Direction Japan in Setouchi, between nature and art

7 prefectures

Setouchi comprises seven prefectures: Shimonoseki, Nagato, Hagi, Miyajima, Onomichi, Fukuyama and Okayama. Here you'll find castles, lush gardens, the Seto Inland Sea, picturesque villages, temples, valleys... everything you need to experience Japan at its most authentic, far from the hustle and bustle of the country's big cities.

The Wooden Trunk

Au départ d’Okayama, la Malle en Bois est un le moyen de locomotion idéal pour découvrir Setouchi et la beauté de la région. Son nom tient au fait que les fenêtres s’apparentent à des valises. Ce train touristique inauguré en 2016 a été pensé par le directeur général de la Triennale de Setouchi, Fram Kitagawa. Ce dernier s’est inspiré du changement des quatre saisons au Japon pour imaginer ce train qui circule sur quatre destinations et présente des panoramas variés.</p

Art and Nature

After a train ride, head for the Okayama Forest Arts Festival. These open-air exhibitions feature works that blend perfectly with the surrounding area, including the Makido and Ikurado caves in the town of Nimi, the Okutsukei Valley not far from Kagimino, Tsuyama Castle, the Sakushu Folk Crafts Museum and the Tsuyama Hills. Join us from September 28 to November 24 to appreciate the forty or so artists from 13 countries exhibiting at these sites.

Sleeping in a work of art

And to complete this artistic journey in Japan, why not stay in a work of art in Okayama? That's the idea behind A&A Hotel, a project initiated by the Ishikawa Foundation. The ambition of this project is to bring together a contemporary artist and a Japanese architect to design a work of art in which to sleep. The result is A&A Liam Fuji, designed as a 3D labyrinth, and A&A Jonathan Hasegawa, which echoes an observation platform. All the ingredients for a memorable night's sleep!

Photo credits:
© Jonathan Hasegawa © Kotsu Shimbunsha © Topexpos Voyages ©DR