Art Festivals & Events

At the Wara Art Festival, massive sculptures made of rice straw stand in Niigata City’s Nishikan Ward, an area known for its rice production. The theme of this year’s festival is “if”. The sculptures, five powerful and noble animals, pose questions such as, “What if you were to sumo wrestle a bear?” and invite viewers to the “World of if”. The festival is held in Uwasekigata Park, a vast expanse of lush green at the foot of Satoyama Mountain. The sculpture exhibition is held when the cosmos flowers are at peak bloom, and the park is equipped with facilities for barbequing, as well as pedal go-karts, making it a perfect place to spend the day hiking or having a picnic.