A gubernatorial election was held on 22 October 2000 to elect the next Governor of Niigata (山口県, Niigata-ken), a prefecture of Japan in the Chūbu region of the main island of Honshu.
Candidates
Yukio Hirayama, 56, incumbent since 1992, endorsed by LDP, DPJ, NK, LP and SDP.
Ichizo Kobayashi, 64, former chief of the Urban Development Bureau of the Niigata prefecture.