Echigo-Yuzawa Station: Your Ultimate Japanese Sake Experience with Hot Springs, Giant Rice Balls & Local Delicacies

Ponshukan Echigo-Yuzawa Branch

Located within Echigo-Yuzawa Station, Ponshukan is a specialty store offering a curated selection of Niigata’s finest foods. Here, you can find Japanese sake, sweets made with sake, rice crackers, traditional seasonings, Echigo soba, seafood from the Sea of Japan, Niigata’s famous dried fish, and the celebrated Uonuma Koshihikari rice. This shop was created to share the deliciousness of Niigata with more people, offering a variety of gourmet delights and a rich food culture experience.

Business hours

9:30 am AM - 7:00 am PM

Regular holiday

Open Year - Round

Telephone number

+081-25-784-3778

Official site

https://www.ponshukan.com/yuzawa

Address

2427 - 3 Yuzawa, Yuzawa - machi, Minamiuonuma - gun, Niigata 949 - 6101, Japan

Discover Niigata’s Specialty Products and Souvenirs!

Ponshukan offers an extensive selection of souvenirs unique to Niigata. Whether you’re visiting Echigo-Yuzawa for travel or sightseeing, this is the perfect place to shop for authentic local products. The variety is so abundant that you may find yourself overwhelmed with options, making browsing the shop an enjoyable experience.

When it comes to souvenirs, sweets are always popular. Ponshukan offers a wide range of traditional Niigata sweets and desserts.

In addition to sweets, you’ll find an array of dressings, seasonings, jams, and teas.

The shop also stocks pickled goods and other preserved foods. Just look at the variety! Choosing which to buy is half the fun of souvenir shopping.

Niigata is famous for its sake, so it’s no surprise that there’s a great selection of snacks to pair with it, including canned appetizers.

Niigata’s renowned “hegi soba” noodles are also available in various forms.

Of course, you can also buy rice. Niigata is one of Japan’s premier rice-producing regions, and Ponshukan offers Uonuma Koshihikari rice sold by weight, starting from 1kg.

For curry lovers, there’s an impressive lineup of Niigata’s retort-packaged curries.

Astonishing! Over 250 Types of Niigata Sake at “Station Brewery”

Niigata is synonymous with Japanese sake. The prefecture is home to nearly 90 breweries, the highest number in Japan, and it also boasts the nation’s highest sake consumption. For those seeking the perfect Niigata souvenir, sake is a must.

The “Station Brewery” at Ponshukan features over 250 types of sake. Alongside sake, you’ll find wines, shochu, plum wines, and craft beers, ranging from classics to seasonal specialties. They even host tasting events organized by breweries, allowing visitors to discover new favorites.

Taste Sake from All Niigata Breweries at the “Kikizake Bansho”

Ponshukan offers not just shopping but also immersive experiences in food and drink.

At Kikizake Bansho, all breweries in Niigata are represented, allowing visitors to enjoy a wide variety of sake flavors unique to Echigo and Niigata.

For just 500 yen, you’ll receive a sake cup and five coins to use in the sake vending machines, which let you sample up to five types of sake.

With 89 breweries and over 120 sake labels available, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore Niigata’s rich sake culture.

MAX 600g!! Giant Rice Balls Showcasing Niigata’s Premium Rice at “Bakudan Onigiri-ya”

Niigata, known as one of Japan’s largest rice producers, offers a unique way to enjoy its rice at Bakudan Onigiri-ya.

This shop serves enormous rice balls, including the “Bakudan Onigiri,” made with 300g of rice (two cups), and the even larger “Daibaku Onigiri,” which uses 600g of rice (four cups).

Here is the “Bakudan Onigiri” made with 300g of rice.

These rice balls are impressively large, offering a satisfying way to savor Niigata’s premium rice.

Bakudan Onigiri-ya uses top-quality Uonuma Koshihikari rice harvested in the Shiozawa district. The rice is cooked in a traditional iron pot with pure Echigo-Yuzawa water and carefully shaped upon order.

The fillings for these rice balls are as varied as they are delicious.

When cut in half, you’ll see the generous fillings inside. Here’s an example with salmon.

The “Daibaku Onigiri,” made with 600g of rice, is even more impressive, with a size larger than most faces.

Relax with a Gentle Sweetness at “Koji Latte”

Niigata is also known as a “land of koji culture,” fostering Japan’s tradition of fermented beverages.

“Koji Latte” offers soft-serve ice cream and drinks made with koji, known for its health benefits, in a relaxing café lounge setting. Takeout options are also available.

The signature “Koji Latte” blends sweet sake from Niigata’s renowned Hakkaisan brewery with milk, creating a drink with a refined sweetness and a traditional Japanese flavor.

Achieve Beautiful Skin with the Unique “Sake Bath”

At Ponshukan in Echigo-Yuzawa Station, you can even enjoy a hot spring experience. And not just any hot spring—a sake bath.

The sake bath combines hot spring water with the beneficial components of sake, reputed to enhance skin smoothness and promote relaxation. While it contains sake ingredients, the bath is safe for children and those who dislike alcohol.

No Worries About Buying Too Much! Nationwide Shipping Available

“Bought too many souvenirs?”

No problem! Ponshukan offers nationwide shipping for your purchases. Just let the staff know when checking out, and they’ll handle it for you.

Plenty of Souvenir Shops Inside Echigo-Yuzawa Station!

While Ponshukan is the standout attraction, the Echigo-Yuzawa Station itself hosts many other souvenir shops.

These shops offer a variety of regional specialties that you won’t find at Ponshukan, making them worth a visit as well.

A Must-See! The “Tsurushi Bina” for Good Fortune

As you explore the souvenir shops inside Echigo-Yuzawa Station and Ponshukan, don’t miss the “Tsurushi Bina,” which symbolizes good fortune. These traditional Japanese hanging ornaments have been used since ancient times to wish for children’s healthy growth.

The Tsurushi Bina in Echigo-Yuzawa Station, titled “Snow Rabbit’s Departure,” features adorable decorations inspired by snow rabbits. This rotating display allows you to admire the intricate designs from all angles.

Snow rabbits represent the snowy winters of Echigo-Yuzawa, symbolizing vitality and purity. The display portrays their departure as spring approaches, signifying new beginnings and the cycle of life.

This unique display is easy to overlook, so make sure to check it out during your visit.

Fulfill Your Heart, Body, and Stomach: Experience All of Niigata at Echigo-Yuzawa Station

From the in-station hot springs to delicious sake, gentle sweetness of Koji Latte, and a wide variety of souvenirs, Echigo-Yuzawa Station offers the essence of Niigata.

Ponshukan is a must-visit not only for sake enthusiasts but also for those looking to create unforgettable travel memories.

The staff at Ponshukan are warm and welcoming, making you feel as if you’re part of the family. Their smiles add a comforting touch to your visit.

Located right within Echigo-Yuzawa Station, Ponshukan is a secret haven for adults to immerse themselves in the charm of a snowy wonderland. It’s the perfect place to refresh your mind and body while enjoying the unique flavors and culture of Niigata.

So, why not stop by Ponshukan at Echigo-Yuzawa Station and experience the delights of snow country firsthand?