Tokamachi City in Niigata Prefecture is located in a basin in the southern part of the prefecture, where the Chikuma River changes name to the Shinano River. Its main specialties are silk textiles and koshihikari rice. Its specialty is "Hegisoba," a soba noodle dish made with nori seaweed and served in a hegi bowl. The city is home to many historic soba restaurants. The Tokamachi Snow Festival, which began as a way to make friends with the snow that falls every winter, is Japan's first snow festival and has a history of approximately 60 years. Since 2000, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale has also been held every three years, showcasing the city's beautiful natural beauty, satoyama lifestyle, and contemporary art, allowing visitors to see a new side of Tokamachi.