Hidden Gems:Art & Nature

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