Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum

One of the world’s largest regional art festivals

Nearby Ryokans

About Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum

Located in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, Museum on Echigo-Tsumari (MonET) serves as the central hub of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT), one of the world’s largest regional art festivals. It was originally built in 2003 as the Echigo-Tsumari Exchange Center “Kinare” and was transformed into a contemporary art museum in 2012.

Designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, the building features concrete corridors and large glass windows that create an open, airy atmosphere. In the courtyard lies a large reflecting pool by Argentine artist Leandro Erlich, where the building and sky appear mirrored on the water’s surface, forming a mysterious and mesmerizing space.

The museum houses around 15 permanent installations by internationally renowned artists such as Yusuke Asai, Leandro Erlich, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, and Kohei Nawa. Based on the festival’s core concept that “humans are part of nature,” many of the works draw inspiration from the region’s landscape and culture—featuring murals made of soil and plants, or installations that reconstruct traditional houses—offering visitors an immersive experience of satoyama (rural landscape) life.

While the Echigo-Tsumari region has faced challenges such as depopulation and aging, the art festival has brought visitors from around the world, making it a notable model for regional revitalization through art.

On the second floor, visitors can find a popular photo spot where the mirrored water surface and architecture overlap, allowing them to experience the museum itself as an art piece.

Main Spot of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale

The Museum on Echigo-Tsumari (MonET) is renowned for its distinctive and imaginative architectural design. The building is a 72-meter-square structure with an open courtyard at its center. In this courtyard lies a large reflecting pool that mirrors the surrounding architecture like a sheet of glass. When viewed from the second-floor corridor, the reflection and the real building overlap, creating a surreal and photogenic scene. This installation itself is “Palimpsest: Pond of Sky” by Leandro Erlich. In this way, the museum itself becomes a work of art that delights every visitor.

The area is furnished with wooden tables and filled with warmth and openness, creating a comfortable space where visitors can relax and connect.

The community space on the first floor was designed under the supervision of Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., the company behind MUJI.

越後妻有里山現代美術館の見どころ

How to Enjoy Your Visit

Thanks to its convenient access from Tokyo, a day trip to Echigo-Tsumari is easy to plan. In about two hours, you can reach Tokamachi by taking the JR Joetsu Shinkansen and transferring to the Hokuhoku Line. From Tokamachi Station, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the museum.

Start your visit by viewing the reflecting pool from the second-floor corridor and admiring the surreal overlap of water and architecture. After taking in the permanent installations, take a short break in the community café, where you can enjoy seasonal galettes and fresh smoothies made with local ingredients.

At the museum shop, you’ll find a wide range of items—from goods inspired by the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale artworks to local rice, sake, and sweets made with regional produce—perfect as souvenirs of your trip.

Within the same complex, you can also unwind at Akashi no Yu, a hot spring facility connected to the museum. It offers a relaxing open-air atmosphere along with both dry and steam saunas, which alternate daily between men’s and women’s sides. Essential amenities such as towels, shampoo, and conditioner are provided, and baby baths and beds are available, making it a comfortable stop for families. There’s also a café and shop open to non-bathing guests, serving local dishes like gapao rice, regional sausages, and pickled vegetables, as well as drinks including Tsumari Beer and even a unique “snow-stored carrot” soft-serve ice cream.

In the afternoon, consider exploring another site within the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. About 30 minutes away by car lies the stunning Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel – Tunnel of Light. Stretching about 750 meters through the cliffs, this walkway lets you experience the powerful V-shaped gorge up close. Redesigned for the 2018 Triennale with the theme of the five elements, the tunnel features several viewing halls—the most famous being the Light Cave, where stainless steel panels and a mirror-like pool reflect the gorge and forest in mesmerizing symmetry. Depending on the season, you can enjoy lush greenery, vibrant autumn leaves, or a tranquil snowy landscape.

Stepping away from the city and immersing yourself in art scattered across the satoyama (rural landscape) offers a fresh way to see the world from a new perspective—an inspiring travel style that blends art, nature, and reflection.

Basic Information

Spot: MonET／Museum on Echigo‑Tsumari

Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM) *Hours may be shortened during the winter.

Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except on national holidays), and during the New Year holidays

Prices:

– Permanent exhibition: ¥1,000 for adults, ¥500 for elementary and junior high school students

– Special exhibitions (including permanent exhibitions): ¥1,200 for adults, ¥600 for elementary and junior high school students

Group discounts available.

Official Website：https://www.echigo-tsumari.jp/travelinformation/monet/

Parking: Approximately 360 parking spaces for standard cars and space for large buses.

Notes:

– Admission fees apply to use the on-site shops and cafes.

Access　

Address: 6-1-71-2 Honcho, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture

By Train: From Tokyo, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen and transfer to the Hokuhoku Line — about 2 hours to Tokamachi Station.
From Kanazawa, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen — about 2.5 hours. The museum is a 10-minute walk from Tokamachi Station.

By Car: From Tokyo, it takes 3–4 hours via the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
From Osaka, it takes about 6 hours via the Hokuriku Expressway.
From the city center, the museum is approximately 10 minutes away.

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