Going up the ski lifts, it is possible to see wondrous views from the top, which are ruined by the grating sound of Japanese pop blaring out of tannoys scattered over the mountain.
Niigata City itself is a busy place, which is not surprising as it is the largest port on that side of Honshu and a convenient gateway to the region's machinery, textile, chemical, oil-refining and lumber industries.
Many tourists, however, use it to get to Sado-ga-shima, an island to the west of the city.
In medieval times, Sado-ga-shima used to be an island of exiles for intellectuals who had fallen out of favour with the government.
These days, its relaxed pace of life and natural beauty still makes it the place to get away from it all, but for personal reasons rather than political.