The Towada Art Center will present Erwin Wurm’s first solo museum exhibition at a museum in Japan from Saturday The Towada Art Center is the only institution in Japan with a permanent display of Wurm’s works Recognized as one of Austria’s most significant contemporary artists Erwin Wurm redefines and expands the boundaries of sculpture employing a wide range of media—from traditional materials like plaster and metal to photography one of the most fundamental sculptural motifs The human form—shaped by external influences such as clothing and social ideologies—is depicted as fragile Wurm’s works expose the structures underlying social norms The exhibition will feature the Japan premiere of Wurm’s latest large-scale installation along with recent key works from his Skins and Flat Sculptures series Editor’s Note: Japan’s cherry blossom events generally rely on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s forecasts please always check the venue’s official site before you visit Kanchogai Street in Aomori’s Towada City has been listed as one of Japan’s Top 100 roads and over 150 cherry trees line the route alongside numerous pine trees there are also various contemporary art pieces on the sidewalks When the cherry trees are looking their best the annual Towada City Spring Festival takes place and along with the trees there will be a variety of other activities to enjoy along the street–flea market stalls and even a tea ceremony experience are some of the highlights There is no admission fee to enjoy the atmosphere of the event but do bring yen if you plan on making any purchases Location: The Towada area can be accessed by bus from Shichinohe-Towada Station with the travel time taking just over 30 minutes Dates: April 19 - May 5 (Main events to be held on Apr Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Lake Towada is a popular tourist destination in Aomori Prefecture that at less than a two-hour-drive from Misawa Air Base is a great spot for some outdoor family fun the lake and its surrounding attractions like Oirase Gorge Statue of Maiden and Towada Shrine are snow dusted and the scenery is transformed into a chillingly beautiful sight visitors can enjoy Lake Towada’s “Winter Story 2025,” a seasonal festival featuring sleigh and banana boat rides in the snow field and six food booths serving local delicacies an employee at the Misawa Air Base Commissary said the event draws a crowd despite the frigid temperatures “Many families enjoyed the various snow activities during my visit,” Morita said The event also has a Kamakura snow hut with a bar serving up icy drinks starting at 5 p.m Visitors will also want to catch the nightly fireworks display set to music every night starting at 8 p.m visitors can send a custom fireworks message in the sky for that special someone The lake symbol “Statue of Maiden” is also illuminated from 5 to 8:30 p.m Let’s make plans to attend this wonderful winter festival to enjoy the beautiful winter of Towada at most Location: Towadako Yasumiya Multipurpose Park Tel: 0176-75-1531 (Lake Towada Tourism Community Center) AD ¥100 off /  Up to 1 people / Not valid with other discounts. Download the TAB app to get a discount on entry to this event. Leave a rating/comment#Installation#Exhibitions to see during Winter Vacation#Open during the end and beginning of the yearBack to ArticlesSHARE Japan is working to have at least one luxury resort hotel in each of its 35 national parks by fiscal 2031 in a bid to make national parks more attractive to affluent inbound visitors a core market in the country’s latest tourism plans which extend from the northernmost tip of Hokkaido to the southernmost islands of Okinawa are already home to some high-end properties thanks to both public and private sector efforts which opened in Nikko National Park in 2020 the environment ministry wants to ensure every national park can accommodate affluent visitors not only to increase the number of visitors but also their length of stay and level of engagement with nature “We aim to implement projects to increase the attractiveness of national parks using private-sector resources,” said environment minister Shintaro Ito of the plan adding that the government’s goal is “world-class national parks based on the understanding of local communities and the idea of environmental conservation” the environment ministry is running a pilot project to attract luxury hotels in four national parks including Towada-Hachimantai National Park Akita and Iwate prefectures in northern Honshu Nagano and Toyama prefectures in central Honshu National Parks have long been part of the government’s tourism growth plan first a pillar in its Tourism Vision To Support Tomorrow’s Japan and now a core element of policies to increase the number of inbound visitors to 60 million annually by 2030 Seafront stays and heritage charm at Penang Marriott Hotel Is Your Business Listed On TTGmice Planner Online Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp Towada was only settled about 150 years ago Many of the residents have moved here from other parts of Aomori or other prefectures altogether and this makes the community very tolerant of newcomers Despite our unusual backgrounds and non-traditional approach to business our neighbors were extraordinarily open and welcomed us into the city so we felt like part of the community early on Yuyu Land…and these are just the ones in town Over toward Shichinohe-Towada Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line are two more – Suginoko Onsen and Higashi Hakkoda Onsen I try to get to an onsen at least once a week ーTowada seems to have an exceptional number of hot springs Could you tell us a little more about what sets them apart Alex: If it’s the health benefits you’re after Michinoku Onsen or Pony Onsen are among the best They’re great for your skin and leave it feeling smooth and soft If you want to try a range of different baths I recommend larger facilities like Ippongisawa Onsen or Momijinoyu located a little outside of town in the Hakkoda Mountains The sulfuric content means that they have medicinal properties but be prepared for a strong smell that can linger for days Michael: If it’s your’ first time visiting an onsen They have some cute outdoor baths that are ceramic and shaped like tea bowls Alex: Places like Momijinoyu and Pony Onsen are also popular with locals so even first-time bathers will feel comfortable and the ocean is only a 30-minute drive away There are plenty of places to go hiking and camping and the Oirase Gorge is a great place to experience a nature tour This summer I ended up camping there nearly every weekend Alex: As soon as I would finish work on Friday and enjoy a beer and a book by the campfire The next morning I’d be up at 5:00 and out on the lake you have the lake all to yourself—it’s an unbeatable feeling ーWhat kind of activities do you recommend for travelers Towadako Guidehouse KAI is a new business in the area that specializes in canoe tours There’s nothing better than being on the lake completely surrounded by pristine natural beauty a cove that is only accessible by canoe — it’s incredibly quiet and has an aura of mystery about it and looking out over the scenery has a restorative power when the bright-red foliage is reflected in the water or in the depths of winter when you’re paddling through icy slush Alex: Not to mention the brilliant nature tours along Oirase Gorge an Oirase ecotourism research organization holds regular walking tours of the Oirase Gorge Alex: One of the most interesting would have to be the moss walk in Oirase Gorge Over 300 different types of moss are indigenous to the gorge and when you peer at them through a magnifying glass but it’s truly an eye-opening experience to give visitors a real sense of how important moss is to the Oirase ecosystem Michael: Their American-style bagel sandwiches are made with local produce and are superb and another healthy option is co-owner Yakko’s sugar-free pancakes Yuji loves to strike up a conversation about coffee and ingredients with anyone who walks in Alex: Just a 10-minute walk away from 14-54 is a confectioner called Soma Kashiho It’s run by a lovely lady in her 80’s and her son Michael: The apple pies are made from Aomori apples so the apples they use change with the seasons Alex: Kutoten is a nearby folkcraft store built in a rented house by Susumu Yoshida many of them collaborations between Yoshida and local artists The shelves are filled with items like kendama toys made from reclaimed skateboard decks and accessories made using traditional Aomori’s techniques including Tsugaru lacquerware and Nanbu hishizashi embroidery Michael: Susumu also operates the Tokidoki Yubinkyoku which translates loosely as the “Now and Then Post Office.” One of their services lets you send postcards that will be delivered at an unspecified point in the future Yoshida always has lots of other interesting things going on URL: https://www.japan.travel/en/travel-directory/aomori/ Access: Take a bus from Hachinohe Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line (approx get off at the Towada Art Center and walk for 5 min take a bus from Shichinohe-Towada Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen (approx get off at Kanchogai-dori Avenue and walk for 2 min https://www.14-54.com/ http://www.hotelponyonsen.book.direct/en-gb/ http://towadaartcenter.com/en/ http://tgkai.jp Incorporated NPO Oirase Shizen Kanko Kenkyukai (Oiken) https://www.oiken.org/ https://www.facebook.com/cafe.happytree/ https://www.instagram.com/kutou10_crafts_design/ Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Aomori — A trial demonstration of self-driving cars was conducted on a stretch of highway along the Oirase Gorge in Towada during which the use of private cars along this road was restricted in order to protect the environment and ease traffic please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The prefecture is performing this experiment with an eye toward creating tourist resources and countering the ongoing labor shortage The section of road used in the experiment spans about 7 kilometers from Ishigedo to Nenokuchi within the about 10-kilometer stretch of the National Highway Route 102 between the Sobe intersection and the Nenokuchi intersection where the restrictions on private cars were in force three types of cars run along three routes They are directed by a guide along part of the way The experiment was conducted at “level 2,” in which the driver may take control of the car in an emergency 21 took a test ride in a small vehicle that uses a 3D map and sensors to estimate its position while driving The car had a top speed of 19 kilometers per hour and could seat up to five people during test rides.