fbpx
    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
        mead brewing in japan

        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
        the knights in white lycra

        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
        sea to table yamagata

        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
    • Near Tokyo
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • climbing mt. fuji off season

        Mt. Fuji: The Path Less Traveled

        Fuji-san is the most climbed mountain in the world. If you are in good shape, there is a way to avoid the traffic for a more peaceful Mt. Fuji experience during the off-season.
    • Travel
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Food and Drinks
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Races and Events
      • dd4d brewing

        DD4D Brewing

        In nearly e...
        fuji rock japan

        2023 Summer Music Festivals

        Get into the groove this green season while enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends.
        Summer Events Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        Enjoy these fireworks festivals held throughout Japan this summer and autumn.

2022 Art Events in Japan

Setouchi Triennale 

Umi-no-eki Naoshima

One of the most fascinating outdoor art events is back this year. Setouchi Triennale’s contemporary artwork is spread out among 12 islands in the Seto Inland Sea between Kagawa and Okayama prefectures. Themed “restoration of the sea,” the event aims to revitalize the local environment and community after severe depopulation. The event is divided over three sessions, with the first (spring session) held between mid April to mid May. Each session includes both permanent, site-specific installations and single-season exhibitions.

Although the iconic Yayoi Kusama yellow pumpkin sculpture went viral for washing away in a typhoon last summer and is currently being restored, there are plenty of exhibitions to enjoy. The event is also a unique opportunity to experience Japan’s traditional island culture. 

Keep a lookout for season-specific tours and exhibitions. For example, official tours to Shamijima Island are only available in spring. The island boasts an ancient history of human habitation with pottery shards and stone implements dating back to the Jomon Period (12,000-300 B.C.) and nine kofun, ancient burial mounds. 

Three-session passport tickets are available for ¥5,000 (free for children 15-years-old and below). 

When: Spring session: April 14 – May 18; Summer session: Aug. 5 – Sept. 4; Autumn session: Sept. 29 – Nov. 6
Where: Seto Inland Sea Islands

Echigo Tsumari Art Field

“Rotating Absence” by Koichiro Azuma Photo: Keizo Kioku

This event was originally a triennale and is set against the backdrop of Niigata’s mountains and satoyama (Japanese countryside). The art festival is an immersive way to travel across six areas in Echigo, the former name for Niigata Prefecture. View contemporary art exhibitions, try local cuisine at culinary events and don’t miss out on the popular permanent exhibitions like the Tunnel of Light and the House of Light by James Turrellare. This year the festival also welcomes 114 new artworks. There are guided day-trip bus tours to and from Echigo-Yuzawa Station, which include lunch. 

Passport tickets are available for ¥4,500 for adults and free for children in junior high school or younger.

When: April 29 – Nov. 13
Where: Echigo Tsumari, Niigata

[novo-map id=2 individual=”yes”]

Outdoor Japan logo tree

Related

1 comment

  1. Last weekend, I visited the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, shown in the photograph at the top of the Art Events in Japan section, and I was impressed by the natural beauty of the surroundings and the imaginative way that artists turned the tunnel into an interactive art exhibit. I doubt that anyone would leave unimpressed. The unique foot bath in the cafe near the front is worth visiting.

Leave a reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest posts

Categories