city, Niigata ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan, on the middle reaches of the Shinano River. A castle town in the 1600s, it prospered with the discovery of the Higashiyama oil well in the early 20th century. Despite heavy damage suffered during World War II, the city continued to grow, its industries producing chemicals, machinery, and processed foods. Nagaoka is a hub of rail and road transportation and serves as a base for the popular ski grounds on nearby Mount Yūkyū. Pop. (2005) 283,224.