“The vehicle ran extremely smoothly so I was able to feel safe and enjoy the view,” Miyashita said “We want to move forward toward the implementation of this technology.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo The bus tour takes you on a journey through the Oirase Gorge in Towada Hachimantai National Park which stretches between Lake Towada and Yakeyama The waterfalls throughout the gorge freeze over in winter and turn into stunning clusters of icicles known as icefalls When the area is covered in a blanket of snow Tours are available both during the day and in the evening the evening tour is the one to go for as the icicles are illuminated with colourful lights The evening tour stops at a total of five spots along the gorge while a special lighting car travels along with the tour bus to light up each spot in different colours.  The tour has been held annually since 2017 and will run again from December 20 2024 to March 2 2025. Tickets cost ¥3,300-¥4,400 per person (children ¥1,650-¥2,200). You can book a spot on a tour here.  This article was published on November 2 2021 and updated on November 28 2024 The best times to see autumn leaves in Japan this year, according to official forecast Shibuya to cancel 2025 New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations The amazing illuminations at Ashikaga Flower Park are here until February 2025 This magical igloo village in Nagano is actually a pop-up restaurant Shibuya Sky is celebrating Christmas with mirror balls and rooftop light shows Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Set out by the architect as a reflection on density, the Towada Art Center, located in a small city north of Honshu Island, is constituted by sixteen volumes that create an urban landscape that is independent but in tune with the fragmentation of the fabric in which it is inserted. Apparently abandonded at random on the plot, the pavilions are distributed without a specific main axis around the tallest piece, which acts as a gravity center of the complex and houses the main communication core. Ippei Takahashi, Yusuke Ohi, Taeko Nakatsubo, Kenichi Fujisawa Sasaki Structural Consultants (estructura structural engineering); Kankyo Consultants (instalaciones HVAC engineering) Iwan Baan, Christian Richters, Towada Art Center Sorry, there arent any match using your search terms, please try again using other terms. scientists and hot-spring owners in Towada-Hachimantai National Park and Keramashoto National Park Murakami had grown up with the woods and wide open spaces of Hokkaido But being in the presence of beech trees felt different The trees’ white-ish bark seemed to give off their own magical light “The entire forest had this gentle feel to it,” he said He is no less in awe of the 211,000-acre (85,534-hectare) park’s beech trees “I tell visitors that the beech forest plays a role in the water cycle here,” he said “Beech leaves that fall to the ground take time to decompose They filter the rainwater that gradually spills into Lake Towada Beech trees are one reason the lake water is so clear.” Murakami is a first-rate storyteller, a local bard of the wilderness. He is one of the many people whose lives and livelihoods are intertwined with Japan’s 34 national parks – and there are more like him than you would expect When the government created the first parks in 1934 it didn’t have the luxury of drawing borders around only the uninhabited and remote – the virgin forests Some of what was included as parkland had been settled for generations There were restaurants and old-fashioned ryokan inns Roughly a quarter of Japan’s national parkland is privately owned and hundreds of thousands of people live within the parks’ borders Mizuki Yamasaki (R) and Iwao Ando (L) work closely with local officials nature guides and hotels to promote the park.Photograph by Kohei TakeThis mix of the untamed and lived-on – and everything in between – is one of the distinguishing features of Japan’s national parks And where the park is determines how the people you find there adapt to their natural surroundings: the indigenous Ainu culture in Hokkaido or the practice of dipping in hot springs to treat ailments in the northeastern Tohoku region It might seem odd to anyone who is familiar with the undeveloped wilderness of nature isn’t only thought of as untouched and untrammeled areas “People in Japan grow up feeling close to nature We don’t think of nature as a separate place from where we spend our daily lives,” said Yamasaki who researched Australia’s national parks system while earning a PhD at the University of Tasmania “We worship volcanoes as sacred and hear about people who stay in the mountains as part of their religious training.” protecting the environment and even preventing traffic jams The people who live and work in the national parks double as caretakers and cultural custodians of these outdoor spaces. Yoshimi Kobayashi’s dual role is rather unusual: He is a Lake Towada fisherman who breeds fish to stock the lake. His most prized catch – the Japanese kokanee salmon (himemasu) a relative of the sockeye salmon – is the same species that he raises The kokanee lures gourmets to the area’s inns gastropubs and restaurants year-round and fishing enthusiasts to the lake in summer Yoshimi Kobayashi heads the Lake Towada Fishery Propagation Cooperative Union whose hatchery releases 700,000 kokanee fry into the lake every year.Photograph by Kohei TakeAs head of the Lake Towada Fishery Propagation Cooperative Union who has worked as a fisherman for six decades is responsible for the hatchery’s release of 700,000 kokanee fry every year (He is also in charge of issuing recreational fishing permits for kokanee carp and crucian carp.) He carries on a practice that began in 1903 when Sadayuki Wainai brought and successfully bred kokanee from Hokkaido you’d want to eat kokanee when it’s at its fattiest so the kokanee can swim in 7 degree C (45 F) water year round,” says Kobayashi Tsuru-no-yu traces its roots to the 17th century when a regional lord visited to treat his gout They would come after the hard labor of planting and harvesting which are filled from four separate hot spring sources,” said Kazushi Sato traditional wooden architecture and tatami mat rooms simple meals of regional fare and old-fashioned hospitality have made it a popular destination for vacationers The coral in Keramashoto represent about 60% of the entire country’s reef-building species These organisms are so intertwined with village life that students plant coral seeds and seedlings in the sea as part of an environmental study before leaving the islands for high school Far from the jam-packed streets and unceasing lights of Tokyo lies a region one could easily mistake for rural Alaska or Montana in winter High mountain peaks stand over barely populated towns To learn more about Aomori’s vast stretches of excellent terrain for winter nature sports First, I zipped from Tokyo Station to Aomori at speeds up to 320 kilometers per hour (199 miles per hour) on the Hayabusa Shinkansen (E5) a train station near the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island Our Aomori expert hustled us into a waiting van Our goal was the Aomori Spring Ski Resort on Mt. Iwaki. We headed to the gondola (elevation: 518 meters/1,699 feet). Affable guide and owner of BBB Aomori Tour Kazuo Hanada was waiting for us with snowshoes Hanada updated us on the weather conditions A bean-like four-seat gondola car carried us 2,967 meters (1.8 miles) We got off at an elevation of 921 meters (3,021 feet) The air temperature was -9° Celsius (15.8° Fahrenheit) Snow depth was just over 1.5 meters (about five feet) views from the mountain heights stretch into the Sea of Japan winds from Siberia were blowing icy powder over our faces Hanada’s knowledge of snow conditions and mountain plants is encyclopedic he explained why they might be susceptible to sliding Trees splotched with multi-hued lichen looked like they were wearing military camouflage Rime ice on the tips of branches grew in the shapes of shrimp tails Our guide showed us pairs of thriving trees and pairs of trees in which one was sick or dead He taught us that two small trees coexist if both sprouted from the seeds originating from the same tree trees growing from the seeds of different trees extrude poison through roots to kill the others when they are very close I desired to learn more nature lore from our guide but we had to get back on the gondola to arrive at our accommodation in time for dinner Hanada explained details of some of his tours he relies on body language and simple English to communicate with foreign guests One of his most popular winter tours is riding fat tire mountain bikes over snow and ice to visit shrines and even a castle Another fun-sounding trip is a combination of bicycling and snowshoe trekking and eating lunch in the snow He arranges a variety of customized tours for each season If only I had more time to enjoy his tours, but we needed to hurry to reach a secluded location. We covered 60 kilometers (33 miles) on mountainous public roads to an inn with baths that hot spring fanatics rave about. We turned up the Aoni Inn’s narrow private lane It snaked up ridges and down ravines for six kilometers (3.9 miles) We had entered the Aoni Inn’s hidden realm where phones lose connection with the “world.” Guests gave a nickname for this hot spring hotel whose interior is illuminated only by kerosene lamps: Lamp Inn Stars and moonlight illuminate the exterior The old-growth forest surrounding the inn provides a natural environment for outdoor walks and reflection One repeat guest from Tokyo explained that after her first one-night stay she decided to visit every year for at least one weekend and relishes dishes prepared with mountain fish is like returning to a time when people were less automatic Discussions deepened during slow meals in our private dining room or while healing our bodies and minds in natural thermal