Ask anyone in Japan what Niigata is famous for, and one of the answers you will hear the most will be "Delicious sake!" Now, Hotel Okura Niigata would like to share this facet of Niigata culture (and pride) with JAPANiCAN.com customers. Towards this end, the hotel is offering a free sampler bottle of sake (300 ml) to guests who book on JAPANiCAN.com!

Niigata's association with sake, which is more commonly referred to as nihonshu in Japan, stems from one of the prefecture's other points of pride: its high quality rice. Naturally, the nihonshu produced from this fine Niigata rice is imbued with the quality of the source material. Koshi no Kanbai (pictured above) is one of the most famous brands of nihonshu and is even said to be representative of all Niigata Prefecture, which is quite an endorsement! Koshi no Kanbai is a junmai, a pure variety of nihonshu which contains no additives, and it is known for its dry flavor and smooth drinkability.