Setouchi Triennale 2022 - be inspired by Japanese contemporary art
Celebrate the best of Japanese contemporary art by visiting the Setouchi Triennale 2022, a contemporary art festival held across 12 islands in the Seto Inland Sea, including Naoshima in Kagawa Prefecture, which is known worldwide as a "sacred place for contemporary art".
Since its inception in 2010, the Setouchi Triennale is Japan's leading art festival, drawing over 1 million visitors every time, and this year is the 5th time this international art festival will be held.
This year's festival will feature a total of 184 artists from 33 countries and regions, including Tadao Ando, Yayoi Kusama and Leandro Erlich. They will create a total of 214 works of art in different genres displayed across 14 locations.
Setouchi Triennale 2022 Information
- Dates (Total 105 days):
- Spring edition: From 14 April to 18 May 2022
- Summer edition: From 5 August to 4 September 2022
- Autumn edition: From 29 September to 6 November 2022
- Venue: Setouchi region including Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, and Shodoshima, and 14 areas around Takamatsu Port in Kagawa Prefecture
- Access: https://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/access/city.html
- Website: https://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/
- Comment from the festival's executive committee: "From the very beginning, the Setouchi Triennale has had the theme of 'Restoration of the Sea' and aims to restore vitality to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, where beautiful nature and people have intersected and harmonised to make the Setouchi region the 'Sea of Hope' for all regions on the earth.”
Zenbo Seinei - reflect and relax with zen
Designed by award-winning architect Shigeru Ban, a zen wellness retreat with panoramic views opened in April 2022 in the centre of Awaji Island in Setouchi region.
The retreat offers travellers moments for self-reflection, healthy eating and mindfulness. There are various zen activities including zazen meditation, zen writing, yoga and incense workshops. If you are staying overnight in the retreat (shukubo), you can also experience a pilgrim's journey, as each room is assigned a different zen word to immerse you onto your path.
Staying true to zen philosophy, the cuisine offered is all vegan food using local tofu, vegetables and rice to give your body the ultimate treat.
The building uses Japanese cedar: it is recommended to go barefoot within the facility to experience the warm textures of the wood directly on your skin, and the deep aroma that surrounds you will relax your body during your time at Zenbo Seinei.
The rooftop has a 100-metre wood deck, which is built under a mountain ridge so you can experience 'air-zen', where you are not bound by concepts of being inside or outside, and if it's raining you can enjoy the sound of the falling rain as if you are in the depth of the woods.
Zenbo Seinei Information
- Reservations: Both one day activities and overnight stays require advanced reservation, with a maximum of 40 people per day. Reservations can be made through the official website.
- Address: 2594-5 Kusumoto , Awaji-shi, Hyogo-ken 656-2301
- Access: https://www.zenbo-seinei.com/en/access
- Website: https://www.zenbo-seinei.com/en
Kanyoji Temple and gardens - let the temple gardens refresh your mind, body and spirit
Kanyoji Temple was built in 1374 by the Ouchi clan, great feudal lords who were known as the most powerful and prosperous clan in the region at the time. Now in 2021, over 650 years after it was originally built, Kanyoji Temple Garden has been recognised by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, as one of Japan's greatest places of scenic beauty.
The temple is famous for its distinctive design by renowned gardener Mirei Shigemori and features six elegant gardens, including the "Kyokusui no Niwa" garden, which is mainly composed of flowing water being drawn into the garden; the "Jizo Yuge no Niwa" garden which uses the iconic Japanese garden technique called "Karesansui", which is a Japanese garden style that uses rocks and sand to express landscapes without using water; and the “Kusen Hakkai no Niwa” garden, which is named after the Buddhist cosmology of Nine Mountains and Eight Seas.
Visitors can also enjoy strolling through the temple gardens during autumn to experience the vibrate fall foliage and experiencing sutra copying and Zen meditation on the grounds, however prior reservations are required for sutra copying or meditation.
Kanyoji Temple Information
- Reservations: No reservation required for visiting the temple and gardens.
- Access: 40 mins by car from JR Tokuyama Station
- Website: http://kanyouji.or.jp/ (Japanese language only)
About Setouchi, Japan
Located in western Japan, the Setouchi Region is the area around the Seto Inland Sea, which is the largest sea in Japan, surrounded by seven prefectures: Ehime, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kagawa, Okayama, Tokushima, and Yamaguchi. It is known around the world for its beautiful scenery with no waves and islands that look as if they are floating. The region has fostered a history and culture that has been influenced by the sea and as a result have great attractions that are appealing to any visitor. Here are three examples of what you can experience in Setouchi to stay inspired and relaxed in a different kind of way.
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