The Journey to Creating an Official Tour That Showcases the Charm of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Field operates Official Tours year-round.
One of the core concepts of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is “exploring the satoyama landscape with art as your guide.” For those without a car, those unfamiliar with the area, and visitors from overseas, touring the various artworks can be quite a challenge. We organize these Official Tours with the hope that everyone—no matter who they are—will be able to enjoy the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field to the fullest, and that through these Tours, they’ll become fans of the Echigo-Tsumari region.

From Special Exhibitions and programs to the satoyama landscape that changes with the seasons and delicious meals made with seasonal ingredients, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field offers plenty to see even outside the Triennale period. We create itineraries while carefully considering various factors: Do tour participants have enough time to fully appreciate the art? Are there any unnecessary detours in the bus route? Will they be able to visit the venues within their opening hours?

Once the itinerary is finalized, we contact the bus company and the venues that display artwork. We collaborate with local companies to ensure the tour runs smoothly not only for the participants but also for the venue staff and bus crew. Whenever the first tour of the season departs, I’m always on the edge of my seat until the bus returns to the starting point, hoping it will finish without any major issues.

One of the appeals of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Official Tour is the guidance provided by Official Guides. The “Kohebi Corps” makes up the majority of these Official Guides. Since the members of the Kohebi Corps come from a variety of backgrounds, the topics they cover are just as diverse. The stories told by these unique guides are what give the Official Tour its distinctive character.

That said, they must still possess a basic understanding of the festival, including explanations of the artworks and the history of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. Once a month, we hold a training session for Official Guides where everyone studies together. The main topics include lectures on the artworks and the local area, sharing knowledge useful for guiding, and reviewing the Official Tours while exchanging opinions. Everyone is so enthusiastic that the sessions often run past the scheduled end time.

Of course, there are times when I serve as an Official Guide and lead tour participants myself. In the beginning, I was so nervous and lacked knowledge that I couldn’t say a word, and I received harsh feedback from guests. Even now, after every tour, I reflect on my performance as a guide. At the guide training sessions I mentioned earlier, I also learn a great deal myself about the local area, the artworks, and how to lead tours.

It makes me very happy and gives me a real sense of fulfillment when participants tell me, “Thank you” or “I had a great time.” Recently, we’ve seen an increase in participants from overseas. My current challenge is figuring out how to ensure that international visitors who aren’t familiar with Japanese can also enjoy the Official Tour.

We will continue to offer these Official Tours, constantly refining our itineraries and guiding methods so that participants can discover the charms of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field and the Echigo-Tsumari region.

Staff of the NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization
Masafumi Suzuki