springs I remembered when I was not tethered to the Internet The Aoni Inn’s four bathing areas encourage relaxation There is a mixed-gender bath that all guests can enter The stone-rimmed bath has views of snow and forest An indoor single-sex steamy wooden bathroom smells like herbs Another indoor bathing area is within a jump’s length of a river My favorite spot had both an interior wooden bath with large windows and an exterior rock bath that faced a 30-meter-high (98.5 feet) waterfall The next morning after a reinvigorating hot bath and a hearty breakfast in a room with a snowy-river view we departed; although But the itinerary promised an exciting activity—winter canoeing—in Towada-Hachimantai National Park’s Lake Towada It’s a caldera lake at an elevation of 400 meters (1,312 feet) The route we took to Lake Towada crisscrossed the awe-inspiring Oirase River over small bridges Many in Aomori boast that the Oirase is Japan’s most beautiful We discovered frozen waterfalls and running waterfalls sunlight filtering through frosted branches and sparkling water bounding over mossy rocks After many stops for photographs, our van arrived at the parking of the small building that Towada Guidehouse Kai shares with a coffee shop choppy waves rolled across the surface of Lake Towada then occasionally turned over and plunged into the depths of the great blue body of water Three-storied excursion boats docked on a beach waited for warmer water and more visitors Neither vehicles nor people moved on the white shore and the shimmering lake that steep mountains surrounded Partners and tour guides Shuhe Murakami and Yasuhiro Ota invited us into their shop who assists when English-speaking foreigners join tours Towada Guidehouse Kai offers “nature rambling,” snowshoe and canoe tours through Oirase Gorge and around Lake Towada Nature rambling is moving at a leisurely pace and studying the environs while wearing hiking boots Triangular ridges protrude from the bottoms of these Aomori-manufactured skis that allow downhill skiing Our plan was first winter canoeing and then snowshoeing Strong winds and high-rolling waves almost canceled our trip but our guides brought us around the lake to Utarube Beach was as clear and smooth as water in a glass our guides professionally inspected the fastening of our life jackets and made us practice until they were satisfied we stepped into two Canadian-made Old Town canoes Waves splashing through winter onto fallen trees and the exposed roots of living trees on the shoreline the guides identified and taught us about the habits of the following birds: black kite Our canoes sliced through the slushy icy skin of the shallow inlet named Kojima Ga Ura This cove is the most heavily protected section of the national park we stopped paddling and speaking to absorb the scenery the views of land and lake were like advertisements for winter nature tourism Gusts of wind and drizzles crept over the peninsula, so we paddled back. We passed the vacant Utarube Campsite which has tent sites and small lodges all within a minute’s stroll to the lakeshore Many visitors staying there choose to enjoy barbecues and sunrise canoe trips that our guides arrange and fall when winter’s leafless trees wear light green so we went to a coffee shop owned by the mother of one of the guides She served us curry rice and tasty hot udon Japanese flour noodles with mountain vegetables While watching the storm churn Lake Towada we realized that nature had canceled our afternoon snowshoe trek Instead, we dropped into the Oirase Stream Museum, which has nature exhibits and provides lessons in the crafts of creating lamps from dried gourds and making moss balls To see one of the most dazzling videos of snowshoeing ever made, click on the link to a website produced by the Oirase Field Museum and scroll down to “Winter in Oirase.” Our hotel that night was the renowned Sukayu This hotel satisfies the accommodation needs of hardcore powder hounds Sukayu sits in the Hakkoda mountain range, a realm of active volcanoes that have grown to high elevations. The Hakkoda Ski Area is acclaimed for off-piste and backcountry skiing and snowshoe trekking. Many intrepid skiers and snowshoers ride the Hakkoda ropeway gondola to Mt Tamoyachidake (elevation: 1324 meters or 4347 feet) and conclude the day by descending the backside of the mountain through the woods to Sukayu Sukayu was built in a very magical mountain range. It is a place where fire and snow meet, where snow monsters are born and melt and where walkers can explore nature all year round if they take the proper precautions Snow monsters are trees so encrusted with so much frost January and February are the best months to photograph these beasts near the top of the Hakkoda Ski Area A sense of wonderment filled me during my stay at Sukayu I felt it first when we drove by a 5.6-meter-tall (about 18 feet) snowman in the parking lot It stayed with me when bathing in one of Japan’s largest and most traditional mixed-gender hot springs Hirai explained that in certain volcanic regions gases rise with hot thermal water out of the soil The concentrations of these gases are usually too low to be a threat but going too close to their sources or breathing too much when the earth emits large amounts are dangerous A child died a few years ago in that area while searching for mountain vegetables which was buried by snow with just the tip sticking out We smelled sulfur and saw yellow caked sulfur around hot springs melting snow Holes in trees indicated active woodpeckers We walked over and around swamps that in spring would burst with colorful flowers We walked to the edge of snow cliffs above a road that the government closes every winter. From a height of nine meters (about thirty feet), we looked down. By coincidence, a snowplow was trimming the edges of what would become the snow corridor linking Sukayu Hot Spring with Yachi Onsen (hot spring) at the end of March Snowplows cannot keep up with all the extraordinary snowfall until spring two powder hounds hiking up the mountain with skis and snowboards on their backs and smiles on their faces crossed our path Our snow hike ended at a lovely swamp called Jigoku Numa (Hell Swamp) The Japanese often use “hell” to name locations with bubbling thermal waters When steam floats above the contours of snowy landscapes I found vast stretches of exceptional winter lands in Aomori and I barely scratched the surface of the prefecture To Get There: Hayabusa Shinkansen (E5) bullet train from Tokyo to Aomori Greg Goodmacher loves water when it falls as snow He enjoys his life in Japan and aims to share his joy through his writing His full-time position is university professor at Keiwa College in Shibata Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The area sounds so interesting as well as beautiful Copyright © 2025. Powered by WordPress designboom takes a closer look at the cultural complex. images courtesy of towada art center an aerial view of the fragmented site image © iwan baan ‘the activities happening within the building must continue seamlessly onto the street outside.’ some of the most striking features of the towada art center are the independent exhibition rooms that act as ‘houses for art’ image © iwan baan the galleries have been divided into separate entities and randomly distributed throughout the facility this allows indoor exhibition rooms to blend with outdoor art spaces separating the galleries also enables each space to individually present its artwork evoking a sense of intimacy and synchronicity within each room this gesture was derived from towada’s kanchogaidori avenue where the street’s buildings coexist with open space the institution maximizes its prominent setting within the community image © iwan baan connected by glazed passageways, the assortment of pavilions includes permanent galleries as well as other areas that incorporate the community into activities the design also provides space for outdoor exhibitions and events making it possible for visitors to simultaneously experience indoor and outdoor art bell of peace by yoko ono image © kuniya oyamada  is continued throughout the building — allowing the architecture to exist in harmony with both smaller pieces of artwork as well as the urban scale of the neighborhood exhibition spaces with large glazed façades present the gallery’s work to passersby reaffirming the museum’s vision that its art is intended for the entire city cloud (street furniture) by erika hidaka image © kuniya oyamada the contemporary art museum and cultural complex  image © kuniya oyamada the building is part of a program designed to revitalize the japanese city of towada the towada art center houses a permanent collection of 38 commissioned works large glazed façades present the gallery’s work to passersby the assortment of pavilions is connected by glazed passageways image © iwan baan the juxtaposition of solid and void is continued throughout the building the layout also provides space for outdoor exhibitions and events as well exhibition galleries, the building contains collaborative space and a café untitled  by michael lin image © mami iwasaki choi jeong hwa’s flower horse is one of the works on display in flakes (street furniture) by mount fuji architects image © sadao hotta ochrea, on the 10m high and 20m wide white exterior wall of a prominent rest area the british artist paul morrison has created an enormous mural courtesy of alison jacques gallery, london image © mami iwasaki standing woman by ron mueck courtesy anthony d’offay, london image © kuniya oyamada happening now! partnering with antonio citterio, AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function, but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style, context, and personal expression. Find out more about Japan, one of Culture Trip’s favourite destinations the first things to come to mind are probably its cold winters fresh seafood and raucous traditional festivals The most northerly prefecture on Japan’s main island So when I heard it’s one of the best modern art destinations in Japan with the art islands of the Seto Inland Sea where the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is held It’s this last one we decided to explore, keen on a day of culture after hiking around the eerie, otherworldly volcanic landscapes of Osorezan Watching the