japan Sea.

Agricore Echigo Winery "Budo no Hana (vine blossom)": Opened in May 2001. Attractions include a trip to the wine cellar and wine-tasting at the winery. The restaurant, which affords a splendid view of the vineyard, serves Western country-style cuisine with delicious wine made from locally harvested grapes.

To the World Cup stadium :

From JR Tokyo Station take the Shinkansen Line. It takes 1hour 40 minutes to reach the station. From Niigata airport it is a 25 minute bus ride.

From the JR Niigata Station it is a 15 minute bus ride to the stadium.