Over Golden Week I visited the Yahiko temple and mountain near the Japan Sea just to the south of Niigata city. I believe it is the biggest and most famous temple in Niigata pref. and the temple and grounds are really interesting. You can drive up the mountain behind the temple to get good views of Sado (on a good day - when we were there it was very hazy so no Sado. I was very sado). Nice place, worth a visit if you are in the area.

Anyway here's my pics:

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_section.php?userid=sanjo&userGallery=134

And just a couple of them here:

Yahiko is a nice place. Gets very busy though on national holidays.

Looks nice. How big is that mountain behind there?

638 meters. Not huge but surrounded by flat on three sides and the Japan Sea on the other.