Held every three years in rural Niigata, Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is touted as the world’s largest outdoor art exhibition. Since its inaugural event in 2000, the large-scale art festival has since accumulated 200 permanent installations – all scattered across the prefecture – by local and international artists the likes of Yayoi Kusama, Leandro Erlich, Kohei Nawa and James Turrell, to name a few.
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Celebrating 24 years since its establishment, this ninth edition of Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is set to be bigger than ever, with events and exhibitions set to run from July 13 to November 10 2024.
Stunning pieces from the world’s leading artists against a backdrop of breathtaking natural landscapes
With an emphasis on harnessing the nature and surrounding landscapes of the Echigo-Tsumari region, most of the installations and artworks for the festival are exhibited outdoors. Examples include Leandro Erlich's 'Palimpsest: pond of sky' piece found in the inner courtyard of the MonET (Museum on Echigo-Tsumari), as well as the 2018 piece ‘Tunnel of Light’, where MAD Architects transformed the old Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel into an iconic contemporary landmark.
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Another famous project that sprang from the initiative, is James Turrell’s ‘House of Light’, which was purpose-built for the inaugural edition of the Triennale in 2000. Specifically designed for the Echigo Tsumari region by the artist, this house fuses traditional Japanese architecture and tatami mat rooms with Turrell’s signature use of light and colour. It's one of the precious few exhibition spaces in Japan that also serves as a guest house that visitors can spend a night in.
You can visit for a day trip but you’ll want to stay longer
In theory, some of the installations can be visited on a day trip from Tokyo. The Echigo Tsumari Art Field website outlines a suggested itinerary that involves taking a train from Tokyo to Niigata just before 8am and returning at 8.30pm, after touring some of the region’s most revered projects including the Matsudai Nohbutai art field (where you'll find the vibrant Yayoi Kusama sculpture pictured at the top).
In practice, however, anyone visiting the area should plan to spend several days in the region if they can afford to go for longer than a weekend. The installations belonging to the initiative are scattered across several districts within the prefecture: Tokamachi, Tsunan, Nakasato, Kawanishi, Matsudai and Matsunoyama.
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For perspective, it takes about two hours to drive from the southern region of Tsunan to the northern area of Kawanishi. This is all part of the festival’s design: conceptualised as a way to bring more attention to little-known pastoral corners of Niigata, visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and unique landscapes of the region that range from terraced rice paddies to picturesque gorges.
Book your passport before early July for advance rates
Early bird passports – which grant multi-access to a list of pre-determined venues – are now available for purchase online until July 12. They cost ¥3,500 for adults and ¥1,000 for university students or younger. Alternatively, you can opt to pay a separate admission fee for each site you visit.
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The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale will run from July 13 to November 10 2024. For more information, visit the art festival’s website.
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