The first stop on our trip is the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, which has remained a popular attraction ever since it opened. Kiyotsukyo, one of Japan’s three great gorges, was shaped by 16 million years of geological history. Inside the 750-meter-long tunnel, you can admire the fusion of the gorge’s natural beauty and art. The breathtaking natural scenery, which changes with the seasons, is also a must-see.

This artwork explores the relationship between nature, humanity, and technology. The artist has positioned this artwork as a “turning point” for reflecting on how contemporary society should engage with nature. Situated along an axis that runs from rice paddies to a river and on to a Shinto shrine, this artwork creates a new landscape through the coexistence of the satoyama landscape and man-made elements. As visitors walk around the artwork, they can reflect on the unique relationship between nature and art in Echigo-Tsumari, as well as the future relationship between humanity and nature.

A theatrical restaurant where a group of local women—known as “Onnashō”—cheerfully and playfully serve dishes made with seasonal ingredients from Tsunan in a theatrical style. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind lunch experience that combines food and theater, and let the women’s smiles warm your heart. *Reservations required.
[Concept & Cuisine] EAT&ART TARO
[Script & Direction] Hara Rintaro + Hara Yu　

Located in the Echigo-Tsumari region, this facility—housed in the former Kamigo Junior High School, a relatively new abandoned school building—is evolving into a comprehensive complex that makes the most of the building’s unique atmosphere. In addition to a temporary theater created by renovating the gymnasium, it also features artwork exhibitions, a restaurant, and artist-in-residence spaces.

The character “艹” in the title is pronounced “kusa” and is a radical representing plants and flowers; “田” represents land, and “人” represents people. The character’s form resembles the movement of a needle, symbolizing how people connect humanity and nature through needlework. Hong Kong, teeming with hustle and bustle, and Tsunan town, enveloped in tranquility—these two distant lands each possess distinct climates, landscapes, and rhythms of life.Centering on the “人” radical, the artist traveled between these two places, gathering 49 stories that delicately reflect the land, memories, and daily life. Through the art of embroidery, the artist has woven a collective memory that transcends regional boundaries, allowing the city and the mountain village to converse and intertwining the past with the present.Furthermore, the artwork uses the plants and trees of the mountains and fields as a medium to transform the breath of nature—often overlooked in daily life—into an art installation, guiding viewers toward a sense of resonance through the dialogue between people and nature. As you quietly contemplate the yukata, shirts, indigo-dyed silk-linen fabrics, and plant installations within the artwork, perhaps the landscapes and stories within your own memories will be revived.

The former Tsunan Elementary School Oakasawa Branch, which closed in 2021, has been transformed into a facility where people can learn life skills through art. We will be carrying out initiatives to learn and practice the skills and beliefs associated with communal lands together with a diverse group of people, including residents, researchers, and artists.

The windows, which reflect scenery that changes with the seasons, instill in viewers a sense of wonder at the natural beauty of Echigo-Tsumari. The curtains, whose movement varies with the weather, evoke the feeling of sunlight and a gentle breeze. Standing as if to blend seamlessly with nature, these windows invite people to experience the breathtaking scenery of Echigo-Tsumari.

A vast field of buckwheat. At the end of a path lined with wildflowers, a ladder rises high toward the sky.From this spot, one can overlook the Miyanaka Dam, whose construction began during the Taisho era. Nearby stands a memorial to those who lost their lives during its construction. With the cooperation of local residents, a corner of the Kohara settlement—which had been overgrown with weeds and vegetation—was restored. The flower-lined path was created in collaboration with workshop participants. Following “For Lots of Lost Windows,” this installation presents an invisible world.