Kawanishi - Travel Information｜Echigo-Tsumari Art Field

Travel Information

Kawanishi Area

Brief introduction

Kawanishi is located on a 50m-high hill on the western side of the Shinanogawa River. The Shinanogawa River used to run through Kawanishi before the area was raised as a result of crustal change due to frequent earthquakes. The main industry of Kawanishi is rice production, namely the Uonuma Koshihikari brand which is the most well-known. The former Zenkoji Street which now runs through the Tachiban, Ueno, and Senju areas were in the past used for travellers and merchants to travel from nearby Ojiya to Nagano prefecture. With the Shinanogawa River separating Kawanishi and Tokamachi, delivery of goods and commute was done by boat until the Sakae Bridge was built in 1964.

History

Hoshina House
The Hoshina family and its business, one of the most successful farmers and businessmen in the Tsumari region, is currently being run by its 15th successive generation. During the Edo period (1603 – 1868) they traded primarily in sake, oil, rice, salt, traditional “”chizimifu”” cloth and antiques, and with its growing business fortune the Hoshina House was built in 1842, which has since been designated as a national treasure. Its structure with wide frontage of approximately 30m, six warehouses, and two tea rooms was the inspiration for James Turrell’s House of Light.

Artworks in this area

Open all year / Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays

Signs for Echigo-Tsumari／Signs for NO BUTAI Snow-Land Agrarian Culture Center, Matsudai

Portugal

José de Guimarães

Open all year(Dec-Mar: Closed on certain days)

House of Light

USA

James Turrell

Facilities in this area

House of Light

The House of Light is a work of art created by James Turrell, renowned globally as "an artist of light". At this experimental piece you can experience the artist's world of art, is an architectural structure unparalleled elsewhere in the world. It was conceived as a guest house for meditation, as Turrell found this concept in Junichiro Tanizaki's essay "In Praise of Shadows". He came up with the idea of incorporating his work on light into the intimate light of a traditional Japanese-style house.

House of Light

Fushiguro Castle Ruins Campgrounds CottageA,B,C

Three cottages full of character are located at the Fushiguro Castle Ruins Campgrounds in Nakago Green Park. Each was designed by famous architects and is a work of art. Fushiguro Castle Ruins Campgrounds Cottage C has also received the Good Design Award.
*Tours are available only for overnight guests.

Other restaurants

There are many other places to eat in Echigo-Tsumari and around area. If you want to explore other places in this area, please directly contact information desk at local tourism associations.

Other accommodation facilities

There are many other places to stay in Echigo-Tsumari and around area. If you want to explore other places in this area, please directly contact information desk at local tourism associations.

Events in this area

FEATURED

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Tanaka Min "Ryōkan in the Snow"

Tanaka Min's snow performance "Ryōkan in the Snow" will be held this winter prior to the "Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2024" (Dates: 2024/7/13-11/10) to be held from next July.

The Six Areas

Tokamachi Area

Tokamachi is located on the east side of the Shinanogawa River and has been developed through agriculture and the textile industry. Over ten elementary schools have closed inthis area due to depopulation and one of the closed school has transformed into the "Museum of Picture Book Art" by Seizo Tashima.

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Kawanishi Area

Kawanishi is located on a 50m-high hill on the western side of the Shinanogawa River. Visitors can enjoy a visit to "House of Light" by James Turrell, and "Berry Spoon", a blueberry farm run by local residents.

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Nakasato Area

Nakasato is surrounded by Shinanogawa River, Kiyotsu River, Kama River, and Nana River, this area is florished by water. The westeland by the river bank of Kama River which was once a place for locals to play was returned to a beautiful parkland by Finnish architect practice, Casagrande and RIntala.

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Matsudai Area

Matsudai is a hilly area surrounded by mountains that stretches along the Shibumi River, one of the branches of Shinanogawa River. The "Shedding House", a renovation of the old minka house is close to the famous terraced rice fields in Hoshitoge villaget and is available to stay overnight.

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Matsunoyama Area

Matsunoyama is a mountainous area approximately 200 to 600 meter above sea-level and is located on the border of Niigata and Nagano prefectures.The greeny Daigonji Highland is locatedon on 700m above sea-level.

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Tsunan Area

Tsunan is located at the southern tip of Niigata prefecture on the border of Nagano prefecture. Lots of ruins from the Jomon Era (14,000 – 300 BC) have been discovered in this area. The accmmodation, Katakuri House using the wooden elementary school is also located in this area.

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