Explore · Yuzawa Uonuma & Echigo-Tsumari

Art in the fields.
Snow on the hills.

Some days call for a gallery. Others for skis. In Yuzawa Uonuma, you can follow art through villages and rice fields, or spend a winter day on the slopes. There is a hot spring waiting when you come home. We find that helps with almost any itinerary.

Find your day out ↓

Your base: 10 Stories Stay Yuzawa Uonuma

Echigo-Tsumari’s artworks are spread across a wide rural area. Choose a few nearby works for each day instead of trying to see the whole map. In winter, choose a ski resort first and arrange the journey there. Art tickets, activities, equipment and transport are separate from your stay.

Art & countryside · Give it more than a day

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field

Art appears in former schools, rice fields and villages across Tokamachi and Tsunan. The landscape is part of the experience. Start with the official map and choose a small cluster; racing between every pin would rather miss the point.

From our base: Plan your route from our Kabanosawa base. A rental car is useful for scattered works. Without one, look at official tours and travel to their specified meeting point independently.
When to go: Many works open in the green season; winter programmes and the triennial festival have separate dates.

Official guide · English

Art & landscape · Look twice

Kiyotsu Gorge: Tunnel of Light

Ma Yansong / MAD Architects turn a gorge-viewing tunnel into an artwork of light, reflections and changing perspectives. The landscape does much of the talking. Give yourself time to walk through, rather than visiting only for the final photograph.

From our base: Reach the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel entrance in Tokamachi by rental car or prearranged transport from our base. Check date-specific admission and reservation requirements before travelling.
When to go: Usually open across the seasons, with possible closures due to snow or other conditions.

Official guide · English

Art · Start with a museum

MonET, Tokamachi

A strong first stop for Echigo-Tsumari: contemporary works that play with space, perception and the surrounding region. Start inside, compare impressions over coffee, then decide which rural works to visit next. Disagreeing about art is an excellent use of an afternoon.

From our base: In Tokamachi city, reachable by rental car. For a rail visit, plan connections to Tokamachi Station and the onward walk using the official access information.
When to go: Check the museum calendar for closed days, exhibitions and seasonal opening arrangements.

Official guide · English

Art & satoyama · Out into the landscape

Matsudai Nohbutai

Contemporary art meets the working countryside around Matsudai. Follow the relationship between rice fields, village life and the art placed among them. Leave room for a walk, not just a quick look inside a building.

From our base: Plan a rental-car route, or rail connections to Matsudai Station on the Hokuhoku Line. The centre is by the station; outdoor works extend into the surrounding landscape.
When to go: Indoor and outdoor access differ by season. Check the current opening calendar and trail conditions.

Official guide · English

Ski & snowboard · Close to our base

Joetsu Kokusai

A nearby option for a winter day on the slopes, with a range of terrain across the resort. Choose the right area for your ability and check the lift map before setting off. The return to a hot spring is a particularly persuasive final run.

From our base: The resort is in our Kabanosawa neighbourhood. Choose the entrance and rental or lesson meeting point first; snow can make walking with equipment difficult. We are not a ski-in, ski-out property.
When to go: Winter; lifts, courses and operating dates depend on snow and weather.

Official resort site · Japanese

Ski & snowboard · Another mountain day

Maiko Snow Resort

Add Maiko to the shortlist if you are staying for several ski days. Compare terrain, equipment hire and lessons with the other resorts before deciding. A different mountain tomorrow is one of the pleasures of having a base.

From our base: Use a rental car or arrange transport from the property. Resort shuttles, if offered, use specified stations and seasonal timetables; do not assume a pickup at Stay.
When to go: Winter; check current opening dates and daily mountain conditions.

Official resort site · Japanese

Ski & snowboard · Views across the valley

Ishiuchi Maruyama

For another winter outing, look at Ishiuchi Maruyama's slopes and valley views. Its English site is useful for planning tickets, rental and the day’s conditions. In warmer months, check the separate terrace programme rather than turning up expecting ski lifts.

From our base: Drive or arrange transport from our base. Use the resort’s current access guide for entrance locations and any station shuttles.
When to go: Winter skiing; green-season terrace operation follows a separate schedule.

Official guide · English

Art day, ski day, soak day

For an art day: choose a Tokamachi or Matsudai cluster after checking the opening calendar. A rental car gives flexibility; official tours can suit visitors without one.
For a winter day: Joetsu Kokusai is close to our neighbourhood, with Maiko and Ishiuchi Maruyama offering other options by car or arranged transport.
For the evening: a hot spring and a good local meal. This part requires less ambition.

A good day deserves a good base.

Come home to Yuzawa Uonuma.

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