countryside fade into the city through the bus windows Towada hardly gave the impression of being a cutting-edge art destination the buildings a typical mix of squat concrete and weathered wood green and blue; residential streets punctuated with shrine gates and low temple eaves; bustling covered shopping arcades we turned onto a wide avenue lined with cherry trees lush and green now but surely awash with delicate pink flowers each spring we came to an open space filled with sculptures several covered with the unmistakable dotted patterns of Yayoi Kusama Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy children clambering on the structures while their parents kept an eye on them we looked across the road from the sculptures to a sleek white building: Towada Art Center the official ‘finish’ of the Arts Towada Project who manages public relations for Towada Art Center explains that the project began “in response to increasing empty lots in the kanchogai (administrative quarter) due to rearrangement of governmental agency structures It turns the whole 1.1km kanchogai into an art museum and at its base is a city revitalisation project through the medium of art.” The gallery is the centrepiece, an unpretentious, engaging and interactive display of the best of Japanese and international modern artists. Even the entrance is a work of art, the floor covered in multicoloured vinyl tape in Jim Lambie’s Zobop “As soon as you take that initial step into the museum the first thing you’re greeted with is the colourful and rhythmic creativity of the piece.” every room brings you to something completely different It feels as though it’s escaping its confines at every turn encouraging you to stay open to spotting something beautiful everywhere you look you clamber on top of a table to poke your head through a hole in the ceiling and enter an ethereal new world of… well something we would never have expected to find in a small provincial city “even though Towada only has a population of about 60,000 the people of the city actively participate and volunteer during our exhibits and art projects Part of what makes our museum so great is that we come together with the people of the community to think and work together.” Sometimes that involvement plays an active part in the creation of exhibitions, as with Jun Kitazawa’s Stranger than Fiction locals are encouraged to take ownership of the city’s growing art culture Otani-san fondly remembers one high school girl who took part in the exhibition: “At first she was reserved and not very confident but after some time in an atmosphere of warmth and freedom rather than what she had experienced in her school slowly she began to speak more and actively pursue things that she found she was good at she said ‘This has expanded my world so much.’ I was so glad that we held this exhibit because of how it was able to broaden this girl’s horizons and have her experience emotional growth Arts Towada has become enmeshed in the life of the city far beyond the walls of the museum writers and architects to work in the city but the increase in visitors has led to new businesses and community spaces opening It’s also allowed existing businesses to develop what they offer Matsumoto Tea Stall is known as the Second Art Center unassuming shop shows works by artists exhibited at the museum alongside the everyday items on sale the friendly owner began explaining the pieces on display and showing us photos of previous exhibitions His passion and excitement gave way to a sly grin as he gestured to a ladder leading into the small cellar offering no explanation beyond the fact I should climb down I did – and was met with a Hiroshi Fuji installation Godzilla made of pink plastic toys and advancing on the islands of Japan Arts Towada has created many of these surprising and has contributed a lot to its revitalisation Opposite Matsumoto Tea Stall is the Civic Exchange Plaza designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma Just down the road are artist-owned Fukuda Confectionery Store and the Takamura Grocery Store which shows art related to the museum’s current exhibition and the nearby Tadao Ando-designed City Library Many people expect views like this in Aomori but the modern art scene is also worth exploring | © JNTO In Towada art is not something roped off, to observe from a distance, which only art world people can understand. It’s something for the enjoyment of the people who live in and visit the city, which you can interact with and enjoy as you go about your day. As we walked back towards the Art Square, we saw several pieces of street furniture You’re invited to sit on and interact with these sculptures ranging from the airy wire structure of cloud by Erika Hidaka to the deceptively solid ceramic pillows of Jianhua Liu’s Mark in the Space The afternoon was waning as we reached the bus stop, families calling their kids back from the Art Square to head home. We were heading for our next hotel, Oirase Keiryuu this gorge just a short way out of the city is one of the most popular attractions in the area Towada’s elementary and middle school children and their guardians were asked where they’d take someone visiting the city While the adults put the out-of-town attractions top of the list the children wanted to first take their guests to the museum and Art Square Art has become a part of local life that people are proud of First-time visitors to Japan should definitely make time for the big sights – all covered on Culture Trip’s Japan by Train Grand Tour – while return visitors or those looking to get away from the crowds might want to venture off the beaten track Only two percent of international travellers spend time in Tohoku (northern Honshu) but with its natural sights and growing number of exciting cultural attractions like the Towada Art Center colourful secret just waiting for you to discover it who worked for a few years in editorial at a guidebook publisher before starting to write full time Her favourite place is Japan; after eight trips and a long stint living she's still finding endless reasons to go back She also finds herself on repeat trips to Canada See more of her travels on Instagram @becca.hallett See & Do Incredible Day Hikes Near Osaka See & Do The Best Things to See and Do in Minami and Namba Guides & Tips 10 Must-Visit UNESCO Sites in Kyoto See & Do The Best Things To Do in Fuji Five Lakes See & Do The Best Places to Travel in April Guides & Tips The Most Unique Onsen Towns in Japan Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in November Where Tradition Meets Modern Urban Adventure See & Do The Most Beautiful Places in Japan You Didn't Know Existed See & Do The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in October US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd As Japan gets ready to enter the Golden Week holidays festivals are ongoing and the landscapes are blushing with stunning sakura flowers continues welcoming visitors enjoying the pale blooms on over 150 trees lining Kanchogai-dori Street The festival runs until May 5 and features a flea market female archers of all ages competed in “Sakura Yabusame.” The annual event is a demonstration of archery technique as they skillfully maneuver in kimonos on horseback along a 660-foot course There is still plenty of excitement to enjoy at the festival including a fireworks display on April 29 at 7 p.m don’t miss out on the lovely spring weather and festivities Aomori Prefecture (a 30-minute drive from Misawa AB) Crimson autumn leaves in the morning sunshine are reflected on the water at Tsutanuma Pond in Towada-Hachimantai National Park in Towada The pond at the foot of Minami-Hakkoda mountains is about one kilometer in circumference and is surrounded by beautiful autumnal colors on beech and other trees The reflection of the leaves in the pond is especially popular among tourists The Towada Oirase Tourism Organization said now is the best time to come and reservations are needed to approach the pond during early morning hours until Thursday Japanese version Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. SHIROI KOIBITO PARK ILLUMINATION (HOKKAIDO): The indoor of park buildings will be beautifully illuminated; 7-minute walk from Miyanosawa Station; exit Sapporo Nishi I.C. free parking; 011-666-1481 Featuring a 16-meter tall ‘big tree’ with 10,000 LED lights and dozens of suspended balls illuminated in various colors in the Nakayoshi Park; 5-minute walk from Misawa AB main gate; 0176-53-2175 ARTS TOWADA WINTER ILLUMINATION 2024 (AOMORI): Blue 300,000 LED lights decorate with the snow covered in front of Towada Modern Arts Museum; 35-minute bus ride from JR Shichinohe Towada Station; 0176-51-6772 Until Jan. 13, 4 - 8 p.m., close on Dec. 31 Featuring illumination decorates with 2 mil. LED lights themed with “Galaxy Farm Night”; 1,000 yen for 12 or older; 15-minute drive from Morioka I.C. on Tohoku Express; 019 692-4321 TOKYO SKYTREE DREAM CHRISTMAS 2024 (TOKYO): Enjoy 460,000 lights around the Skytree Town. Collaborates with TV Tokyo event “TV Tokyo winter park in Tokyo Skytree Town” to provide special event and gourmet foods; Oshiage or Tokyo Skytree Station. 0570-55-0634 Until Feb. 16, 3 – 11 p.m. (Dec. 1 – 31, 3-midnight) Around 286 street trees can be decorated with 1 mil. Champagne gold LED lights around Otemachi and Yurakcho; JR Tokyo Station; 03-5218-5100 OMOTESANDO FENDI ILLUMINATION 2024 (TOKYO): Omotesando Fendi Illumination 2024 with the theme of “Re-Crystallized,” decorated on a 23-ft tree with the LED lights on the center of open space at the venue along with “light curtain’ consisting of 6,000 icicle appears on the upper part of stairway. JR Harajuku or Omote Sando Station; 03-3497-0310 Iillumination of 770,000 LED lights with the theme of “Blue Grotto” through Shibuya Koen Street and Yoyogi Park; walking distance from Shibuya and Harajyuku Station About 6 mil. LED lights are decorated around the Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forrest. Amusement Park, Hot Spring, Camping and BBQ area is also available. 2,000 yen for adults, 1,300 yen under 12.10-minute bus ride from JR Sagamiko or Hashimoto Station; 7-minute drive from Sagamiko Higashi I.C on Chuo Express. 