Hidden Gems:Art & Nature

8 hours 15 minutes (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: Japanese and 2 more

Echigo-Yuzawa is a nature-rich destination just one hour from Tokyo. It can be a bit inconvenient to explore without a car, so we’ll make the most of your time with a guided tour by car.
At Kiyotsu Gorge, you can admire the majestic rock walls and crystal-clear streams, enjoying a magical, artistic space where the gorge’s scenery is reflected on the water’s surface.
Ryugakubo is a mystical lake where you can drink delicious spring water.We’ll have lunch at “Matsushiro Satoyama Shokudo.” The blue-toned interior creates an artistic atmosphere. Please enjoy local cuisine with a modern twist.After lunch, we’ll visit nearby art installations.
Next, at Hoshitoge’s terraced rice fields, approximately 200 paddies of various sizes spread across the slopes like fish scales.
Bijin-bayashi features beautiful beech trees. It is home to many wild birds.
I'll explain using a translation app.
Cover photo: “Tunnel of Light” by Ma Jansson (MAD Architects), photo by Osamu Nakamura

What's Included

Private transportation
Admission fees for Kiyotsu Gorge and the art museum
Meal costs are the responsibility of each individual.

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

I’ll be standing at the rotary by the west exit of Echigo-Yuzawa Station holding a sign with your name on it.

OR
Meeting point

I’ll be standing at the rotary by the west exit of Echigo-Yuzawa Station holding a sign with your name on it.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 8 hours 15 minutes (approximately)
  • 1

    A guide will show you around kiyotsu Gorge.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 2

    This area is a marsh where water that has taken many years to seep through the snow-covered slopes of Mt. Naeba has emerged as a spring. Covered in beech and cedar trees, it has a mystical atmosphere and is home to numerous legends of dragon deities. Thanks to its delicious water quality and abundant flow, it has been designated as one of the “100 Famous Waters of Japan.” The spring water is safe to drink. (In case of rain, we will visit the Echigo Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art (MonET). This is a hub for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, where you can view works by world-renowned artists.)

    30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 3

    You can enjoy a meal at the Matsudai Nohbutai Satoyama Shokudo. You can also view artworks at the small art museum.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 4

    Approximately 200 rice paddies of various sizes spread across the slopes like fish scales, displaying a rich variety of scenery depending on the season. During the peak season, when sea of clouds form and the water mirrors shimmer, many visitors come from all over the country to admire the beautiful landscape. In spring (from snowmelt until rice planting) and autumn (from late October until the first snowfall), water pools in the paddies, creating “water mirrors.”

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    Beech trees, approximately 100 years old, spread across the hills of Matsunoyama. In the late Taisho era, they were all cut down for charcoal, leaving the mountains bare; however, the following year, the beech trees sprouted all at once and grew, taking on their current form. Due to the beauty of their stance, they came to be called the “Forest of Beauties.” They are also known for being home to many wild birds.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by 雪彩-yukiiro-

Tags

Day Trips
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Art Tours
Car Tours
Small Group
Food & Drink
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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