Echigo-Tsumari in the snow, a relaxing train tour
A train trip to Echigo-Tsumari, completely covered with snow. Enjoy the taste of winter and art in a relaxing one-day trip.
7:48
Departure from Tokyo Station
Approx. 2.5 hours
Take JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station → Transfer to Hokuetsu Kyuko Hokuhoku Line to Matsudai Station (*Need to transfer at Muikamachi Station on the way depending on time)
10:01
Arrive at Matsudai Station
2 min.
Directly connected to the station
10:03
Unique architecture, diverse artworks, and lunch in an art space.
Matsudai NOHBUTAI
The Matsudai area is overwhelmed by snowy scenery as far as the eye can see. The Matsudai NOHBUTAI, a facility directly connected to Matsudai Station and accessible without getting wet from the snow, is a unique architectural work by MVRDV. Inside the building, visitors can enjoy the works of Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, the artwork “Blackboard Classroom” where visitors can doodle all over the room, playful restrooms, a restaurant that is also a work of art, a museum store, and more.
Echigo-Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo (*Buffet available only on weekends and holidays)
At Echigo Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo, you can enjoy popular menus arranged with local cuisine. Please enjoy the delicious food full of the bounty of the satoyama. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, you can enjoy the very popular buffet. Cheese fondue is also available during the winter season. If you are tired from touring the artworks, take a break with a warm drink and a sweet treat that changes with the seasons.
Matsudai History Museum
The Matsudai History Museum is a stately building unique to the area of heavy snowfall, with the hearth, tatami room, and tea room remaining as they were in those days. You can also see the rooms of the live-in maids and men who worked there, old tools, bathhouse, and kitchen. With the addition of Obana Kenichi's works, visitors can not only learn about the area through cartoon, but also meet about 20 cute monster lurking in the museum! Don't miss the school handouts from the Showa era, when dialect was regulated. Whether you are chatting with the locals around the fireplace or looking for the monster sneaking a peek, this facility filled with local culture is recommended for many ways to enjoy yourself.
2 min.
13:38
Matsudai Station
10 min.
Hokuetsu Kyuko Hokuhoku Line
13:48
Arrive at Tokamachi Station
15 min.
Warm clothes & non-slip shoes are must-haves
14:00
Enjoy not only art but also souvenirs, hot springs, and a roadside station at the museum representing the Art Festival.
Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET
the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari (MonET), is the base facility and gateway to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. Designed by leading Japanese architects Hara Hiroshi, it is a beautiful square museum surrounded by a pond in the center. In winter, the pond area becomes a plain of snow, and the museum holds special exhibitions using snow. 2021 will see a major renovation, and visitors will be welcomed by spectacular works by Nawa Kohei, 目[mé], Kuwakubo Ryota, Leandro Erlich, Nakatani Michiko, and others. A museum store and a hot spring bath are also located here, so you can spend a relaxing time. At the entrance of the hot spring, there are artworks for children to enjoy. Local specialties can be purchased at the adjacent roadside station.
15 min.
To Tokamachi Station
16:55
Departure from Tokamachi Station
Approx. 2.5 hours
Transfer to JR Joetsu Shinkansen at Echigo-Yuzawa Station
Notice
*Train times are examples. Trains run at other times as well, but there may be delays or cancellations due to schedule changes or snow. Please check the train route search application before coming.
*Please note that the dates of winter exhibitions at each facility vary from year to year. Please check the event page of our website for the latest information.
Summary
| Dates | Around December to March *Dates of winter exhibitions vary from year to year. Please refer to the event page for details. |
|---|---|
| Origin / Destination | Tokyo (via Echigo-Yuzawa Station)/Tokyo (via Echigo-Yuzawa Station) |
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”.
