Calling all Japanophiles and art enthusiasts, we’ve got a birthday plan that’ll light up your calendar this July to September. The Echigo-Tsumari Art Fields have a triennial celebration coming up that includes massive installations and works of art by such artists as Yayoi Kusama and James Turrell. The festival is spread across 200 villages in Niigata and celebrates the connection between man and nature. In a word, it’s epic.


Photography: William Peng


Staying at the Site

Just a two-hour train ride from Tokyo, the art fields are located in the mountainous region of Echigo-Tsumari. For those who enjoy camping, there are overnight options where you can sleep in some of the art structures and buildings strewn throughout the area. There are tons of hot springs in the area too, so you could easily make a b-day adventure of onsen dips between artwork visits.


Photography: Echigo-Tsumari Art Fields


The World’s Largest Art Collection

Spread over 190,000 acres of mountainous land in Niigata, the triennial explores nature as a canvas for art. You might wander through tunnels, a sound tower, buildings that play with light, or fields filled with sculptures. There are larger facilities too, filled with artworks of varying size. It's a kind choose-your-own-art-adventure if you will.


Photography: pinjingliao | Masanori Ikeda | Osamu Nakamura


Luxury Spa & Resort

For the ultimate birthday treat to yourself, book a stay at Tokyo’s Aman Resort. You'll wake in a traditional Japanese residence that looks out to the Imperial Palace Gardens and Mount Fuji in the distance. The spa has a massive indoor pool that overlooks the city skyline, making it an epic spot to float after your grounding scrub and wrap ritual. 


Photography: Aman Tokyo