0570-037-353 Until Feb. 24 and Weekend only, (Every night: Dec. 24, 25 and Dec. 28 - Jan 5); 4 – 7:30 p.m. Annual theme is flower garden of light that is featuring the lighting flower garden, princess flower dress and rainbow tunnel; 1,500 yen for over 15, 800 yen for under 12. Shuttle bus service is available from Kimitsu Station. 0439-37-3211 From Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, Sunset – 9:30 p.m. Held since Dec. 1995, entrusted with the requisition of the victims of the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake and the reconstruction and regeneration of the city. 7 minute walk from JR Motomachi Station. 078-230-1001 Until Jan. 13; Tue – Sun , 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., close on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 Various illumination decorated with over 700,000 LED lights throughout the park, live performance and fireworks are scheduled on the weekends.450 yen for over 15, 210 yen for over 65; 0824-72-7000 Festival opens until Dec. 22 (Illumination opens until Jan. 13), 5 – 11 p.m. Decorate around the shopping street in Sasebo city and the illumination selected by annual Sasebo news on the Shimanose Art Center wall is remarkable; Live performance and dance battle are scheduled through the event; 15-minute walk from JR Sasebo Station; 0956-24-4411 SOUTHEAST BOTANICAL GARDEN ILLUMINATION (OKINAWA): Decorates the light tunnels, tree house and light carpets with 1.8 mil. LED lights to illuminate trees and the promenade fantastically. 2,300 yen for adult, 1,350 yen for ages 13 - 17; 800 yen for ages 4 - 12; 5-minute drive from Okinawa Kita I.C; 098-939-2555 Until Dec. 25, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Hibiya Park Until Dec. 25, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. everyday, free, Roppongi Hills Until Dec. 13 - 26; noon – 9 p.m., free, Tamaari Town Keyaki Hiroba 2F YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE CHRISTMAS MARKET 2024: Until Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; ages 18 and older, 500 yen, Dec. 7 – 25, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; ages 12 and older, 500 yen. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse near Bashamichi Station (Minatomirai line) Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan, Korea, Guam, and Okinawa with travel tips, restaurant reviews, recipes, community and event news, and more. can tick all your travel boxes – no matter when you visit In the brisk northern reaches of Honshu, far from the urban sprawls and madding crowds, is Aomori Prefecture. A land renowned for its sugar-pumped apples and locally-brewed nihonshu for its harsh winters and thick-as-paint dialect and for an aggressively beautiful coastline matched in grandeur by the volcanically active Towada-Hachimantai National Park which is just three hours from Tokyo by shinkansen Towada-Hachimantai National Park and its surrounding areas are pretty good places to start From admiring the daring modern art centerpieces at the Towada Art Center to walking under a cosmic blanket of stars in the park’s forest by nightfall here are some recommendations to get your trip to Aomori underway As part of a project designed to reinvigorate the city of Towada through art the Towada Art Center opened its doors in 2008 The neo-urbanist complex is impossible to miss with its distinct main building in the shape of a large glass-paneled corridors; and 16 spacious pavilions Dotted around the perimeter is a series of even more ostentatious works including a galloping horse covered in psychedelic flowers and a polka-dotted pumpkin and mushroom sculpture set that bears the unmistakable artistic signature of Yayoi Kusama The current lineup inside is equally impressive featuring artists whose work has been lauded both in Japan and internationally The ‘Standing Women,’ from Australian-born artist Ron Mueck This sculpture of a buxom old woman stands almost four-meters tall yet it is the realism of her steely gaze and bulging veiny skin – a specialty of Mueck’s work – which leaves the most lasting impression Another piece that gives its viewers plenty of food for thought is ‘Cause and Effect’ by Do Ho Suh: tens of thousands of miniature resin humanoids straddling each other’s shoulders which dangle from the ceiling to form a giant reddish-orange stalactite feeding into the museum’s concept of art being opened up to the city The ‘Bridge of Light,’ a hexagon tunnel of lights by Ana Laura Alaez a blacked-out American diner accompanied by a swinging 50s soundtrack from Hans Op De Beeck are among the other quality works on display Learn more about the Towada Art Center here Approximately one hour by car from the gallery is Towada-Hachimantai National Park which covers an area of over 320 square miles and straddles three different prefectures The dynamic landscape is marked by several impressive geographical features a large body of silky-smooth water set within a caldera formed around 200,000 years ago the only major water channel to run through the park scythes through mossy forestscapes and tumbles down frothy waterfalls providing great shots for photography enthusiasts While the park is also home to several mountain ranges including the Hakkoda range in central Aomori Prefecture One of the best ways to experience as much of Towada-Hachimantai National Park as possible is via a guided hike Under the tutelage of an expert guide you can trek through the park while learning about its rich biodiversity and rare flowers such as the komakusa (horse plant) Learn more about Towada-Hachimantai National Park here In the colder months of the year – which is much of the year in Aomori – why not finish off your day with a kaiseki dinner made with seasonal ingredients and a stroll beneath the stars before sinking into an onsen bath a traditional ryokan located within the park’s boundaries is an excellent option to experience all of the above you can expect scenery here that changes quite vividly with the seasons; when autumn segues into fall and the fiery leaves are accompanied by the season’s first signs of snowfall The kaiseki meal components will also change with the season but as Aomori is Japan’s unofficial home of the apple you can expect to see these fruits entering the fray in some shape or form seafood and meat served in elegant kaiseki fashion are also likely to appear be sure to sample Tsuta Onsen’s original nihonshu with your evening repast Forest bathing is a vogue term in the world of wellness travel One of the factors setting Aomori apart from many other areas of Japan is its relative isolation When you have such isolation from the artificial glow of the cities the cosmos opens up like a snap from the Hubble Space Telescope you can walk through the forest by torchlight Your senses will enliven as every distant sound is amplified through the corridors of beech trees as you become aware of every snapping twig underfoot and as each drifting smell carries with it a million questions The walking path from the ryokan leads to the shores of Tsutanuma (Tsuta swamp) where you can turn off your torches for the star-spangled firmament to slowly reveal itself as your eyes adjust On clear nights you can see the Andromeda galaxy in all its glory the iconic Subaru star constellation (which is painted on the Japanese car manufacturer’s emblem) and even Mars piercing the sky like a faded ruby For help with organizing the activities above, Deneb a Japan-based destination management company They focus on customized trips that accommodate guests’ specific needs while supplying trained local guides and private transport services winter can quickly turn the beautiful green lush landscapes to desolate greys and whites a short 30-minute drive from Misawa Air Base over 300,000 LED lights are making the season bright Don’t miss the beautiful illuminations and art with an incredible snowy backdrop at the center Some of the works include pieces by world-renowned Japanese pop artist Yayoi Kusama and others like ingess idee and Erwing Wurm Towada Community Center “Towafuru” also offers its winter illumination this year Colorfully illuminated 30 LED spheres in the snowy garden creating breathtaking fantastic space with silver-white snow and colorful reflections Towada Art Center: 3 Sambancho (Towada Art Center) Tel: 0176-51-6773 (Towada City Chamber of Commerce and Industries) for its first exhibition with a special focus on craft, the Towada Art Center presents the personal contemporary ceramic collection of artist, curator, and gallerist Takashi Murakami ‘Takashi Murakami’s Superflat Consideration on Contemporary Ceramics’ hosts more than 1800 pieces by 28 different artists putting the spotlight on traditional and modern handicraft as an important example of art but also the owner of ‘Oz Zingaro’ — a shop specializing in contemporary ceramics — and has been one of the main protagonists in bringing the ancient craft to the international art scene in recent years 2015 25 × 28.5 × 11 cmYuji Ueda ceramic artist | born in 1975 in shiga prefecture where he currently resides(main image: photo by mikiya takimoto) the exhibition at the Towada Art Center marks Murakami’s first time curating a ceramics exhibition at an art museum and is intended as a reconsideration of the ceramic context from the chanoyu tea ceremony of Rikyuu to the more recent mingei folk art movement of Soetsu Yanagi and from the ceramics of department store galleries to those of hidden craft fairs Murakami’s mind is opened up to visitors to experience and engage with a journey into the history of ceramics is woven through works from creatives including ceramic artists Ryo Aoki and Aso Kojima; also featured are ceramic works by artists including Yoshitomo Nara 2016 40×36×33cmOtani Workshop artist | born in 1980 in shiga prefecture ‘Over ten years have passed since I first took interest in contemporary ceramics,’ Murakami explains I have been purchasing antiques alongside contemporary ceramics learning the characteristics of different artists and galleries while examining my own preferences and awareness on various issues.’ ‘I have had many thoughts and feelings through my dealings with contemporary ceramics and the theme in which I am interested at the moment is that of ‘border crossing.’ I am intrigued by the attempts to transcend values specific to a country 2010 17×20.5×21cmceramic artist Yukiharu Kumagai | born in 1978 in kanagawa prefecture 2010 48×16×24cm ©Klara Kristalova Courtesy of Galerie Perrotinartist Klara Kristalova | born in 1967 in prague 2014 34×52.5×21cmceramic artist Aso Kojima | born in 1978 in kyoto 2010 28×37×28cm © Yoshitomo Naraartist Yoshitomo Nara | born in 1959 in aomori 2015 39×35×14.5cmceramic artist Kazunori Hamana | born in 1969 in osaka 2016 36×31×16cmceramic artist Yuji Muraki | born in 1958 in kanagawa 2013 90×65×48cmceramic artist Shin Murata | born in 1970 in kyoto where he currently resides AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker As the northern end of mainland Japan awaits a transformation to a pink wonderland any day now the northern Tohoku Region (home to Misawa Air Base) is still anxiously awaiting warmer temps and its famous spring blooms as the region waits for its turn for spring parks near Misawa AB are starting to announce special events to welcome the new season Chuo Park in Misawa City will display nightly illuminations so visitors can enjoy an evening walk under the yozakura cherry blossom trees the archery competition Sakura Yabusame will be held at Towada Central Park The sporting event features female archers dressed in kimono on horseback each of the unique kimono designs manufactured by the Towada Riding Club were created in collaboration with the archers the archers shoot three arrows while they ride their horses through a 660-foot course It is a taste of regional tradition you won’t want to miss spring is on its way and there is no better way to enjoy it than by getting out to the local parks for some fun traditional bombori and chochin illuminations around cherry trees) Aomori — Momentum is growing this spring for the preservation and utilization as well as the promotion of tourism of Lake Towada and Oirase Stream in the city of Towada the Lake Towada area was selected as a model project by the Environment Ministry to attract high-quality hotels to national parks the city became the first in the Tohoku region to receive government approval for its ecotourism promotion plan to preserve and utilize the valuable natural environment of Oirase Stream The city of Towada is now working to balance environmental protection and tourism utilizing a collaboration between the government and academia The organizing committee for the Oirase Stream ecotourism project which consists of organizations including Towada city tourism businesses and nature conservation groups compiled the overall concept for the ecotourism promotion plan for Oirase Stream and it received certification from the Environment Ministry and other entities It is the 27th place in Japan to be certified The project covers the Oirase Stream and the Nenokuchi and Yakeyama areas along the shores of Lake Towada The project sets forth three basic policies: (1) the preservation of the natural environment (2) the promotion of tourism and regional development and (3) the promotion of interaction between people and nature rules will be established for the natural environment the use of the environment and the quality of ecotours The project aims to develop nature experience programs such as walking tours along mountain streams with local guides and frozen waterfall tours Local guides and related organizations will also monitor the natural environment to preserve it for the future Lake Towada is a popular tourist destination in Aomori Prefecture At less than two-hour-drive from Misawa Air Base the lake is the ideal spot for some spectacular scenery Lake Towada and the surrounding area glimmer in the beautiful snow and visitors flock there to enjoy the annual festival “Lake Towada Winter Story 2024” runs through Feb adults can enjoy cocktails served in ice glass inside a kamakura snow hut Don’t miss the nightly fireworks at the festival starting at 7:30 p.m Let’s make plans to attend this wonderous winter festival to enjoy beautiful winter of Towada ¥100 off /  Up to 1 people / Applicable to general public. Not valid with other discounts. Leave a rating/comment#Video and Film#StartingInDec2024RecommendedExhibits#Exhibitions to see during Winter Vacation (East Japan)Back to ArticlesSHARE Japan has captivated the hearts and minds of people worldwide. It is easy to see why, considering its rich culture and diverse geography. What some may not know however, is that Japan’s national parks are where you can go to experience both Japan’s land-scarce topography made it necessary for their National Park System to combine state-owned land The system is unique because it allows visitors to take an intimate look at nature and the residents’ customs This is done without disrupting their daily lives All of Japan’s national parks host unique sights that are worth visiting Akan is home to the Ainu people an indigenous community that has a deeply-rooted reverence for nature watch traditional performances dedicated to their worship of animal spirits and get a glimpse of their unique arts and crafts There were a number Ainu dialects in the past This makes those who still speak the Ainu language an extremely rare and special breed When you go to Towada-Hachimantai you would do yourself a disservice if you didn't enjoy one of the multiple hot springs in the area that exist The location of the park's main attractions allows you to take a side trip for a rejuvenating Onsen experience Those who want to visit Mount Hakkoda in the northwest can stop by Sukayu Onsen Visitors to the famous Oirase-Keiryu mountain stream in the east can go to Tsuta Onsen Travellers who want to head south to see the 2,038-metre-high Mount Iwate Ise-Shima is unique because 96% of the park is on private land that has a large residential population which allows visitors a special glance into daily lives of the locals Culture revolves around the sun and sea in this area and fishing has been a very important vocation for residents The most important shrine related to sun worship it is actually a collection of shrines that centre themselves on two shrines: Naiku and Geku It is said that at least one in ten Japanese made a pilgrimage to this sacred site during the Edo Period fishermen and female divers that live in the area are known to praise the gods for a bountiful harvest Fortunate visitors may be able to witness events like the Shiokake festival where people spend the entire day splashing each other with water to celebrate the goddess of the sea returning There was great reverence for the Mountain God in ancient Japanese culture, and the park’s most memorable site, Mount Daisen was the centre of mountain worship for the entire country with buildings scattered across the slopes which is an ancient tribute to the mountain gods The park also holds the former axis of the Izumo an ancient culture that have been depicted in mythological tales such as Kunibiki Shinwa Nikko is another mountainous area whose culture was shaped by the nature around it Most of the area is in the Nasu Volcanic Belt The volcanoes created most of the stunning scenery in the area and this is why they are intertwined with local faith and the peaks of Mount Nasudake were once a hub for mountain worship The Shrines and Temples of Nikko and the nature around them have also been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites The park is home to the mountainous region known as the Five Peaks of Mount Aso The area has become affectionately known as the Reclining Buddha as the Five Peaks are said to resemble Buddha resting Curious visitors who want to get a glimpse can head to the Nakadake Central Crater Fire Ceremony at Aso Shrine around Aso Caldera, Aso-Kuju National Park.Photograph Courtesy Ministry of the Environment, Japan.Kirishima-Kinkowan: The Mighty SakurajimaSakura-jima is the enduring talisman of Kirishima-Kinkowan It counts itself among the most active volcanoes in Japan necessitating a ban on anyone coming too close to its crater this could mean staying as far away as 2 kilometres Its minor eruptions can be viewed from multiple surrounding observation points making the mountain one of the area’s biggest tourist attractions Those interested in Japanese mythology should know the significance of the mountains of Kirishima This is where the deity named Ninigi no Mikoto was sent to rule over the planet and establish the imperial lineage Sea lovers shouldn’t skip Keramashoto. It is where one can witness why Japan is blessed to be surrounded by the sea. At this national park, families and couples can spend time under the sun at the striking beaches, or explore the treasures of the ocean by snorkelling and scuba diving. Reefs beneath the waters of Keramashoto National Park.Photograph Courtesy Ministry of the Environment, Japan.Additionally, those who want to watch humpback whales can visit Inazaki Observatory, located in Zamami-jima island, or join boat tours that take visitors close to the majestic creatures. Nature lovers on Tuesday morning took in the brilliant red foliage reflected in Tsutanuma pond a famed spot to view fall colors in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Aomori under restricted conditions to prevent crowds amid the coronavirus pandemic The 107 people chosen by lottery had to reserve time slots to view from an observation deck the surrounding beech trees that cast shades of red and orange in the morning light at the national park An Environment Ministry official responsible for the park said the measures were put in place for six days through Tuesday The number of visitors Tuesday was only about 30 percent of the turnout the previous year The parking lot was limited to around 35 cars plans to continue the crowd-reducing measures next year and beyond "I saw scenery that you can't see very easily I think admission restrictions are a good idea," said Hajime Urahashi Copyright © 2020 Kyodo News All rights reserved.No reproduction republication or redistribution without written permission To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Lake Towada’s clear waters flow into the Oirase Gorge The site is especially popular with visitors during the autumn foliage season (Courtesy Aomori Prefectural Tourism Federation) Towada-Hachimantai National Park spans the Towada and Hakkōda regions in Aomori Prefecture and the Hachimantai area which straddles the border of Iwate and Akita Prefectures Its verdant mountains and clear lakes and mountain streams offer splendid panoramas from spring to autumn with snow and rime-covered vegetation an added attraction in winter