Chuetsu Garden Studio — Mitsuke City, Niigata, Japan
Thank you for your interest in Chuetsu Garden Studio. We are a specialty nursery in Mitsuke, Niigata Prefecture, growing a wide variety of Japanese alpine plants and wild flowers through every season.
We’re especially known for our work with Hepatica — a genus native mainly to Niigata Prefecture. We’ve spent many years selecting and breeding for its beauty and diversity, and many of the named cultivars we offer originated from our own seedlings. Beyond Hepatica, we also grow variegated plants, high-altitude alpine species, and a number of rare and unusual varieties.
Most of our overseas orders are handled through our partner Morynos Utsurindo — see our International Shipping page for details on ordering and shipping.
Visiting the Nursery
While most of our international customers order through Morynos Utsurindo without visiting in person, we’re happy to welcome visitors who are traveling through the area.
Please note: this nursery is not specifically oriented to a tourist attraction. The owner is often away or occupied with fieldwork, and we’re closed more often than a typical shop. If you’re planning to visit — especially if you’re coming from far away or as part of a group — please contact us in advance so we can make sure someone is here to greet you.
📧 chuetsuplants@gmail.com 📞 +81-258-66-7570 (Japanese only — email is easier for us to handle in English)
Hours & Access
- Address: 502-1 Kamishinden-machi, Mitsuke City, Niigata 954-0112, Japan
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Regular closing day: Wednesdays (though this isn’t followed strictly — please confirm by email before visiting)
- View on Google Maps
By car: Take the Hokuriku Expressway to the Mitsuke–Nakanoshima interchange, then head toward Mitsuke on Route 8. We’re just past the third traffic light (near a Musashi home center and Argo Co.), on the road side, with parking available. About 3 minutes from the interchange.
Detailed Routes & Travel Times
(Travel times are approximate and depend on the specific train service — please double-check the latest timetable closer to your travel date.)
1. From Tokyo Station (approx. 2 hours)
- Take the Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Nagaoka Station (approx. 90 min).
- Transfer to the JR Shin’etsu Main Line (bound for Niigata) and take a local train to Mitsuke Station (approx. 12 min).
- From Mitsuke Station: taxi (approx. 5 min) or walk (approx. 20–25 min, about 1.3 km).
2. From Narita Airport (NRT) (approx. 3 hours)
- Take the JR Narita Express (N’EX) from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station (approx. 60 min).
- Transfer to the Joetsu Shinkansen to Nagaoka Station (approx. 90 min).
- Transfer to the JR Shin’etsu Main Line to Mitsuke Station (approx. 12 min).
- From Mitsuke Station, taxi (approx. 5 min) or walk (approx. 20–25 min).
3. From Haneda Airport (HND) (approx. 2.5 hours)
- Take the Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station, via Shinagawa or Hamamatsucho (approx. 30 min).
- Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Nagaoka Station (approx. 90 min).
- Transfer to the JR Shin’etsu Main Line to Mitsuke Station (approx. 12 min).
- From Mitsuke Station, taxi (approx. 5 min) or walk (approx. 20–25 min).
4. From Niigata Airport (KIJ) (approx. 1.5 hours)
- Take the limousine or local bus from Niigata Airport to Niigata Station (approx. 25 min).
- Take the JR Shin’etsu Main Line (bound for Nagaoka) to Mitsuke Station (approx. 50 min).
- From Mitsuke Station, taxi (approx. 5 min) or walk (approx. 20–25 min).
5. From Nagaoka Station (approx. 20 minutes)
- By train: JR Shin’etsu Main Line to Mitsuke Station (approx. 12 min), then taxi (approx. 5 min).
- By car/taxi direct: approx. 20 min door to door.
Please keep in mind that signage and price information at the nursery itself is in Japanese, and our staff communicate more comfortably in writing (email) than in spoken English.
Discovering the Spirit of Niigata: Nearby Attractions
After visiting Chuetsu Garden Studio in Mitsuke, you may want to explore more of central Niigata. Here are a few highlights within a reasonable travel distance.
Yahiko Shrine (彌彦神社)
One of Niigata’s most historic and sacred shrines, set at the base of Mt. Yahiko. According to tradition, the enshrined deity taught the local people salt-making, fishing, and rice cultivation — the origins of the region’s industries. A grove of 400–500-year-old cedar and zelkova trees leads to the shrine’s vermilion first gate (Ichi no Torii).
Mt. Yahiko (弥彦山)
This 634-meter peak (coincidentally the same height, in meters, as Tokyo Skytree) can be reached on foot or via the Yahiko Ropeway (approx. 5 min). The summit observatory offers a wide view over the Echigo Plain and the Sea of Japan, with Sado Island visible on clear days.
Teradomari & the Waterfront Fish Market
A coastal fishing town known for very fresh seafood. Its market street is lined with fish shops and stalls where you can try grilled seafood, sushi, and sashimi, or buy fresh catch to take home.
Nearby Hot Springs (Onsen)
Several onsen towns are within easy reach, including Yahiko Onsen near the shrine, and Tsukioka Onsen, known locally for its emerald-green sulfuric water, sometimes called “water for beautiful skin.”
Mitsuke English Garden (みつけイングリッシュガーデン)
Located right here in Mitsuke City, this roughly 2.2-hectare English-style garden was designed under the supervision of Kay Yamada, a leading Japanese authority on English gardening and owner of the Barakura English Garden in Tateshina. It features around 500 species of plants, with roses at their peak in early summer and dahlias and colorful foliage in autumn. There’s an on-site café (MEG CAFE) and barrier-free paths throughout. Admission is free, though a small donation (around ¥200) toward garden upkeep is appreciated.
Most of the plants we grow are shipped internationally through our partner Morynos Utsurindo — see International Shipping for how to order.