The Matsudai NOHBUTAI Field Museum is hosting “Early Summer Field Museum Notes,” a walking program designed to enjoy the early summer satoyama landscape. At various points throughout the Field Museum, you’ll find “questions” related to nature, wildlife, agriculture, local culture, and art.

“Why are there so many frogs in Matsudai?”
“Why was this artwork created here?”

Take in the scenery and explore the artworks on foot as you search for the answers. Stamps are available at each location, and by scanning the QR code in the field notebook provided, you can read detailed explanations about the nature and way of life in the satoyama.

By walking through the landscape and experiencing the local way of life alongside the artworks, you can discover a new way to enjoy the Field Museum. Why not make your own discoveries as you walk through the summer satoyama? We have a special gift for those who collect three or more stamps.

Event Overview

---

Main stops

Matsudai NOHBUTAI

Designed by the Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, this building appears to float in mid-air. The pilotis feature Ilya&Emilia Kabakov’s “The Rice Fields,” while the interior houses Kawaguchi Tatsuo’s “Relationship—Classroom with a Blackboard” (Educational Space), among other exhibits.

Matsudai History Museum

This museum is housed in a 150-year-old traditional farmhouse that has been relocated to this site. Visitors can see the thick pillars, sunken hearths, and earthen floors that have long supported daily life in this snowy region. The museum is also currently exhibiting *Matsudai History Museum – Shiryo-Kan* by Obana Kenichi. See if you can spot the hidden yokai!

"Fichte (Japanese Cypress)" by Tobias Rehberger

The library is located deep in the mountains, in a spot that’s “almost hidden.” To make it stand out from its surroundings, the ground of this outdoor library has been specially designed. Inside, there are bookshelves, chairs, and benches, all made of waterproof materials. Lighting fixtures hang from the trees, allowing visitors to read even at night.

"The Monument of Tolerance" by Ilya&Emilia Kabakov

This monument was created with the hope that people around the world would join hands and walk together. Inside, you’ll also find concept sketches for *The Arch of Life*, also by Ilya&Emilia Kabakov; viewing these alongside the monument will allow you to gain a deeper appreciation of the artwork’s world.

"Observatory" by Ushijima Tatsuji

The sound tubes extending up and down carry the sounds of the rice paddies to one ear and the sounds of the sky to the other. Step inside this jungle gym-like structure and listen quietly. You’ll experience a sense of Time Space unlike anything you’ve ever felt before.

Matsudai Castle

Matsudai Castle is said to have once served as a subsidiary fortress of Kasugayama Castle under Uesugi Kenshin. Today, it houses three artworks: Esther Stocker’s “Perspectives of Longing”, Toyofuku Ryo’s “Laxudai”, and “Shedding Time” by Kurakake Junichi + Nihon University College of Art Sculpture Course. We invite you to enjoy both the history and the art on display.

"Field Museum Embraced by the Earth" by Fieldoffice Architects + Taguma Ryuki

What makes exploring the artworks a lighter experience are those open spaces where you can rest while feeling nature with your whole body. Taking advantage of the slope overlooking the Nohbutai and the Hokuhoku Line, the “Chairs Embraced by the Earth” have been installed.

---

▼Facility Information