Another JR poster...

Another poster from the good folks at JR. This time it is pushing Niigata prefecture as a destination and both the images they have chosen come from within Snow Country.

Head to Yairo just north of Urasa and you will find yourself driving through field after field of watermelons ripening in the warm summer sun. Shops and supermarkets are full of these famous watermelon at the moment and chilled watermelon is a summer staple in Japan. Yairo watermelon are famous throughout Japan.

Over the hill in Tsunan they have a summer sunflower park with acres of giant sunflowers as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately it has finished for the 2012 season (it closed August 21 this year) but it is a stunning sight and well worth heading over to see.

Yairo Watermelon

Snow Country produces many great seasonal products and one of the most refreshing tastes of summer are the watermelons from Yairo. Snowcountry is well know for its top quality rice but the watermelon are also up there. This small town in the north of Snow Country has watermelon fields all over and you can see the fruit by the side of the road ripening.

Ice cold watermelon on a hot day is an absolute treat and a real taste of summer.