Toyoshima where nobody lives but an artwork

a distant view of Kaze-no-oto in toyoshima

This is the third summer the artwork on the island of toyoshima is open to the public. My friend and I landed on the island today and spent about an hour. There are two boat services a day to go there and to come back from there, respectively. It connects the port of habu in In-no-shima and toyoshima port. Inevitably we took one in the afternoon spent a little over an hour until the boat back to the port of habu. 

At a remote uninhabited island of toyoshima, an artwork is just there. More things will come around not quickly but slowly. It will be the way. Staffers told us, hisako and me, to stay in the art as long as we liked and we freely walked around and took pictures. Which we cannot do in the galleries of naoshima or many other art sites. The sun moves, the light changes. Later we had a free drink in a restaurant wing of villa Kaze-no-oto overlooking the sea. Fantastic. Loved it.

approaches to the artwork

fourteen glass panels

strange glass reflection

the Seto Inland Sea in a distance

world-famous artist did this

Kaze-no-oto, very private cottages and a reception/restaurant wing

restaurant and cafe of villa gaze-no-oto

tiny shrine, almost abandoned but it's still there

Shinsho-zen-ji temple gives you all.

Shinsho-zen-ji is about 50 years old, a new temple but confident about what they do. The founder was a president of a big ship building company, wishing for the repose of those who died in the sea. Two buddhist monks are always there joined by another two who come alternately from Kyoto. 

This is where you can appreciate all; traditional Japan, zen, garden, architecture, and old and new art. Please find a way and time to go there.


http://szmg.jp/en/

http://shinshoji.com/english/

Rokko Shidare can be enjoyed all the year round

Architect Sanbuichi's works have been increasing in number along the Seto Inland Sea area. This is one of them. In winter, if everything goes well, soft rime can be seen on the Rokko Mountain where this observation platform stands. The architect has been known for his thorough research of the natural elements - he calls them the moving materials. He did it to find the optimum form for the soft rime to come down on the branch-like structure he created around the pavilion. In summer, the mountain is an easy retreat from city heat. It's easy to access from Kobe or the Arima Onsen resort. Every season, Rokko shows you something different.

approach to the pavilion

froggy from Peter Rabbit

Ice is formed in the terraced basins during winter which is kept and used for natural air conditioning of the pavilion during the summer

chimney-like structure is to circulate the air naturally

Inside the pavilion

light coming in from above the circular sitting place

Ine houses on waterfront

Ine waterfront houses

sunrise seen from the coast in front our inn

Ine has been used for movie or TV filming. Impressive houses remain. Taking a marine taxi for about 30 minutes around the bay is fully recommended. Skippers are so friendly and their English has been improving because of rising numbers of foreign visitors. We joined a walking tour for 90 minutes and felt attached to Ine. It is conducted in Japanese so not for English speakers but the boat ride is so much fun even without any English. You will particularly enjoy being with locals.

Here are more photos:

part of the house with seawater

seen from the boat

remote but dream places in Kansai & Chugoku regions

This is one recommended drive tour around the Kansai and Chugoku regions presented by jasmine.
Kansai includes Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka but this tour takes you to the off the beaten path. You will need a car but at one of the destinations, I met a young female backpacker who found that place, took a bus, saw all, and left for somewhere. She was beautiful and had an extraordinary experience.

Itinerary:
Hiroshima (our home) - long drive - Genbudo - drive through Kinosaki Onsen - drive along the rocky coast - Stayed overnight at Ine - Ine Bay 30-min boat ride and a morning walking tour (fully appreciated Ine) - drop by at Amanohashidate area - Stayed overnight at Arima Onsen - drive to the parking lot, take a cable to the Rokko Mountain; see down below from Rokko Shigure observation pavilion - drive to Shinsho-zen-ji in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Pre. - drive back home

Columnar joints of basalt at Genbudo

The itinerary I prepared for our private tour this time included Genbudo, a former excavation site of basalt. We stayed at Ine overnight but before we went there, we first dropped by at Genbudo, drove through Kinosaki Onsen, and along the coast we got to a very cosy inn in Ine. 

It's much better learning more about its geological facts from a local guide or from a geologist but just seeing columnar joints of basalt was completely impressive. We were lucky enough to talk and listen to both a local guide and an expert who just happened to be there for his research.

More about other places later.

Shinsho-zen-ji temple has all you would like to see and experience

The Temple is off the beaten path; yet I met a young woman somewhere from the west, a handsome backpacker whose backpack was as a serious backpacker huge. But she found the place and saw all.

This was my second time; the first time I saw Fujimori's architecture and all the premises. This time, in addition to wondering around the whole grounds, I went into the Hakuin Room gallery and Kotei installation. These two were new, from last year (2016).

This is a perfect site where you can get in touch with Zen, Japanese gardens, old and new-style architecture, and artwork of water and light. All in one.

http://shinshoji.com/english/

http://szmg.jp/en/

https://www.urdesignmag.com/architecture/2017/07/11/kohtei-sandwich-kohei-nawa-fukuyama/