In May, the Sanpoku Revitalization Council is launching the Sanpoku Bio-Regional Park in the Sanpoku area of Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
The region from Kuwagawa to Ogoto, and Fuya in the Sanpoku area of Murakami City will become the bio-regional park. It preserves the relationship between nature and people, features untouched landscapes in an environment that remains as it has been for centuries. To fully immerse visitors in this unique environment, the council is introducing new tour courses:
Blue Tourism: Includes the nationally designated scenic spot and natural monument of the Sasagawa Nagare coastline.
Green Tourism: The natural waters of Kichijou Shimizu and Karei-zan Shimizu in the deep mountains.
Forest Tourism: Experience Kodo fishing, a traditional method passed down for more than 350 years.
Blue Tourism
The Sasagawa Nagare coastal area stretches approximately 11km from Hamashinbo (Mt. Torigoe) to Samukawa (Kitsunezaki). It has been designated the National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument and Niigata Prefectural Natural Park due to its diverse coastal scenery. The coastline features a landscape of rock formations, caves, and cliffs sculpted by the erosion.
Forest Tourism
From late autumn to early winter, schools of salmon return to the Okawa River and Gatsugi River in the Sanpoku district. The traditional Kodo fishing method, practiced for more than 350 years in the Okawa River, is a unique and historical fishing technique seen nowhere else in Japan. During the peak fishing season (October to mid-December), the riverside becomes lively with local anglers.
Green Tourism
The Kichijou Shimizu in the Ogoto district, recognised among Japan’s Top 100 Famous Waters, and the Karei-zan Shimizu in the deep mountains, are Niigata’s famous waters. The most distinctive feature of this region is its geographical setting, where mountainous areas directly connect to the sea, creating a rich and diverse natural environment.
The official website can be found at https://sanpoku.org/
