Okayama, a Delightfully Unlikely Hub of Creativity and Contemporary Art

Despite its history as a prominent hub of trade and commerce, Okayama was long overshadowed as a cultural destination by better-known cities like Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka. This has started to change in recent years, as the city of Okayama as well as Okayama Prefecture and the entire Setouchi region have encouraged local and international artists to contribute to the creation of a thriving contemporary arts and culture scene.

Shaped by Its History, but Innovating for the Future

This modern evolution of arts and culture in Okayama has undoubtedly been shaped by experimentation and innovation, but much of this has thoughtfully incorporated influences from the city’s past. Several of its outdoor modern art installations have been creatively integrated into historic structures such as Okayama Shrine in ways that offer new perspectives on the relationship between past, present, and future. The A&A project reflects this eclectic approach, with A&A JONATHAN HASEGAWA designed through international artistic collaboration that thoughtfully reimagines and repurposes an existing building.

A Stay with a Sense of Place

A Unique Villa That Reimagines the Old While Testing the Possibilities of the New

When you arrive in front of A&A JONATHAN HASEGAWA, take a moment to observe the structure from outside. The villa was not originally a single building but a group of three consisting of two renovated former homes connected by a single new structure built between them. This central structure, featuring broad plate glass windows and large concrete pillars, stands tallest, with the bathroom on its upper floor providing views of the surrounding neighborhood and Korakuen Garden, one of the most famous traditional gardens in Japan.

A Fascinating Interior Design Filled with Shifting Light and Shadow

As you step inside A&A JONATHAN HASEGAWA, the first thing you will notice is the complex interplay between light and shadow. While the large plate glass windows allow in plenty of natural sunlight, they are arranged in such a way that different parts of the interior are illuminated or cast in shadow throughout the day. Enjoy these pleasing, shifting contrasts as you explore the various parts of the villa. Somehow, this comfortable, private space still maintains a strong sense of connection to the community around it.

The piece de resistance of this villa is the bathroom, which occupies the top floor of the central structure of the building. Warmed by the soft glow of natural sunlight through diagonally-set windows with a steeply-sloped triangular roof, this bathroom perfectly balances its contrasts. Angular yet smooth, expansive yet cozy, modern yet with a sense of traditional wooden architecture—it is a piece of compelling art in and of itself, as well as a wonderful place for a long, relaxing bath.

Deepen Your Connection to the Region

Explore Okayama’s Vibrant Contemporary Art Scene with a Guided Walking City Tour (Additional Option)

As an additional option designed to acquaint you more intimately with Okayama’s vibrant contemporary art scene, Wabunka offers a guided walking tour that visits several of the city’s most prominent outdoor art installations. Because these installations are located quite close to A&A JONATHAN HASEGAWA, you will meet your guide in front of the accommodation, continuing onward at a leisurely pace while you learn more about the emergence of Okayama as a new center of modern art. Walking the streets of the city will also allow you to observe daily life in the present day alongside views of historic sites like Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden.

Among the modern art installations you may visit on your tour is “How to Work Better” by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, a list of ten rules for life written in red on a white wall. Whether you take them as sincere or tongue-in-cheek is down to your own personal interpretation. Another striking installation is “Faceted Development” by Liam Gillick, which transformed an existing structure into a surreal vertical spiral of color that juts up dramatically alongside a traffic intersection. As you visit these and other public art installations, feel free to discuss them thoroughly with your guide, asking questions whenever you like.

Visit Okayama Shrine to Give Thanks and Participate in a Formal Prayer Ceremony (Additional Option)

Your guide for the walking tour will be an A&A staff member, who is extremely knowledgeable about the city’s history and culture. On this tour, you will visit the 1000-year-old Okayama Shrine, which was formerly located within the walls of Okayama Castle and is believed to offer protection to the city. There, you will take part in a formal prayer ceremony known as go-kito, which expresses gratitude and evokes divine protection, purification, and assistance. During your visit to the shrine, you can also view one more contemporary art installation called “Wood Grid Crossing Two-way Mirror” by Dan Graham, which somewhat resembles sliding shoji doors but includes two-way mirrors that provoke contemplation of the self, the shrine, and the surrounding environment.

You will then visit Saboe Okayama near Korakuen Garden for tea and sweets. The tea room in this elegant restaurant and shop is housed within a former soy sauce storehouse that has been carefully renovated to retain its original shape and essence. After your tea, you will be presented with complimentary tickets to both Rabbit Hole and Fukuoka Shoyu Gallery, which you may visit at your leisure.

*Please note that the regular closing days for each venue are listed in the “Things to Know” section.

Please note that this walking tour can be held on either the first or second day of your stay, according to your request. In the event of inclement weather, the tour will be canceled and a full refund given.

Experience Modern Art in Okayama on the Streets You Walk and in the Villa Where You Stay

Many travelers come to Japan with an interest in the mysteries of its deeply fascinating past, eager to visit castles, shrines and temples that are hundreds of years old as well as fine art and calligraphy that dates back many centuries. But Japan is also a land that keeps on moving, filled with contemporary art and architecture that can be every bit as intriguing as structures and artworks from years past. This is not limited to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, but can also be found in abundance in cities like Okayama, where artistic innovation is encouraged to continue to flourish.

This special Wabunka plan gives you the opportunity to experience Okayama’s contemporary art scene in unforgettable ways, with a night spent in a uniquely-designed villa that is in itself a striking example of artistry and architectural ingenuity. If you opt for the guided walking tour as well, you will discover many more ways that artists are redesigning and re-imagining the cityscape of Okayama with thoughtful public artworks that provoke us to think, reflect, and dream.