Tokamachi - Travel Information｜Echigo-Tsumari Art Field

Travel Information

Tokamachi Area

Brief introduction

The Tokamachi area is located on the east side of the Shinanogawa River and has been developed through agriculture and the textile industry. Residents from surrounding villages used to bring products to the markets in Tokamachi which transformed it into a sort of regional “hub” and even today in the winter season, visitors can get a feel of this market atmosphere as neighbouring villagers visit Tokamachi when their own villages are snowed under. In addition to rice production on the fields of the river terraces, the Tokamachi community has developed multiple agriculture including horticulture and mushrooms. Tokamachi’s textile industry history and culture can still be observed across the city.

History

Flame-type earthenware vessels which have been designated as a national treasure, were excavated from the Sasayama Remains in the Nakajyo area of Tokamachi during an archeological survey in the 1970s. It is estimated that these vessels were produced in the middle of the Jomon Era about 4500 years ago. They have handles that look like roaring fire and their shape and patterns are highly-regarded artistically, representing primitive Japanese artwork. Visitors can see these vessels and learn about life during the Jomon Era at the Tokamachi-city Museum.

Artworks in this area

6/1-11/5, 2023 (Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays)

Gardening project

Japan

Kawaguchi Yutaka / Naito Kaori

Open all year / Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays

To Nirvana and Back

Japan

Moriyama Daido

Open all year / Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays

16 Ropes

Former Soviet Union／USA

Ilya & Emilia Kabakov

4/29-11/27, 2023 (Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays)

Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art

Japan

Tashima Seizo

Open all year / Closed on Tue ＆ Wed except holidays

Two River

Italy

Massimo Bartolini feat. Lorenzo Bini

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

A Small House-Don’t forget to listen to-

Japan

Ito Yoshiaki

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

Mole TV

Japan

Kaihatsu Yoshiaki

Facilities in this area

Ubusuna House

This old thatched-roof house is about 100 years old. Enjoy seasonal home-style dishes prepared by local mothers in dishes created by a leading Japanese ceramic artist.

Hachi Café

Cafe and restaurant space located within the Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art. The chairs and tables used in the cafe are remade of those once used at this former elementary school. The cafe serves food and original desserts only using produce from the Echigo-Tsumari region.

Salon MonET

Open in July 2021 in conjunction with the renovation of MonET, the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari.

Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET

The base facility of the "Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale". The architecture was designed by Hara Hiroshi + ATLIERΦ, who also designed the Kyoto Station Building. Fifteen permanent works by artists from Japan and abroad are on display throughout the year, with special exhibitions held seasonally and a museum shop. In 2021, the museum reopened with a major relocation of the permanent collection.

Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art

※ The museum is closed during winter: from end of November to end of April
A walk-in picture book created by Seizo Tashima in 2009 in a former elementary school. The story behind this museum is based on the last three students of the school and visitors can physically experience the picture book as they walk through the museum. The space is filled with objects made of driftwood picked up in Izu Peninsula and from the Sea of Japan, reshaped to represent students, teachers, and even monsters.

Ubusuna House

This former minka house built in 1924 is reborn as a museum of potteries. On the ground floor, distinguished Japanese potters have reimagined a traditional cooking stove, washbasin, and bathtub. Visitors are welcome to enjoy local cuisines and delicacies cooked by local women and served in plates and bowls created by these potters. Three tea rooms on the upper floor also serve as a gallery space.
[Overnight stay business in 2023] Fri, Sat, Sun and holidays from Apr 29 - Nov 5,2023

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

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.

FEATURED

^7/29SAT ‐ ^11/5SUN

Ohtaka Sizzle ＆Tashima Seizo Exhibition; Sizzle! Stay here forever.

Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book holds the spring exhibition "Nuts sing, Art dances" featuring nuts!

FEATURED

^9/9SAT ‐ ^11/5SUN

Echigo-Tsumari MonET Exhibition Series Vol.2 Matsumoto Haruka"Graphcast Shiftpast"

As a new initiative, MonET will hold a series of special exhibitions. 2023 will feature four exhibitions with four guest curators.

FEATURED

^10/7SAT ‐ ^10/29SUN

Come and meet our "New Rice Delivery Team"

FC Echigo-Tsumari has formed a new rice promotion team called the "New Rice Delivery Team." They will be appearing across various locations in Echigo Tsumari to share the charm of the terraced rice fields and the deliciousness of rice. We will also be selling new rice and rice balls ("onigiri") made from "The Earth's Rice"!

^10/7SAT ‐ ^10/8SUN

MonET Exhibition Series Vol.2 Related Events "Lithography Workshop."

MonET Exhibition Series Vol.2 Matsumoto Haruka"Graphcast Shiftpast" Related Eventsrelated event will be held.

^11/18SAT ‐ ^12/24SUN

Echigo-Tsumari MonET Exhibition Series Vol.3 Takezaki Kazuyuki + Nishimura Yu "続・並行小舟唄　翠のうつわ"

As a new initiative, MonET will hold a series of special exhibitions. 2023 will feature four exhibitions with four guest curators.

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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