Located in southern Niigata Prefecture, Tokamachi city encompasses an area of 589.92 km2 and has a population of approximately 61,000 people. Japan's longest river, the Shinano, flows through the city, which is rich in greenery with over half its area accounted for by hills, mountains, and agricultural land. Blessed with natural scenery, Tokamachi boasts a variety of seasonal flowers and beech forests, tiered rice fields, and mountain gorges that each reveal a different expression with the change of seasons. Winter is particularly characteristic, and the city is covered in snow for around one-third of the year with an average snowfall of over two meters. Its natural climate has helped create a unique way of life.