Matsunoyama - Travel Information｜Echigo-Tsumari Art Field

Travel Information

Matsunoyama Area

Brief introduction

Matsunoyama is a mountainous area approximately 200 to 600 meter above sea-level and is located on the border of Niigata and Nagano prefectures. Koido River on the east and Shibumi River on the west, the area is exposed to many hardships of nature such as landslides and heavy snowfall in the winter, with limited plain space between and along these two rivers. In addition to rice cultivated in the terraced rice field, the local communities are engaged in growing special local produce such as mushrooms and wild plants as well as running “ryokans” (traditional Japanese accommodation houses) in the Matsunoyama hot spring area. Forest School: Kyororo has been a hub for regional reconstruction to reevaluate the ecology of the Satoyama region.

History

Daitozan Art Museum
The 31st head of the Murayama clan opened its 700 year-old former house and gardens to the public as a museum. The furniture, drawings, and pottery which represented the lifestyle of the wealthy farming Murayama family as well as a memento from Ango Sakaguchi, an uncle of the previous head of the family, are displayed. Ango visited the Matsunoyama region frequently due to his aunt and elder sister both marrying into the Murayama family. This museum is highly recommended for visitors who wish to learn more about the lifestyle of the traditional villagers of Matsunoyama.

Artworks in this area

Throughout the year / Closed on Tue except holidays *Closed on Tues and Wed from Dec. to Feb. ＊Closing for changing exhibitions：2023/7/10-14, 10/11-13, 2024/3/11-13

Metamorphosis : The Memory that Dwells in ‘Place’

Japan

Kasahara Yukiko／Miyamori Haruna

Open all year round (2023/4/28: weekends & holidays only, 4/29-11/27: closed Tue & Wed except holidays, 11/28-2024/3/31: weekends & holidays only)

The Last Class

France

Christian Boltanski＋Jean Kalman others

Open all year / Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays

Step in Plan

The Netherlands／Japan

John Körmeling (text design Katsumi Asaba)

Throughout the year / Closed on Tue except holidays *Closed on Tues and Wed from Dec. to Feb. ＊Closing for changing exhibitions：2023/7/10-14, 10/11-13, 2024/3/11-13

Ground, Water, Cosmos

Japan

Osaka Takuro

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 round (2023/4/28: weekends & holidays only, 4/29-11/27: closed Tue & Wed except holidays, 11/28-2024/3/31: weekends & holidays only)

Théâtre d’ombres （Theatre of Shadows）

France

Christian Boltanski

2023/4/29-11/5 (Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays)

House Memory

Japan／Germany

Shiota Chiharu

Facilities in this area

Echigo-Matsunoyama Museum of Natural Science “Kyororo”

A 10-minutes drive from Matsudai Station, Kyororo is a natural science museum that provides deep insights into the ecology of the local area and its characteristic natural landscape of terraced rice fields, beech forests, and thatched roof houses.

Sansho House

Sansho House is a unique accommodation space, renovated from a 50-year old former wooden school building. We invite guests to sleep in hand-crafted wooden beds arranged in the former classrooms of the school. Local staff members eagerly await your visit to share their stories and thorough knowledge of the local region.

Dream House

An artwork by Marina Abramović which provides guests with a unique opportunity to reflect upon themselves by dreaming overnight. Guests are invited to "participate" in the artwork directly through wearing a special sleeping suit, sleeping in a unique bed, and keeping notes of their own dreams, which will be contributed to the house's "Dream Book".
[Overnight stay business in 2023] the day before Sat, Sun & holidays from 29 Jul - 18 Sep, 2023

Australia House

Located in the Urada village in Matsunoyama area, Australia House was built in 2012 as a platform to foster exchange between Japan and Australia. Artists, curators and students have stayed in the house and created and presented their artworks while local people have discovered the diverse cultures existing within Australia. We are pleased to invite the general public to experience staying in this distinctive cultural facility.
[Overnight stay business in 2023] the day before Sat, Sun & holidays from Jun 1 - Nov 4, 2023

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

^7/15SAT ‐ ^10/9MON

20th Anniversary Summer Exhibition "Insect Expo - You too, aim for it! Dr. Insect"

Kyororo, the "School in the Forest" which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023, will hold its 20th anniversary summer exhibition "Insect Expo - You too, aim for it! Dr. Insect" from July 15 (Sat.), 2023! Insect Hakase" will be held from Saturday, July 15, 2023.

FEATURED

^4/29SAT ‐ ^11/5SUN

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2023

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2023（April 29-November 5）

In Echigo-Tsumari, the people who live there cultivate their fields from spring to fall, and in winter they have a unique way of life born from the heavy snowfall. On that land, ｍany artworks located on. You can enjoy a journey through artworks deeply connected to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field.

^10/22SUN ‐ ^10/22SUN

"Australia House Autumn Meeting 2023"

For the first time in four years, Australia House will hold the "Australia House Autumn Meeting" to enjoy the exchange with local people.

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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Stay In Touch

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