The Hakkōda Mountains are a volcanic range running through the middle of Aomori The tallest peak to the north is 1,585-meter Ō-dake and to the south is 1,517-meter Kushigamine The trails in the northern part of the range are well maintained and a ropeway runs to the top of 1,324-meter Tamoyachi-dake providing convenient access for hiking and skiing is less well-developed and geared more to experienced climbers Hakkōda Ō-dake with the gate of Yakushi Shrine in the foreground The Hakkōda Ropeway glides past strangely shaped juhyō trees transformed into alpine creatures by deposits of snow and ice (Courtesy Tōhoku Tourism Promotion Organization) on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures is a massive caldera lake some 46 kilometers in circumference turning the surface a mysterious indigo shade together with the 14-kilometer-long Oirase Gorge flowing out of it has been designated a place of special scenic beauty and a natural monument Visitors to Lake Towada can enjoy the scenic beauty along walking trails as well as aboard sightseeing vessels that ply the waters Shimmering spring greenery along the Oirase Gorge 1,614 meters above sea level at the highest point are dotted with numerous lakes and marshes The area is a popular trekking spot where visitors can observe varied ecosystems the Hachimantai Aspite Line and other roads re-open threading through walls of snow several meters high The Hachimantai area includes Akita-Komagatake the southernmost point and a treasure trove of highland vegetation A scenic view of the Hachimantai volcanic plateau features amenities such as a walking trail along the shore and scenic observation points Nōgōichigo wild strawberries bloom along a climbing trail on Akita-Komagatake (Courtesy Akita Prefectural Tourism Federation) In early spring the Hachimantai Aspite Line winds through snow corridors up to eight meters tall Hot springs are plentiful in both regions. Nestled in the western foothills of Hakkōda Ō-dake is Sukayu Onsen and its senninburo, “bath of a thousand bathers.” In the city of Senboku in neighboring Akita Prefecture, Nyūtō Onsenkyō consists of several hot spring inns strung along a gorge visitors can enjoy rejuvenating hot spring waters after a day of hiking or mountain climbing The mixed-bathing senninburo at Sukayu Onsen Many users are long-term guests who come for the waters’ therapeutic effects At Jōdogahama in Iwate Prefecture rugged sea cliffs topped by pine trees jut out into the ocean Aomori Prefecture’s Tanesashi Kaigan and Hashikami-dake Prefectural Nature Park was incorporated into the Rikuchū Kaigan National Park as a way to promote reconstruction efforts after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake The park was further expanded with the addition in 2015 of Miyagi Prefecture’s Minami Sanriku Kinkasan Quasi-National Park forming the newly-named Sanriku Fukkō National Park which stretches 250 kilometers along the Pacific coastline The park’s northernmost point is Kabushima is a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls with its eroded sea cliffs and strange rock formations which offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean A flock of black-tailed gulls over Kabushima Shrine The former Rikuchū Kaigan National Park consists of a northern area stretching from Kuji in Iwate Prefecture to the rich marine life of Miyako Bay work gathering shellfish from the ocean floor The coast is lined with cliffs 50 to 200 meters high earning the spot the name “the Alps of the ocean.” The southern portion of the park presents a varied panorama featuring a long coastline of deep troughs separated by prominent ridges Inland along the highly indented coast are the major fishing ports of Kamaishi Kuji’s Kosode Kaigan is the site of reefs and interesting rock formations like Tsuriganedō (pictured) and Kabutoiwa The cliffs at Kitayamazaki in Iwate Prefecture tower up to 200 meters above the sea Kesennuma Ōshima now accessible by car thanks to a recently erected bridge designated a natural treasure for its “singing sands,” the Kodanohama swimming beach Visitors to Sanriku Fukkō National Park can enjoy splendid panoramas and delicious seafood while also viewing the progress made in rebuilding the region since 2011 Many of its newer attractions focus on disaster preparedness The view from Gobansho Park on the Oshika Peninsula The remnants of the Rikuzen-Takata Youth Hostel and the “Miracle Pine,” the lone surviving tree out of thousands that grew along the shore Mount Gassan visible beyond Mount Haguro’s torii shrine gate Bandai-Asahi National Park encompasses a huge expanse of territory including the three sacred mountains of Dewa in Yamagata Prefecture and the flora- and fauna-rich Asahi Mountains to the west It is also home to the picturesque Iide Mountains the Azuma Mountains with their popular recreation spots and scenic Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture Dewa Sanzan is the collective name for three shrines: Gassan Shrine atop 1,984-meter Mount Gassan; Ideha Shrine at the top of 414-meter Mount Haguro; and Yudono Shrine These sites are centers for the ascetic mountain practice of shugendō The area attracts worshippers and history buffs to the shrines and visitors also come to enjoy scenic sites like Midagahara a volcanic plateau on the north side of Mount Gassan The five-storied pagoda at Mount Haguro a huge Japanese cedar estimated to be a thousand years old The gigantic torii at Mount Yudono The Midagahara wetlands at the eighth station of Mount Gassan and their high-altitude wetlands and grasslands are home to rare species of plants and insects that have managed to survive the harsh winter conditions the prefecture’s best-known landmark The Azuma Mountains include 1,707-meter Mount Azumakofuji Other attractions include the Goshikinuma volcanic lakes in Ura-Bandai north of Mount Bandai and the hot spring spas at Tsuchiyu and Takayu Ōasahi-dake (center) is the highest peak of the Asahi Mountains The beech forest at Nukumidaira in the foothills of the Iide Mountains Lake Inawashiro and snow-capped Mount Bandai in the distance (Courtesy Fukushima Prefecture Tourism and Local Products Association) Autumn colors on Mount Adatara Banner photo: A view of Mount Bandai from one of the five Goshikinuma lakes Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information The autumn foliage around Lake Tsuta Numa in Towada is a sight to behold at this time of year as beech and mizunara oak trees turn various shades of red in the morning sun The surface of the lake looks like glass when there is no wind resulting in a “water mirror” that reflects the trees This year’s high temperatures slowed the progress of the autumn color change but the cooler weather in late October restored the natural cycle about 100 people had gathered to catch the changing autumnal hues entry to Lake Tsuta Numa is by reservation only from 5 a.m Reservations are not needed after 7:30 a.m Autumn colors draw sightseers to Tateyama in Northern Alps Russians find ‘underground city’ of war era on Etorofu island VOX POPULI: Fall foliage now arrives much later than it did centuries ago Oxygen levels near zero in bottom areas of Lake Biwako LUGE/ International federation calls off plans to race in China this season Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Aomori — A women-only horseback archery competition was held in Towada Forty-three women from in and outside the prefecture participated in the Sakura Yabusame event held at the city’s Chuo Park on April 22 and 23 This was the 20th time the event has been held Though the prefecture was hit with strong cold winds on April 22 The event seemed designed to evoke the poetic word “azusayumi,” which literally means bows made of Japanese cherry birch and is used to refer to spring Participants competed at four levels: beginner Spectators burst into applause as archers in traditional Japanese costumes raced through a straight course of about 200 meters balancing themselves and shooting arrows at targets performed the purification ritual to ensure the safety of the course She pumped up the crowd by riding at a gallop through the course with her arms outstretched I was impressed by the archers’ strong core strength It really showed what it means for a rider and her horse to be one,” said Hiroki Goto View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow The Towada Art Center will present an exhibition of work by artist Yu Araki Having spent his youth moving between Japan and the United States with this vacillating identity as a springboard Araki employs his excellent visual language skills and knack for interweaving imagery to create movie documentary and animated works dealing with subjects such as mistranslations and misunderstandings between different cultures both globally and domestically; the relationship between original and reproduction and interaction between the different types of gaze arising from looking and being looked at For this first-ever solo presentation at an art museum Araki spent two-and-a-half years undertaking research in Aomori Prefecture The result is a vision of Aomori today through his eyes: of a place shaped by human endeavor in the form of traditional crafts and customs and by major natural events that have transformed its topography The exhibition will focus primarily on new works based on the artist’s experiences in the prefecture As a contemporary art hub with a strong pop streak the Towada Art Center is suited to this buoyant theme The Arts Towada indoor/outdoor complex is dotted with colorful sculptures that beckon visitors to roam around and enter them with creations from artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Erwin Wurm To kick off “Jump,” on July 18th and 19th the athletic dance unit nmatu-posu gave an acrobatic performance in the museum’s bright and airy cafe space Towada Art Center cafe exterior viewnmatu-posu An aim of “Jump” is to encourage viewers to take a step beyond merely observing artworks and move towards interacting with and becoming a part of them “Play,” says Arts Towada public relations manager Hiroki Toyokawa “is an ideal way to welcome newcomers to the world of art.” Erwin Wurm’s ‘One Minute Sculptures’ series embodies this idea of art being active rather than passive and a drain cleaner bottle with instructions for visitors to balance these