 |
| basic
information |
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 and JR East Pass are 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, 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.
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 named a city, Tokamachi is a mainly rural area with a small town as administrative center and several small villages distributed over a large region covered by hills, valleys, forests and rice fields.
The art works of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial are found all across Echigo-Tsumari, some of which in not so easily accessible places. Not surprisingly, public transportation is not very efficient in this rural area of Japan.
How to get around
Because public transportation is inconvenient, private transportation, such as a rental car, motorbike or bicycle, is the recommended means of getting around. Bus tours are held only during festivals.
by rental car
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.
There are rental car outlets in Tokamachi, however, we recommend to book via Tocoo Travel due to their low rates and English reservation interface. The nearest outlet, from which you can rent cars via Tocoo Travel, is in Nagaoka City, a one hour drive north of Tokamachi.
by bus tours
Bus tours in Japanese are operated only during festivals.
by regular bus and train
Regular bus services connect Tokamachi with Tsunan (approx. two buses per hour) and Tokamachi with Matsudai and Matsunoyama (4-6 buses per day). The one day pass for the above mentioned shuttle bus is not valid on the regular buses.
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).
Admission
Outside the festival season, many of the exhibits can be viewed for free, while only a few of them require an admission fee of around 300 to 500 Yen.
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
Any advice or questions? Voice them in the forum!
|
| english
links |
|
| japanese
links |
| 
