Art & Culture
Area
Season
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Ride the Tadami Line with Local Guides & A Night Tour of Mugenkyo Gorge
At 135.2 kilometers in length, the JR Tadami Line connecting Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in Fukushima Prefecture with Koide Station in Niigata Prefecture is famed as a hidden gem of a local rail line which boasts extraordinary views. The scenery, which includes the spectacular landscape of the Tadami River, the villages dotted along its riverbanks, and the majestic mountains nearby, is astoundingly beautiful no matter the season and has proven highly popular amongst visitors. This special tour is offered by a guide who is one of the most well-versed people in the world about the Tadami Line. Enjoy hidden sights and photo spots known only to this guide—both from inside the train and from the train’s windows.
The Mugenkyo Gorge ferry is a hand-pulled boat that runs between the towns of Kanayama and Mishima in Fukushima Prefecture, crossing the Tadami River. The name "Mugenkyo” derives from the ephemeral beauty of the valley when it is shrouded in river mist on summer mornings and evenings—as if in a scene from a dream. Although the Mugenkyo Gorge ferry normally runs only from morning to evening, this tour features special yakatabune boats that operate at night. The illumination of the yakatabune boats will give the nighttime Mugenkyo Gorge an even more mystical appearance. You will also enjoy a meal that is often served at times of celebration in this region, prepared with lots of local ingredients and traditional dishes.
On both the Tadami Line and Mugenkyo Gorge tours, you will be loaned a tablet with video and audio features that can provide multilingual guidance for your convenience, and you will stay at a guesthouse renovated from an old private residence.
Packed with rare content, these tours offer deep experiences of the culture of the Oku-Aizu region.
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ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA 2024
The 9th Art Fair Asia will be held from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, a convention facility in Hakata well-known by Fukuoka residents. The event will be co-hosted by Fukuoka City, which has worked to promote Fukuoka Art Next with the aim of creating a colorful city full of art, and Culture Vision, an NGO that creates opportunities for creators to co-create beyond the boundaries of industry, government, and academia. The goal of the event is to open up a diverse array of possibilities in Fukuoka City, a city that is already full of human encounters and interaction.
This year, the venue will serve as a sort of hub of exchange between Japan and other Asian countries. The focus will be on artists from around Asia and Kyushu. The event will also include collaborations with art museums, universities, companies, and art fairs in Kyushu and other parts of Japan and overseas, in an attempt to develop even more as an art fair based on the concept of Asia. Fukuoka City’s "FaN Week" will be held at the same time as the art fair, covering the entire city of Fukuoka in art. This one-of-a-kind experience is sure to stimulate the creativity of art fans and visitors in general.
We hope that as many people as possible get to experience the fascination and excitement of art in Fukuoka, a city that has long nurtured diversity and has continued to develop as a hub for the flow of people and goods in Asia.
We look forward to seeing you at Art Fair Asia Fukuoka 2024. -
GBB24 TOKYO (Grand Beatbox Battle 2024 World League)
Grand Beatbox Battle (GBB) is a world beatbox competition held by Swissbeatbox. GBB originated in Switzerland, then took place in Poland before being held in Tokyo last year—the first time it was held in Asia.
This year's 15th installment of the GBB, called GBB24, will be held again in Japan, and will determine the world's best in the five categories of solo, tag, loopstation, crew, and finally producer, a new category established in 2023!
The event will be held November 1-3 at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo. The "7 TO SMOKE" battle event, open to anyone aged 18 or older, will be held as an after-party on November 4 in Tokyo.
Come and experience GBB, a world tournament like no other, with world-class sound quality and hospitality that only Japan can offer! -
SENSE ISLAND / LAND 2024
The venues of this art festival include Sarushima, a Japan Heritage Site and the largest uninhabited island in Tokyo Bay, as well as several historic sites scattered throughout Yokosuka City. Tour the city while taking in works of art created specially for this art festival.
Although Sarushima is not normally open to the public at night, this tour will include a nighttime excursion so that participants can view the works of art scattered around the island by flashlight, which makes for an unprecedented art experience.
The festival will also include several related events, such as live music and nighttime Japanese dance performances on the sands of Sarushima, and artists’ workshops about indigo dyeing and Jomon-style earthenware production. We certainly hope you will join us for these events.
Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture, where the exhibition will be held, is located on the Miura Peninsula. By Keihin Electric Express Railway, it takes about 90 minutes from Haneda Airport, about 90 minutes from Shinagawa Station, and about 30 minutes from Yokohama Station, thereby enabling anyone staying in Tokyo or Yokohama to enjoy this extraordinary art experience. -
30th Anniversary of World Heritage Registration and 800th Anniversary of Sect Founding NAKED Light-Up at Nishi Honganji Temple 2024 Special Autumn Viewing
This year in Kyoto, Nishi Honganji Temple, the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect that was founded by the holy man named Shinran, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its World Heritage registration and the 800th anniversary of the sect's founding. To commemorate this event, the creative company NAKED, INC., will plan and host an autumn light-up event at Nishi Honganji Temple.