items on their bodies or between each other transforming themselves into temporary “sculptures.” Photographs on the wall illustrate how others have acted out these prompts 'One Minute Sculptures' installation viewErwin Wurm 'Astronomical Enterprise' (2014) demonstration by Jennifer Pastore ‘Crowbot Jenny’ (2011) by the artist Sputniko extends the playful interactions between humans to other species wing-shaped robot that mimics crow calls with specific messages a device she uses to communicate with real birds a performance art trio named after the fictional city of Xijing offer a video called ‘Welcome to Xijing – Xijing Olympics’ (2008) Here they pretend to be Olympic athletes competing in absurd events like balloon volleyball While the appeal to silliness is a strength of the clips (the response of children is probably a good measure of a show about play and the elementary schooler beside me was cracking up) subversive message about the ridiculousness of nations taking themselves and their sporting events too seriously 'Welcome to Xijing – Xijing Olympics' (2008)The Xijing Men 'Welcome to Xijing – The Xijing Olympics' (2008) Hirofumi Masuda’s ‘Towada Kitchen Channel,’ another video-based work stirs memories of food and home with Towada residents appearing on the set of a cooking show to explain favorite household recipes Viewers can switch back and forth between each of the presenters’ channels watching the programs in Japanese and English “Jump” also delves into the obsessive side of play in works like ‘CDs’ by Masaru Aikawa who paid homage to his favorite musicians by replicating the artwork of their CD jackets and lyric booklets by hand In addition to a dozen or so of these astoundingly detailed tributes there are headphones and a CD player on the wall for listening to the albums sung known as “the world’s greatest TV-watcher” and admired for her caricatures and sharp-witted essays is another artist demonstrating a keenness to absorb and reproduce subjects of fascination A selection of eraser stamps from Seki’s collection of more than 5,000 pieces is on display As the kind of show that takes interactions between works and viewers to the next level can be more than an amusement – it gives us the wings to take leave of our conventional confines to reimagine ourselves and our surroundings MuPon-eligible “Jump” ends August 30th the Christmas decorations go up and festive cheer is in the air There is only one thing at the foremost of our minds – winter is here countless visitors flock to Japan to partake in a vast array of snow activities Adrenaline junkies may choose to head to ski resorts for some heart-pumping actions while onsen lovers might think about braving the brief cold before settling down in a “Rotenburo” (open-air bath) surrounded by fresh snow where magnificent snow and ice structures are put on display for all to be in awed at and as a form of appreciation they give an offering at the altar Those looking for something truly romantic and whimsical would do well to turn their sights towards Sendai of Miyagi Prefecture Easily accessible within the Sendai City area the Pageant of Starlight lives up to its name with over 600,000 lights installed on a long line of zelkova trees there are many activities and attractions that are set up expressly for the year-end festivities – booths serving hot chocolate and stews are always welcome additions to warm one up in the winter nights while a skating rink is also set up in the area for that additional There is even a parade of Santa Clauses that form a marching band with musical instruments and snazzy dance moves The countdown to the very first light-up is a highly anticipated event with people readying their cameras to capture the moments of the lights coming on fret not – the lights are usually turned off for one minute three times daily then re-light in unison at “Starlight Wink” which will guarantee you plenty of chances to experience that magical moment again in the japanese city of aomori, architect kengo kuma has completed a wooden community center that contains an undulating children’s playroom designed to appear integrated within the neighboring townscape the project features a jagged roofline that breaks up the building’s relatively large scale external façades are clad with wainscot paneling with interstitial spaces revealing the activity inside the children’s playroom is joined by a cooking studio and a tatami room – all organized around a central foyer that connects the scheme the scheme contains an undulating children’s playroomimage © kenta hasegawa the children’s playroom is joined by a cooking studio and a tatami roomimage © kenta hasegawa a central foyer connects the entirety community centerimage © kenta hasegawa external façades are clad with wainscot paneling image © kenta hasegawa a jagged roofline breaks up the building’s relatively large scaleimage © kenta hasegawa 2015use: plaza for social communicationarea: 1,800 sqmphotography: kenta hasegawa spanning the prefectural border between Akita and Aomori is one of the main scenic attractions of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park drawing streams of visitors throughout the year The site is especially attractive during the autumn foliage season from mid-October through early November when the deep blue of the lake surface offers a striking contrast to the red and yellow leaves of the maple and oak trees covering the surrounding slopes Five observation points offer sweeping views of the scene and sightseeing boat rides on the lake give visitors a chance to see how clear the water is This lake is a double caldera—a pair of craters resulting from volcanic activity The portion called Nakanoumi (Middle Lake) and water flowed in from the existing lake making this the third deepest lake in Japan The outflow from eastern end of the lake is the source of the Oirase River which extends over a 67-kilometer course to the Pacific Ocean This river has carved a gorge that is considered the most beautiful in Japan Created in cooperation with Cable Networks Akita.) korean artist jeonghwa choi, is currently exhibiting at the towada art center, japan. curated by nanjo and associates the exhibition is entitled ‘ok!’ jeonghwa choi is one of the most well-known korean contemporary artists’ who creates works with the philosophy of ‘art for everyone’ such as rice bowls and plastic housewares transforming them into sculptural pieces works are currently installed in various locations around the city including high-street shops and public places the exhibition will be on view until august 23th exterior of ‘ok!’ exhibition courtesy the artist jeonghwa choi courtesy the artistchoi is an artist his works have been presented at numerous biennales including liverpool (2004) Through the introduction of these two facilities the city intends to improve public welfare and the environment for lifelong learning by attracting the public of all ages and through numerous social events improve the ties and social exchange between the communities More architects’ description after the break our winning scheme is the “Plaza for Social Communication” The site is facing a shopping district in the city center and the proposal strives to improve communication and social exchange amongst the citizens becoming a vibrant center for creation integral to the city development The theme throughout the project is a “New place for social exchange” and by integrating streets and plazas it creates shared spaces where communities can prosper through the vibrancy born We call this “Michi-no Hiroba” (plaza of streets) there will be playrooms introduced where children can play in a safe environment and will introduce galleries that can accommodate exhibitions of all nature produced by local and international artists offices for people who support the civic activities and small offices for other related activities This will generate a network that strengthens the connection with the local region You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email In the Tohoku region of Japan's main island Aomori Prefecture sits at the very northern tip This distinctive locale marries the untouched beauty of its national park with the modernity of art This article describes the appeal of this region and its efforts in museum-centric cultural tourism In the western part of Towada City lies the Towada-Hachimantai National Park* This park boasts numerous breathtaking views the Oirase Gorge known for its autumn foliage and ice cascades** In the urban area of the eastern part of the city a proactive effort to foster town development through art is underway the Center features a permanent exhibition of 43 works by 38 contemporary artists from both Japan and abroad (as of October 2023) with many of them being large-scale creations Since these works are commissioned specifically for the Center visiting here offers a unique opportunity to witness art that cannot be viewed elsewhere the Center goes beyond preserving and displaying artworks It operates with the concept of seamlessly integrating into the local community and mutually fostering growth Shimoda Tatsuya from Towada Oirase Tourism Organization explains "The structure allows visitors to appreciate the artworks from both inside and outside the building since works are also placed outdoors around the facility you'll find yourself immersed in an ambiance that transforms the entire town into an art gallery." efforts to accommodate foreign tourists are also progressing "The proportion of overseas visitors coming to Towada City accounts for approximately 20% of all tourists when attractions like the Oirase Gorge's autumn foliage are at their peak enjoy both the art scene and Towada's natural beauty," says Mr the majority of international tourists come from East Asia such as China No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form TOKYO -- A Japanese electronics manufacturing service company is breathing new life into the Aiwa brand reviving a once-beloved household name known for making high-quality audiovisual products Sony has sold the right to use the brand name to a Japanese company engaged in electronics contract manufacturing The company will start selling products such as music players and 4K TVs under the Aiwa brand at home and abroad this autumn The new merchandise will be manufactured in China Japanese version