Murakami, Niigata

Nice coastal city about one hour away from Niigata on JR and it is famous for salmon , Senami Onsen and historical buildings you can find around the town.

Nice town to stroll or they have a bus service to stop at major tourist spots for 300 yen a day.
Senami Onsen is a nice spot to take a bath overlooking the sunset by the see.
Iyoboya Museum is where you can learn all about salmon.
A couple of nice buke-yashiki or samurai residence from 19th century.
Murakami tourist information in English
List of restaurants and shops with regional/salmon cuisine.
Link to a Japanese site

March through early April, about 75 shops or residents display their family hinamatsuri dolls or hina-ningyo and you can just drop by. Get a free map showing locations displaying hina-ningyo.

I dropped by a sake shop with their family dolls and had very nice chat with the store owner.

Farmers market on the 2nd, 7th,17th,22th,27th of the month next to the city hall.