Things to do during summer in snow country: appreciate outdoor art

Something I love about living in Niigata is that it's a prefecture that punches well above its weight when it comes to its art scene. There's nothing more evident of that than the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale, an event that takes place every three years in the countryside of the prefecture. 

The event was on last year (2024), but even when it's not an official triennale year, many of the displays are permanent around the Tokamachi area and beyond. I would highly encourage anyone visiting this part of Japan during summer to seek some of them out. Along with being really cool displays, it also helps revitalize our regional areas if you shop here, grab lunch at a restaurant, and so on.

You can learn more about the area and check out recommended routes on the Echigo Tsumari website here: https://www.echigo-tsumari.jp/en/visit/