About the artwork
What Could Be Seen in Akiyama-go During the Edo Period?
*Akiyama Kikō* is a record by Suzuki Boku-shi, a merchant and essayist of the late Edo period, of his week-long journey through Akiyama-go along the Nakatsugawa River in September 1828 (lunar calendar). It documents, through text and illustrations, his observations of the food, clothing, housing, and customs in the gorge and the 13 scattered settlements.This exhibition complements *Before the Shower Comes*, the first project in a series by Isobe based on this source material. Focusing on the first settlement, “Shimizugawara,” it draws on Suzuki Makichi’s writings and illustrations to present, through panels and video, scientific speculations regarding the historical changes in the Nakatsugawa River’s course, its connection to infectious diseases (smallpox), and local meteorology and the water cycle.In particular, the aerial photograph of the Nakatsugawa River covering the entire floor of the gymnasium, combined with Suzuki Makichi’s drawings on the walls, is a spectacular sight. Together with the 2023 work *The Wind of Echigo-Tsumari* (Red Parachute), visitors can experience *Before the Shower Comes* firsthand.
Isobe Yukihisa Memorial Echigo-Tsumari Kiyotsu Soko Museum of Art ［SoKo］
This warehouse museum, housed in the former gymnasium of Kiyotsukyo Elementary School, was conceived around the idea of “displaying while storing.” It connects artworks that have lost their place in the city with vacant local facilities, allowing visitors to experience large-scale contemporary artworks up close. The school building features a Permanent Exhibition of works by Isobe Yukihisa, serving as a hub where visitors can engage with the landscapes and way of life of Echigo-Tsumari through art.
Hours: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays on April 25, 26, and 29, 2026; May 2–6; and July 18–November 8, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (10:00 AM–4:00 PM from October onward)
Phone Number | 025-761-7767 (“Echigo-Tsumari Art Filed” General Information Center)
Admission | Adults: 800 yen, Elementary and Junior High School Students: 400 yen *ETAT Passports and Common Tickets may be available depending on the period
Address | 1528-2 Kakuma-sue, Tokamachi city
Information and Map
| Artwork no. | N088 |
|---|---|
| Production year | 2024 |
| Opening hours | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (until 4:00 PM in October and November) |
| Admission | [Kiyotsu Soko Museum of Art Admission Fees] Adults: 800 yen, Elementary and Junior High School Students: 400 yen *Depending on the period, ETAT Passport and Common Tickets may be available for purchase. |
| Closed | Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except holidays); winter season |
| Area | Nakasato |
| Village | Kakuma |
| Open dates | April 25, 26, and 29, 2026; May 2–6; and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from July 18 to November 8, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. starting in October) |
| Venue | 1528-2 Kakuma-mi, Tokamachi city, Former Kiyotsukyo Elementary School |
Articles
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