Echigo-Tsumari Course [Ubusuna Lunch Special] 2026

Visit

Open

A highlights tour of masterpieces in Echigo-Tsumari. Enjoy the autumn countryside and artworks with Official Guides.
《Tour Highlights》
・Recommended for first-time visitors to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field
・You can view many artworks even without a car
・You can savor dishes made with seasonal ingredients by local women from the villages
*On Sunday, September 27; Saturday, October 24; and Sunday, November 8, the tour will be conducted by Japanese and English-speaking guides.

Details

9:00 Echigo-Yuzawa Station Information Center for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field: Participant Reception Now Open

9:30 Departure from Echigo-Yuzawa Station

10:00 "Tunnel of Light" by Ma Yansong / MAD Architects

Enjoy Art and Nature at the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel

Kiyotsukyo is considered one of Japan’s three great gorges. Here, you can experience the fusion of the gorge’s beauty—which changes with the seasons, from the fresh greenery of spring to the deep green of summer, the autumn foliage, and the snowy landscapes of winter—and art.

Tunnel Kiyotsukyo Nature and Art Scenery Through the Seasons

Details

11:20 "For Lots of Lost Windows" by Utsumi Akiko

Contemplating the Beauty of Satoyama Through Art

A window that allows you to rediscover the satoyama landscape through the view outside. The curtains, which sway differently depending on the weather, let you feel the sunlight and the gentle breeze.

Outside Artworks Satoyama Landscape Light and Wind Window Art

Details

12:10 "House of Light" by James Turrell

Through the wide-open skylight, you can feel the ever-changing sky and light

James Turrell, who has explored the “perception of light,” has created a guesthouse for meditation that blends the intimate light of a traditional Japanese house with his own light artworks. *Please note that the skylight may not be opened depending on weather conditions.

Light Art Meditation Space Architecture and Art Immersive Experience

Details

1:00 p.m. Lunch: Ubusuna House

Enjoy a "delicious meal" prepared by local moms

"Gottsu-o" is a Tokamachi dialect term meaning "feast." At Ubusuna House—a traditional thatched-roof farmhouse over 100 years old that has undergone a REBIRTH through the ceramic artistry of Japan’s leading potters—come and savor dishes made with seasonal ingredients.

Local Cuisine Traditional Japanese House Restaurant Pottery Food and Art

Details

2:30 p.m. Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art

A journey through the stories of memories that fill the now-empty school building

A nostalgic elementary school is transformed into a picture-book world. At an art museum housed in a closed school, artworks created using driftwood and nuts weave a story depicting the adventures of the school’s final students.

Art in Abandoned Schools The World of Picture Books Spatial Picture Books Fun for the Whole Family

Details

3:40 p.m. Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET

Experience a museum dedicated to one-of-a-kind site-specific art

At this art museum, one of the leading institutions in the Echigo-Tsumari region, you can view artworks that engage with the local landscape and others that allow you to experience the passage of time and the changing nature of space. The museum shop offers original products from the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. You may choose to leave the tour here and relax at the adjacent Akashi no Yu hot springs to soothe the fatigue of your journey. *If you wish to leave the group, please let us know at the time of booking. It is a 15-minute walk from the museum to Tokamachi Station.

Contemporary Art Akashi no Yu Museum Shop Site-Specific

Details

5:30 p.m. Arrival at Echigo-Yuzawa Station / End of Tour

Notice

・The itinerary may be changed or canceled due to natural disasters, road conditions, or other circumstances.
・Seats on the bus are assigned. If you are traveling with companions who booked separately, please indicate this when making your Reservation.
・Depending on the artwork, you may need to walk a short distance after getting off the bus. Please wear comfortable shoes that are easy to put on and take off.
・Please bring a hat and drinks on hot days, and rain gear in case of rain.
・Arrival times at the final destination may vary depending on road conditions and other factors. Please make a reservation for your return Shinkansen ticket with plenty of time to spare.

Booking On-line

Summary

Dates	Operating Dates: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from September 19 (Sat) to November 8 (Sun), 2026 *Excluding September 20 (Sun), 22 (Tue), October 4 (Sun), 11 (Sun) and 25 (Sun)
Admission	Tour Price: Adults (high school students and older) 15,500 yen; elementary and junior high school students 12,000 yen; preschoolers 3,000 yen *Includes bus fare, lunch, guide fees, and admission to artworks (including the “Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2026” Common Ticket), plus consumption tax
Deadline	Registration closes at midnight on the day before the event, or as soon as the event reaches capacity.
Origin / Destination	Echigo-Yuzawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
Transportation	Minami-Echigo Sightseeing Bus
Capacity	25 people (minimum number of participants: 1)
Host	Travel Planning and Operation: Niigata Prefecture Governor-Registered Travel Agency No. 2-440; NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization; 3743-1 Matsudai, Tokamachi city, Niigata Prefecture; Full Member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA); 025-761-7749 / officialtour@tsumari-artfield.com
Note	・No tour guide will accompany the group. ・Please review these Terms and Conditions, including the cancellation policy, before participating. NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization Travel Terms and Conditions NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization Standard Travel Agency Terms and Conditions [Inquiries] “Echigo-Tsumari Art Field” General Information Center: 025-761-7767 (9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. / Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) /officialtour@tsumari-artfield.com

Click for details

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”.