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A person standing in a river with rocky cliffs on either side. 1
A person standing in a canyon with rocky cliffs and greenery. 2
A person walking down a corridor with wooden floors and metal walls, illuminated by overhead lights. 3
A person standing in front of a chalkboard with writing, a wooden table, and a green floor. 4
A natural setting with a small structure, possibly a restroom, surrounded by dense greenery and trees. 5
By Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)
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Overview

  • Explore the scenic Echigo-Tsumari Art Field and the renowned Tunnel of Light at Kiyotsu Gorge on this engaging one-day tour. Begin your journey from Nagano Station or two meeting points in Nozawa Onsen, then travel to contemporary art installations like The Last Classroom and the Matsudai Nohbutai, and enjoy a locally sourced lunch at a unique restaurant. The tour culminates in the stunning Kiyotsu Gorge, where you can capture breathtaking reflections of nature. Perfect for art lovers and nature enthusiasts alike, this guided tour promises a memorable day.

    • Visit the immersive installation “The Last Classroom” in a repurposed abandoned school.
    • Explore outdoor art by famous artists at Matsudai Nohbutai and enjoy locally sourced cuisine.
    • Discover contemporary exhibits that will make you contemplate and wonder at MonET, the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari.
    • Walk through the scenic Tunnel of Light at Kiyotsu Gorge's that integrates into nature for stunning photo opportunities.

Activity location

  • The Last Class
    • 192 Fujikura Matsunoyama, Old Hiashikawa Elementary School
    • 942-1429, Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Chuo Terminal
    • 豊郷
    • 389-2502, 野沢温泉村, 長野県, Japan

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

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What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Transport from Nagano Station and Nozawa Onsen between the listed activities and attractions.
  • Inclusions
    Entrance fees to "The Last Classroom," Matsudai Nohbutai, MonET, and the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel of Light.
  • Exclusions
    Lunch
  • Exclusions
    Snacks

Know before you book

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transport options are available nearby
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Due to the extreme popularity of the "Tunnel of Light" at Kiyotsu Gorge, visitors may experience significant wait times to take photographs at the final Panorama Station (Water Mirror), particularly during weekends or peak seasons. We ask for your patience and cooperation in managing your free time to ensure the group departs on schedule.
    • This tour involves a moderate amount of walking. The Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel of Light is a flat but lengthy 1.5-kilometer return walk. Additionally, exploring the outdoor installations at Matsudai Nohbutai involves walking on unpaved or grassy surfaces. Please ensure you wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
    • Sensory & Accessibility Warning: "The Last Classroom" installation is kept in near-complete darkness, features uneven floors covered in thick hay, and utilises loud, rhythmic sound effects (heartbeats). It may not be suitable for travellers with extreme visual/mobility impairments or heavy sensory sensitivities. Should you have any concerns about your ability to experience this specific installation, please contact us prior to booking.
    • This tour uses private vehicle transport. Tours can be conducted by microbus or a larger coach depending on the season and the size of the group.
    • A large portion of this tour is conducted outdoors in Niigata's "Snow Country," which experiences heavy snowfall in winter and high humidity in summer. Please wear clothing suitable for the season and changing mountain weather.
    • This tour is scheduled to conclude at Nozawa Onsen by 17:45 and Nagano Station by 18:40. However, due to traffic or weather conditions, we cannot guarantee the exact end time. For guests booking Shinkansen or onward train tickets to travel to Tokyo or other destinations after the tour, we strongly recommend booking services from Nagano Station for 19:15 or later.
    • Lunch is not included in the tour price. Guests will have a dedicated lunch break at the Echigo Matsudai Satoyama Shokudo (inside Matsudai Nohbutai), where they can purchase their own meals or local specialities.
    • Please note, there may be possible changes in the itinerary or included experiences due to local events, weather, sudden closures (particularly for outdoor art in heavy snow), or other unforeseeable factors.

Activity itinerary

The Last Class

  • 45m
  • Admission ticket included
The first stop is that of a revitalised rural primary school, home to one of the most emotionally resonant permanent installations in the region, "The Last Classroom," which aims to bring some life back to this countryside area: The Canvas: This immersive artwork takes place inside the former Higashikawa Elementary School, a space left empty due to the region's extreme depopulation. The Experience: Created by French artists Christian Boltanski and Jean Kalman, the entirely blacked-out space guides you through the old gymnasium and classrooms using only the dim glow of bare incandescent bulbs. The Sensory Impact: The crunch of hay underfoot, the scent of the earth, and the rhythmic sound of human heartbeats echoing through the halls create a deeply moving meditation on the memories of the people who once brought the space to life.

Matsudai Nohbutai Center / MVRDV

  • 1h 25m
  • Admission ticket included
A short drive brings us to Matsudai Nohbutai, a stunning architectural hub suspended on pillars to withstand heavy winter snows, acting as a bridge between high-end modern art and traditional farming life. The Art: Before lunch, you will have time to freely walk the surrounding grounds to discover various outdoor field exhibits. A vibrant standout is Yayoi Kusama’s giant, polka-dotted floral sculpture, "Tsumari in Bloom," which bursts with colour against the rural landscape. You will also view Ilya and Emilia Kabakov’s "The Rice Field," a striking sculptural installation of farmers that aligns perfectly with the actual working agricultural terraces on the hillside opposite the viewing deck. There are many other installations that have quirky art throughout the area, so feel free to take a walk around! We will also spend time for lunch at a unique restaurant in this area. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, MonET

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Following lunch, we head into Tokamachi City to explore MonET (the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari). Housed in a massive, striking square structure designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, you will discover major permanent works like Leandro Erlich’s optical illusion "Palimpsest: Pond of Sky." The facility also hosts rotating, cutting-edge contemporary exhibits that bring a refined, modern gallery contrast to the rural art experienced earlier in the day that can truly leave you in contemplation and in awe of its ingenuity.

Kiyotsu Gorge

  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
For our final destination, we drive to one of Japan's three great gorges, Kiyotsu Gorge, known for the "Tunnel of Light". Here, the sheer, hexagonal columnar basalt cliffs are safely viewed via a 750-meter pedestrian tunnel bored directly through the mountain. This is one of the most sought-after picture destinations in Japan! In 2018, MAD Architects transformed this dark corridor into the "Tunnel of Light." As you walk the 750-meter passage, you will experience a journey through elemental installations of wood, earth, metal, and fire. At the end of the tunnel, the cavern opens to the gorge's "Panorama Station." Here, a shallow pool of mountain spring water creates a flawless, mirror-like reflection of the canyon and sky.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    The Last Class
    • 192 Fujikura Matsunoyama, Old Hiashikawa Elementary School
    • 942-1429, Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Chuo Terminal
    • 豊郷
    • 389-2502, 野沢温泉村, 長野県, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Nozawa Grand Hotel
    • 8888 Toyosato
    • 389-2502, Nozawaonsen, Nagano, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Nagano Station
    • Kurita
    • 380-0921, Nagano, Nagano, Japan

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