15216 ／ いといがわし
Niigata PrefectureCarved in rock: whetstone and arrow.
Inscription, Oyashirazu old road01 ／ Jade
At the foot of a mountain, huge boulders of jade (jadeite) lie scattered across the bed of the Kotaki River. Near the confluence with the Sakasa stream, several measure 5 to 10 cubic metres. The site is a national natural monument, and taking jade or stones from it is prohibited under the Cultural Properties Protection Act.
02 ／ Jomon settlement
This settlement site dates from about 5,500 to 4,000 years ago, in the Jomon period; the city calls it one of the largest in the Hokuriku region. Stone axes and jade beads were made from stones of the Himekawa River and supplied to other regions. The jade is thought to have come from the Kotaki River. At the site park, some dwellings have been reconstructed.
03 ／ Horse chestnut
This large Japanese horse chestnut stands near Kuzuba Pass on the former National Route 148, about 4.5 m around at eye level with a crown spread of about 21 m. It was a good landmark for the bokka porters and ox drivers who carried goods from Itoigawa to Shinano, and they rested in its shade; that is said to be how it got its name. It was designated a city natural monument in 1971.
Living here
Itoigawa Station opened on the Hokuriku Shinkansen on 14 March 2015, and the fastest Hakutaka takes 2 hours 2 minutes from Tokyo Station (JR East timetable, October 2026). The city was formed in 2005 by the merger of Itoigawa City with the former towns of Noh and Omi. It lies at the western end of Niigata Prefecture, bordering Nagano Prefecture to the south and Toyama Prefecture to the west, and its area is larger than the 23 wards of Tokyo combined.
−7.7% since 2015
49,844 → 40,765
140.31km² of it habitable
2024
2.5 people per household
2020
National average 60,630 yen
2023
7.8 per 10,000 people
2023
Population from 2005 onward (municipal boundary changed).2005-03-19 に合併。2005年調査から市域が変わっている。
These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.
ACCESS
Travel times follow JR東日本の公式の時刻表（timetables.jreast.co.jp・2026年10月版。東京駅の北陸新幹線の時刻表 平日・土曜休日と、はくたか14本それぞれの列車の頁）で、東京→糸魚川を確かめた（2026-10-15）。はくたか551号 06:28→08:41＝133分・553号 07:52→10:10＝138分（運転日注意◆）・555号 08:41→10:52＝131分・557号 09:32→11:36＝124分・559号 10:33→12:45＝132分（◆）・561号 11:24→13:26＝122分・563号 12:24→14:26＝122分・565号 13:24→15:26＝122分・567号 14:24→16:27＝123分・569号 15:24→17:28＝124分・571号 16:32→18:44＝132分・573号 18:04→20:25＝141分・575号 19:04→21:24＝140分・577号 20:12→22:24＝132分。最速は561・563・565号の122分で、3本とも◆（運転日注意）が無く、平日・土曜休日の両方の時刻表に載る。かがやきは糸魚川に停まらない（かがやき501号の頁で確認）。第1段の駅探の値（122分）と一致。市公式「アクセス」（2025-02-12 更新）・市の移住・定住ページ（2026-04-01 更新）・観光協会は「東京から 北陸新幹線 約2時間」 (checked 2026-10-15). They vary by time of day.
Shape
North to south
42.4km
If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.
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