It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to take a spontaneous trip with your loved one.

Before going to Niigata, my knowledge of it was limited to its rice production and Nagaoka fireworks. When this trip became a certainty, my understanding of Niigata expanded in just a few days. The summer of fireworks had passed, the typhoon that swept through everything seemed to have ended the autumn harvest early, the winter snow hadn't arrived yet, and the spring flowers were still waiting for the next year. Perhaps it wasn't the best time to visit Niigata, but it's not a place you can fully understand in just one visit, nor can it be described by a single season. Although I had been thinking about going to Niigata for a long time, what made this trip an immediate reality was a movie - Natsume's Book of Friends. The voice actor's speech before the screening, which lasted only about 15 minutes, was also available in various cinemas in Tokyo on the first day of its release. I chose the second day, when it was only showing in Saitama and Niigata. Of course, I also chose Saitama, but with my usual luck in lotteries, it was no surprise that I ended up with Niigata. The elongated Niigata Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan on one side and borders several other prefectures on the other, all of which boast mountain hot springs and hidden gems. Niigata City is located near the northernmost coast. My original plan was to visit the northernmost point to see the sea, watch the trains running along the coast, and then witness the most beautiful sunset over the Sea of Japan. However, a plan is just a plan.