Observational Study on the Regional Revitalization Strategy of Low Mountain Area in Japan—Taking the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale as An Example

Japan’s “Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale”, with an 18-year history, is a topic of rural revitalization in low mountain area, with art as the link to explore solutions to many social issues in the process of urbanization. In this activity, artistic landscape creation, combined with natural environment, is adopted and the declined farming culture is integrated through use of abandoned residential houses, school buildings and other facilities, so as to drive the revitalization of low mountain area economy through industry tourism. This paper, based on the six reports of Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, relevant literatures and field survey, and combining the concept of design strategy, has clarified the regional characteristics of the development course and effect of Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. It holds that the art industry chain formed by Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale has the characteristics of activation in wide areas, resource activation, extensive participation of the people, economy promotion, cultural inheritance, thought innovation and environment improvement. They are specifically reflected in the following five processes and links: 1) Visualization and integration of overall resources. 2) Promotion of masses in vast areas. 3) Motivation of self-identity of local residents. 4) Cultivation of sustainable tourist sources. 5) One-core, multi-point economic growth.