Echigo Matsunoyama Kyororo Forest School — Local services in Tokamachi

This is a really good place to take kids. The building itself is part of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field project. You can climb the tall tower and get a good view from the big windows at the top. It's a 160 step staircase though and is hardly lit as it is also one of the art projects. The inside of the center is full of interesting items related to the local nature and countryside. There are snakes, frogs and fish close by and you can fish for crayfish in small ponds. There are stuffed examples of the local bird-life and an amazing collection of butterflies. The windows are made of a really think material and in winter you can see the deep snow piling up against it. There is a visual representation of the snowfall over the past decade or so which is very interesting. There is also a restaurant and a craft area where you can try your hand a making different objects out of objects scavenged from the nearby woods and fields. Perhaps our favorite thing were over 100 little drawers containing all sorts of different things related to the local environment - snake skins, bird...

A very nice place to learn about different animals living in the forest area. You have to buy tickets from the machine at the entrance. Unfortunately no english is available. But the staff would come and help even without asking. One of the staff even recommended several other places to visit as well. You can climb to the top viewing area, but the climb can be tiring, be careful. Vending machines and toilets are available at the...

Went on an early January Sunday ~2:30p. Not crowded at all. Snowshoe rental for 409 JPY, and you can start the walk directly from the museum into Bijinbayashi 美人林forest. Incredible. Note that you must pay the 600 JPY museum...