{"id":73349,"date":"2020-12-03T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=73349"},"modified":"2020-12-01T20:11:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T11:11:19","slug":"artistic-niigata-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/artistic-niigata-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering The Artistic Side Of Niigata Prefecture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s something surreal about driving through the countryside of southern Niigata Prefecture<\/a><\/strong> and suddenly seeing a giant window \u2014\u00a0complete with curtains blowing in the wind \u2014 pop up along the road. That\u2019s the charm of the region, however. Art intermingles with nature and the everyday.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Niigata is best known in Japan for heavy snowfall in the winter and delicious rice<\/a>, it also houses an array of artwork<\/strong>, from the installations dotting the landscape of Echigo-Tsumari<\/strong> to the flawless steelworks crafted in the Tsubame-Sanjo<\/strong> area. Creativity overflows here, and a trip to this prefecture reveals memorable works almost everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature And Art Come Together In Echigo-Tsumari<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always associated the area around Echigo-Yuzawa Station with heavy snow. It\u2019s home to dozens of ski-and-snowboard rental stores, hotels, and courses devoted to winter activities<\/a>. I\u2019m here in the middle of September \u2014\u00a0when temperatures still resemble the peak of summer \u2014 and driving through feels like I\u2019ve stumbled on a town in reverse hibernation, at least near the main entry point, with snow swapped out for lush green forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet the Echigo-Tsumari region has also become a year-long destination for creativity in the 21st<\/sup> century. Every three years since 2000, it hosts the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial<\/a><\/strong>, a modern art festival highlighting work from creators hailing from all over the world. While the next edition of the Triennial isn\u2019t happening until 2021<\/strong>, installations from previous installments remain standing. I\u2019m lucky enough to be driven around during this visit, which is a must if you want to see all of the art the area has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tunnel Of Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s most striking about the art is how it interacts with Niigata\u2019s natural wonders. On the first morning, I head to the Kiyotsu Gorge<\/strong>, one of Japan’s three biggest valleys. A 750-meter tunnel cuts through the middle of it, and for the 2018 Triennial renowned designers, MAD Architects transformed this passage into the Tunnel Of Light<\/strong>. The path forward is lit by different colored lights while soft music plays, creating a slightly unnerving atmosphere that I want to venture down nonetheless. Along the way, I come across art areas situated next to scenic spots facing the forests and river around the gorge, culminating in a final panoramic view designed to make it feel like nature spreads out infinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n