[Recommended for First-Timers]
One-Day Art Trip with a Delicious Satoyama Lunch
We invite you to explore the region with the guide of artworks of the “Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2026”. This itinerary includes a lunch served with seasonal ingredients at the Echigo Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo. Recommended for first-time visitors or anyone who wishes to visit the main art facilities within a day.
9:30
Rent a Car at Echigo-Yuzawa Station
30 minutes
10:00
Tunnel-Artwork
“Tunnel of Light” by Ma Yansong / MAD Architects (Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel)
Our first stop is the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, which has remained a popular attraction site ever since its opening in 2018. Absorb the beauty of this majestic gorge—a product of 16 million years of geological history—and the art that enhances it. Reservations are required during peak season, so be sure to check the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel official website before visiting.
20 minutes
11:20
A View of a Satoyama
"For Lots of Lost Windows" by Utsumi Akiko
The gently swaying curtains, sunlight and breeze, draw your attention to the beauty of Echigo-Tsumari. What lies beyond the curtains is the landscape of a village that survived the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004. Take a breath and reflect on what the region has gone through over the years. What have we lost, what are we forgetting and what is to remain?
15 minutes
12:00
Memories of a Closed School
“The Last Class” by Christian Boltanski and Jean Kalman
In the darkness you will see a faint glow, recognize the scent of straw, hear sounds echoing through the hallways. After its closure in 1997, Higashikawa elementary school has been preserved as a time capsule of the lively memories and souls that filled the region.
10 minutes
1:00 PM
An Urban-Rural Food Exchange
Lunch at the "Echigo Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo"
The dining hall offers a buffet featuring a variety of dishes that put a modern twist on traditional local flavors, made with fresh vegetables grown by local farmers. Enjoy the rich, hearty flavors of Echigo-Tsumari while taking in the view of the rice terraces. Online booking is available from the button down below.
"Matsudai NOHBUTAI Field Museum Matsudai NOHBUTAI"
After lunch, feel free to explore the Matsudai NOHBUTAI Field Museum —home to the Echigo Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo—as well as the Matsudai History Museum and the artworks in the Joyama area. Don't miss the art projects titled “Kabakov’s Dream” created by Ilya & Emilia Kabakov. In addition to the spring stamp rally, we will be holding early summer hikes and rice-planting events in June. We look forward to your participation!
25 minutes
2:45 PM
A 3D Picture Book Museum Featuring the Last Students of the School
Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art
Formerly an elementary school, the Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art depicts the adventures of the final three students, using driftwood and nuts. The Special Exhibition “Koji Suzuki: Clay Caravan” is held until Monday, August 31. Relax and enjoy the afternoon by savoring sweets and drinks at the Hachi Café or riding on the swing outside. Shizuka the goat will be greeting you by the entrance of the museum.
20 minutes
4:00 PM
A Major Art Museum in Echigo-Tsumari
Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET / Akashi no Yu
This hub facility for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field displays artworks by renowned contemporary artists such as Nawa Kohei, Nakatani Michiko, and mé[mé]. Through Sunday, June 14, the venue is hosting the 10th installment of its ongoing Special Exhibition series, “Ryosaku Miyasaka: ART 75 years old.” Feel free to stop by the hot spring facility “Akashi no Yu” for a Japanese onsen experience.
60 minutes
6:00 PM
Return Rental Car at Echigo-Yuzawa Station
Summary
| Dates | April 25 (Sat) – November 8 (Sun) *Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, excluding national holidays |
|---|---|
| Admission | "Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2026" Common Ticket Adults (high school students and older): 2,500 yen Elementary and junior high school students: 1,000 yen *Information on the admission fees for each facility is available on their respective websites. |
| Origin / Destination | Echigo-Yuzawa Station |
| Transportation | Car |
| Note |
Feel free to check out our official bus tour, the “Echigo-Tsumari Course [Satoyama Lunch],” if you’re in need of a tour guide. It follows a similar schedule. |
Recommended Tours / Itineraries
Contact us for consultation on group tours or travel agency original plans.
Stay In Touch
Stay connected with the ETAT official social media to receive the latest news and event information, and the many seasonal faces of Echigo-Tsumari as well as new issue of the ETAT official media, “Art from the Land”.
