Echigo Tsumari art festival

The Echigo Tsumari art festival is a triennial event - the last big one was in 2006, but in the intervening years there are smaller events in the summer. The festival is based in Tokamachi - a small town about 20min from Yuzawa. The train ride on the joetsu line from Echigo Yuzawa is in itself an experience - some amazing scenery, and you travel on one of those funky old trains with doors that you have to open and close by hand.