Places to get your festive feels in Niigata: Echigo Hillside Park

One of my favorite destinations in Niigata Prefecture is Nagaoka's Echigo Hillside Park. It's home to some absolutely gorgeous flower displays throughout the year, such as tulips in spring and cosmos during autumn. Winter isn't the season there to enjoy a whole lot of flowers, but they do have a number of Christmas trees up, and an outdoor illumination event! It definitely offers some festive vibes if you're feeling a touch homesick.

An indoor tree at Echigo Hillside Park

The information about this year's illumination event can be found on their official website. I've been in the past, and it feels extra magical when there's snow on the ground. If that's something you're also nostalgic for, I would happily recommend a trip out to this part of Niigata during winter!