|
How to travel between Echigo-Tsumari and Tokyo
The transportation hub of Echigo-Tsumari is Tokamachi.
Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa Station. From Echigo-Yuzawa, take the Hakutaka limited express to Tokamachi Station. Note that not all trains stop at Tokamachi. The one way journey takes less than two hours and costs around 8000 yen.
Note that the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on the Hakutaka limited express train, because the train is partially using non-JR tracks. Pass holders will have to pay a supplement fee of about 1500 yen on the Hakutaka limited express between Echigo-Yuzawa and Tokamachi.
To save a few yen, Japan Rail Pass holders could also take local trains along the JR Joetsu Line from Echigo-Yuzawa to Muikamachi and then along the Hoku Hoku Line to Tokamachi. Some trains are direct. The supplement fee for the non-JR section between Muikamachi and Tokamachi is only 290 yen, but travel time will be increased by at least 30 minutes.
Unlike the Japan Rail Pass, the JR East Pass is valid on Hakutaka limited express trains.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
Echigo-Tsumari is the name of a rural region in Niigata Prefecture, covering the two municipalities of Tokamachi City and Tsunan Village. The city of Tokamachi, the towns of Kawanishi, Matsudai and Matsunoyama and the village of Nakasato merged into Tokamachi City in 2005.
Despite being classified as a city, Tokamachi is a mainly rural region with a small town as administrative center and several villages and hamlets scattered across a large area covered by hills, valleys, forests and rice fields.
The more than 300 art works are found all across Echigo-Tsumari. Some are easily accessible in the town centers, while others stand in remote places that are time-consuming to access. Because of the large number of art works and the size of the region, at least two days are necessary to see just the highlights, while about four days would be required to see most of the exhibits.
How to get around
Not surprisingly, public transportation is not very efficient in this rural area of Japan.
By rental car
Because public transportation is complicated and inconvenient, the best way to get around the Echigo-Tsumari area is by rental car. A rental car gives you the greatest flexibility and access to the many art objects, which are difficult or impossible to access by public transportation or bus tours.
Toyota Rentacar has a car rental outlet next to Tokamachi Station, while more outlets by various rental car companies are found in Nagaoka City, a one hour drive north of Tokamachi and around Echigo-Yuzawa Station, a one hour drive south of Tokamachi.
By rental bicycle/scooter
Bicycles and scooters can be rented at Tokamachi Station, at the Tokamachi Kinare and at the Matsudai Furusato Kaikan. The cost per day (from 9:00 to 17:00) is 500 yen for bicycles and 3150 yen for scooters.
By bus tours
Various guided full-day and half-day bus tours in Japanese are operated during the triennial, departing from Nagaoka, Echigo-Yuzawa, Tokamachi and Matsudai Stations. Reservations should be made in advance, but if there are vacancies left, it is also possible to join a tour without prior reservation. Full-day tours typically cost 5800 yen per person, including lunch, but excluding a passport.
By shuttle buses
Only on weekends during the triennial, one shuttle bus line operates from Tokamachi Station and two shuttle bus lines operate from Matsudai Station to surrounding art works. On each line, buses depart every 30-60 minutes. A one day pass costs 2000 yen for one area (Tokamachi or Matsudai) or 3000 yen for both areas.
By regular bus and train
In addition to the shuttle bus lines, there are a few regular bus services, including lines between Tokamachi and Tsunan (approx. two buses per hour), between Tokamachi and the Kawanishi area (7-11 buses per day) and between Tokamachi, Matsudai and Matsunoyama (6-7 buses per day). On most other lines, however, buses are too infrequent to be a practical means of getting around.
Local trains connect Tokamachi with Matsudai approximately once per hour along the Hoku Hoku Line (not covered by Japan Rail Pass), while trains along the JR Iiyama Line operate about once every two to three hours (covered by Japan Rail Pass).
On foot
Due to the size of the area, most visitors will not find it practical to do the exploring on foot. Several art works, however, can be visited relatively easily on foot from the region's major train station, Tokamachi and Matsudai. Especially the area around the No Butai near Matsudai Station offers a high concentration of art works, that can be easily visited on foot.
Admission
A passport for admission to all of the triennial's art works costs 3500 yen and is valid during the triennial's entire duration. The passport can be purchased at information centers across the region, including Tokamachi Station, Tokamachi Kinare and the No Butai in Matsudai.
Accommodation
Some art works, like the Dream House and the House of Light serve as accommodation and guarantee a special overnight experience. Advance reservations are mandatory.
A few regular hotels and ryokan can be found in central Tokamachi, Matsunoyama Onsen and other towns. The official festival website provides some listings:
http://www.echigo-tsumari.jp/eng/walk/tomaru.html
| 
