Journeys in Japan

Furumachi: Niigata's Hidden World of Geigi

0.028mOctober 13, 2026

Niigata City, facing the Sea of Japan, prospered as a port of call for the Kitamaebune northern-bound ships in the Edo period. A crossroads of people, objects and cultures, it eventually gave birth to a distinctive entertainment district in Furumachi called kagai. Sheila Cliffe is invited into this hidden world of refined ryotei restaurants, as well as architecture, and highly skilled geigi performers in dazzling kimono. She meets people working to preserve this living heritage and also learns about the port town's history by visiting various landmarks.