Experience the history and culture of Nishi Honganji Temple by carrying NAKED distance lanterns (artistic lanterns popular at NAKED events) while touring Miedo Hall, a National Treasure which will be decorated with digital art, and Hiunkaku Pavilion, a National Treasure that is usually closed to the public. In addition to the regular tickets, there will be special tickets available that will allow visitors to get a better feel for what Nishi Honganji Temple is like in the early fall. These include a special viewing ticket for admission to the Shoin complex, another National Treasure which is normally closed to the public, and a premium ticket enabling visitors to enjoy digital art and a tea ceremony experience at Hiunkaku Pavilion. -
Journey into KABUKI～Appreciation and Experience～
At 90 minutes long, this program includes both a kabuki performance and a variety of kabuki-related experiences to make the performing art accessible to those of all ages, nationalities, and languages.
Kabuki actors will explain the history behind the performing art and how to enjoy the humor in the plays. A few lucky audience members will also have the opportunity to perform kabuki gestures on the stage before viewing the kabuki performance. Consecutive interpretation in English will be provided during the actors' explanations, and an English audio guide (available for a fee) will be available during the performance.
Kabuki props (horses, boats, etc.), instruments for sound effects, costumes, and other items used in past performances will be on display in the theater lobby, with participants given the opportunity to actually hold these items in their hands.
The Minamiza Theatre, with its over 400-year history, preserves the history and traditions of kabuki theater and offers a wide range of attractions for kabuki lovers, first-time kabuki theater-goers, and visitors.
■ Performance schedule: November 2 (Sat) to November 10 (Sun)
■ Performance time: Afternoon at 2:00 PM / Evening at 6:00 PM
*On November 2 (Sat) and November 5 (Tues), only the evening performance will be held
■ Running time: Approx. 90 min.
■ Fee: 5,000 yen (all seats reserved) -
BONSAI JAPAN: Japan Bonsai Taikan Exhibition
Enjoy the charm and traditional aesthetics of the world-famous art of bonsai at one of Japan's largest indoor bonsai exhibitions. Bonsai sizes and styles featured at the exhibition include conifers, broadleaf trees, satsuki azaleas, shohin bonsai, creative bonsai, famous trees, suiseki stones, and other masterpieces, all of which were carefully selected from throughout Japan.
November 22–25, 2024 / 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (until 4:00 PM on November 25)
[Special events]
・Demonstration by a bonsai master (November 22–24, from 10:30 AM)
・Bonsai Cafe
・Bonsai commentary tours (Japan Bonsai Taikan Exhibition commentary tour, Daitokuji Temple Hoshun-in Bonsai Garden bus tour)
・Premium bonsai sales
[Concurrent events]
・Individual booth exhibitions
・Large sales event
・Auction
For details, please visit the dedicated website. -
NAKED Night Walk™ Natadera Temple, Ishikawa
This fall nighttime illumination event is a collaboration between Natadera Temple, one of the most famous sites in the Hokuriku region for its fall foliage, and the creative company NAKED, INC. This event showcases the beauty of Natadera Temple and its fall foliage as viewed at night when the temple is illuminated, emphasizing the natural wisdom and beauty of nature that Natadera Temples so cherishes and respects. Artist Ryotaro Muramatsu's DANDELION PROJECT will also be exhibited for the first time in the Hokuriku region as a prayer for the restoration and recovery of the Noto region. DANDELION will be set up on the observation deck overlooking the strange rock formations of Natadera Temple, where participants can offer prayers for the restoration and recovery of the Noto region.
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Japan Job Challenge in Senshu
This job workshop event will be held for the first time on Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27, in the Senshu area of southern Osaka, near Kansai International Airport. The aim of the event is to showcase of traditional industries, lifestyle/culture, and various occupations. Locations will include Kishiwada Castle, local shopping areas in Sakai and Izumisano, Kansai International Airport, and a variety of other spots.
With around 60 programs, you can experience the traditional industries of Senshu, such as cutlery, glasswork, tea ceremony, Japanese sweets, local sake, wooden danjiri floats, Noh theater, and more. Not only that, but you can also immerse yourself in the daily life and culture of the Senshu area, such as tatami mat-making, working at shrinesk and local shopping districts, and more. Professionals of each job will guide participants through the process, making for great interactions with locals. Participants can also try out several occupations over two days. Take this opportunity to truly experience the various cultures and lifestyles of Japan! -
Gastronomy Tour of Aso Caldera's Finest Produce and Japanese Brown Wagyu
Minami Aso Village at the southern foot of the vast Aso Caldera is a healing sanctuary abundant in nature and pure spring water. Shirakawa Suigen, which was selected as one of the 100 Best Natural Waters in Japan, is among one of its most famous springs.
Participants will partake in a sumptuous dining experience that stimulates the senses, featuring Aso Japanese Brown wagyu and other carefully-selected local ingredients. Lunch is served on an open-air trolley car, whereas dinner is prepared right in front of you by chefs using wood and other natural flames.
Participants will also experience traditional Japanese culture in an authentic tea ceremony performed by members of the 400-year-old Urasenke school founded by tea master Sen Rikyu. The ceremony will take place at Shirakawa Suigen, which was selected as one of the 100 best waters by the Ministry of the Environment.
The rich nature and local cuisine of this volcanic region will provide an extraordinary experience that will heal both the mind and body.
Head Chef
Kenshin Miyamoto: A goodwill ambassador for “Kumamoto, the Land of Food,” and the recipient of the Culinary Masters Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. Boasts an illustrious career that includes a culinary showcase at Expo 2015 Milan, which promoted the charms of Aso to the world.
He will prepare exquisite multicourse meals that make the most of Aso Japanese Brown wagyu, cooked skillfully over natural flames borne of wood and charcoal, and Kumamoto Prefecture's bountiful seasonal produce.