Niigata, Japan

Shibata Castle Ruins & Japanese Garden

Shogun History and a Sake Brewery Visit Shibata and its castle ruins, stroll the Shimizu Garden and sample sake at the Gokaibishi Brewery. Journey to Shibata, a former Tokugawa‑domain castle town founded more than 420 years ago. Explore the tranquil Shimizu Garden, a 17th‑century Kyoto‑style landscape centered around a reflective pond and seasonal plantings, and view the nearby Ashigaru Nagaya, once home to the shogunate’s foot soldiers. Continue to the Shibata Castle Ruins, originally built in 1598 and later the seat of the Mizoguchi samurai clan until the Meiji Restoration; its three‑story tower and two turrets have been fully reconstructed, offering a vivid sense of its former power. Cap your excursion with a visit to the historic Gokaibishi Sake Brewery, established in 1790. Learn about the production of its sake from rice and water and enjoy a tasting before returning to your ship. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.