Nishikan-ku is located in southwestern Niigata City, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west.

The town of Maki was created on April 10, 1891 by the merger of 14 hamlets, and expanded on January 1, 1955 by annexing five neighbouring villages.

The city of Niigata annexed the towns of Maki and Masugata and the villages of Iwamuro, Katahigashi and Nakanokuchi on March 21, 2005.

The ward has three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education.

JR East - Echigo Line Media related to Nishikan-ku, Niigata at Wikimedia Commons