In conjunction with the consolidation of the Kobe Mission into the Hiroshima Mission effective July 1, 2001, branches located in Niigata- ken (prefecture ), formerly part of the Tokyo North Mission, were transferred to the Sendai Mission. (Similar border shifts also took place in all missions on the island of Honshuu)

Joetsu's meetinghouse reportedly was formerly a Fuji film store--the sign in the middle lights up at night! It is located about 20 minutes walk from the Naoetsu eki at Goshi-shin machi 10-21. (map) Joetsu is the southernmost and westernmost location in the mission, and is only about one hour's drive from the city of Nagano, where the 1998 Olympic Winter games were held. Nagano is part of the Nagoya mission (effective March 2007, formerly Tokyo North).

Nagaoka's chapel is very close to the east entrance to the eki, only about 10-15 minutes walk. The building, located at Hoshiba 2-4-3, (map) is strikingly similar in appearance to the chapel in Koriyama, with parking underneath. It was completed in 1987. Nagaoka's population is about 280,000.

Niigata's chapel is located about ten minutes by car directly south of the eki, at Nagata-chou 3-10-14. This building was completed in the 1970s and expanded in 1986. (map) Niigata is the largest city in the prefecture. Its port and airport have direct connections with Vladivostok, Russia, which is just across the Sea of Japan.

Sado is an island in the Sea of Japan located south of Tsuruoka , just off the coast from Niigata. A meetinghouse is currently located at Kubota 894. (map) This photo was taken in 2005 and sent to me courtesy of Elder Shaw, who contacted the Sado missionaries for the request. I understand that Sado, like some other lower population areas, has had branches opened and closed and missionaries living there and not living there at various times over the years. I learned in January 2009 that the number of missionaries is getting a little smaller and President Tateoka had to close the apartment in Sado.

Meetings in Sanjo, a southern suburb of the city of Niigata, are held in this rented building at Nishi Oosaki 1-17-31. (map) The location is on a fairly well-traveled street a little more than five minutes by car from the Higashi Sanjo eki.

Link back to Meetinghouse Index Map.