Japanese cultural creativity: The world's largest art festival kicks off

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 

The triennial world’s largest international art festival, “Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale,” runs from July 26 to September 13, gathering renowned domestic and international artists. The artworks blend nature and art to create a brand-new landscape, transforming the entire Echigo-Tsumari region into a massive open-air art exhibition space.

Located in the Echigo-Tsumari region of Niigata Prefecture, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale has been held since2000and uses76,000hectares of green space as the stage for showcasing artworks. The original intention was to revitalize the Echigo-Tsumari area, which was facing aging and decreasing population, through this event. On the other hand, artists aimed to express the idea that “humans are part of nature” by integrating their works with the land, hoping to raise awareness about the core value of coexistence between humans and nature. Initially, local farmers were skeptical about the event, even seeing it as a nuisance. However, starting from2012, the concept and scale of the event gained popularity, attracting more and more visitors and artists. This also led local residents to open up their hearts—from resistance to participation—experiencing the beauty of art together and feeling an indescribable sense of achievement in seeing their own creations.2015The “Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale” will enter its sixth edition in7, taking place from26to9,13. Approximately380artworks will be exhibited, including around200pieces created during previous editions of the festival.

The Echigo-Tsumari venue is located in the southern part of Niigata Prefecture in central-northern Japan. Visitors can take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, then transfer to theHokuhokuLine and get off at Tosu Station. For those coming from other major cities, they can fly to Niigata Airport and then take a highway bus to Tosu. Due to the vast area, many visitors choose to drive to enjoy the artworks, but for those without a car, the organizers also provide bicycles for rent.