A one-night, two-day tour featuring participation in the symposium and talk session “Thinking About Ways for Cities and Mountains to Coexist,” held at Akiyama-go’s “Akeyama” with guest speaker anthropologist Toshiaki Ishikura.

The program includes a storytelling session with local residents of Akiyama-go, a snowfield walk with the Akiyama Matagi (traditional hunters), and a special snow-viewing meal prepared by the mothers of the Kamigo district in Tsunan Town.
Accommodation will be at Katakuri house, a former school renovated into a guesthouse.

You will also visit popular artworks from the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, including “Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel” and “The Last Classroom.”

Enjoy two special days immersing yourself in the deep-snow hidden region of Akiyama-go and its celebrated artworks.

On the first day, the tour will be guided by Fram Kitagawa, General Director of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.

our Itinerary

Day 1

• 10:00 – Meet at the Morimiya Kotsu bus vehicle in front of Echigo-Yuzawa Station East Exit (immediately to the right after exiting the East Exit).

• 10:50–11:20 – The Last Classroom

• 12:00–13:00 – Lunch at Katakuri-no-Yado (Tsumaari Sugoroku viewing available)

• 13:00–13:10 – Snow depth check

• 14:00–16:00 – Akeyama Symposium: Thinking About Ways for Cities and Mountains to Coexist

• 16:00–17:00 – Explore Akeyama

• 17:30 – Check-in at Katakuri-no-Yado

• 17:30–19:00 – Bathing / Onsen time

• 19:00– – Dinner

• 20:00–21:00 – Storytelling session on life in Akiyama-go

Day 2

• 8:00–9:00 – Breakfast

• 9:15–11:00 – Snowfield exploration with Akiyama Matagi

• 11:30 – Depart Katakuri-no-Yado

• 12:00–12:30 – Visit Kamigo Cloveza for artwork viewing

• 12:30–13:30 – Snow-viewing meal at Kamigo Cloveza

• 14:10–15:00 – Visit Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel

• 15:30 – Tour concludes at Echigo-Yuzawa Station

Christian Boltanski + Jean Kalman “The Last Classroom”　photo: T. Kuratani

Akeyama / Uchida Seira “The Gathering of the Kamagami Spirits: Stories from a House of Faith”　Photo: Kioku Keizo

Talk Session on Life in Akiyamago (image)

Snow Mountain Exploration with the Akiyama Matagi　Photo: Nakamura Osamu

Kamigo CLOVE Theater – Snow-viewing Meal “Yukimi Gozen”　Photo: Yanagi Ayumi

Rintaro Hara + Yoo “Tsumari Sugoroku”　Photo: Kioku Keizo

Ma Yansong / MAD Architects “Tunnel of Light”　Photo: Nakamura Osamu

• Akeyama Symposium: “Exploring Ways for Cities and Mountains to Coexist”

  We are pleased to welcome anthropologist Toshiaki Ishikura as a keynote speaker for the symposium and talk session. In addition to Ishikura, the symposium will feature Takashi Fukazawa (Akeyama curator) and Aoi Nagasawa (Akeyama participating artist).

  The symposium provides a space for both city dwellers and mountain residents to reflect together on ways of living in harmony with the mountains, focusing on coexistence with bears, a social issue attracting increasing attention in recent years.

  Program

  Part 1 – Keynote Lecture by Toshiaki Ishikura
  "What We Receive from the Mountains"

  Part 2 – Symposium: Living with Bears in the Mountains
  Speakers: Toshiaki Ishikura (Anthropologist), Takashi Fukazawa (Akeyama Curator), Aoi Nagasawa (Akeyama Participating Artist)

• 
  

Toshiaki ishikura

• 
  

  Event Details

  • Dates: Saturday, February 28 – Sunday, March 1, 2026

  • Tour Fee: 45,000 JPY per person (high school students and above)
    (Includes charter bus, breakfast/lunch/dinner, accommodation, artwork admission fees, symposium participation, guide fee, and consumption tax.)

  • *Single room use +2,000 JPY*Payment is to be made at the hotel upon check-out.

  • *Not available to elementary school students and younger.

    *A separate bathing tax of 100 yen will be charged on-site to guests middle school students and older.

  • Application Deadline: 24:00 two days before the tour date or until full

  • Start/End Point: Echigo-Yuzawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal

  • Transportation: Chartered bus (Morimiya Kotsu)

  • Minimum Participants: 1 person

  Organizer:
  Tour Planning & Operation: NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Cooperative Organization, Niigata Prefecture Registered Travel Agency No. 2-440
  Address: 3743-1 Matsudai, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture
  Member, Japan Association of Travel Agents
  Tel: 025-761-7749 | Email: officialtour@tsumari-artfield.com

  Notes:

  Please read and confirm the travel terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, before participating.

Notes

• No tour conductor or guide will accompany the tour.

• Please review the Travel Conditions and Cancellation Policy before booking.

• The itinerary may change or be canceled due to weather or road conditions.

• No refunds will be provided for itinerary changes.

• Children under junior high school age must be accompanied by a guardian.

• You will walk on snow when viewing artworks—please bring waterproof boots at least ankle-high.

• Arrival times may vary; please book your return train with extra time to spare.

Travel Conditions Documents:

NPO法人越後妻有里山協働機構　旅行条件書

NPO法人越後妻有里山協働機構　標準旅行業約款

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel for personal reasons, the following fees apply per person:

• From 10 days before departure: 20% of tour price

• From 7 days before departure: 30%

• 1 day before departure: 40%

• Same day: 50%

• After departure or no-show: 100%

Inquiries

Katakuri-no-Yado Contact & Access
TEL: 025-761-5205 (9:00–18:00 / Closed Tue & Wed)
MAIL: katakuri@tsumari-artfield.com

Would you like me to adapt this translation into a polished English version for an official travel website or brochure, with smoother flow, marketing-style headlines, and consistent formatting with the overnight tour version you shared earlier?