Back in May, a group of Cultivist members experienced a two-week journey through Japan’s art destinations of Tokyo, Naoshima, and Kyoto.

The adventure kicked off in Tokyo with visits to top museums and exhibitions. At the Mori Art Museum, we were amazed by Theaster Gates' retrospective, the largest solo show ever of a Black artist in Japan. Gates' work, blending social activism with artistic expression, featured pieces crafted from the original pinewood floor of the Park Avenue Armory to honour Black American soldiers from the Vietnam War.

No art trip to Japan is complete without experiencing the work of Yayoi Kusama. During our private hour at the Yayoi Kusama Museum we experienced some of the artist’s most celebrated pieces such as her iconic pumpkin-themed mirror room and a new soft sculpture-covered boat, originally introduced in the 1960s.

Our private tour of the Enoura Observatory, an architectural gem by contemporary architect Hiroshi Sugimoto provided panoramic views of Sagami Bay. Director Haruko Hoyle guided us through, explaining Sugimoto’s innovative integration of architecture with the natural landscape. We admired the observatory’s open-air spaces and meticulous design details, learning about Japan’s rich history of architecture and design, a truly fascinating encounter.

In Naoshima, we stayed at the Benesse House Museum, a hybrid museum and hotel, designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando. Our bedroom walls were decorated by leading contemporary artists such as Cai Guo-Qiang and Sol Lewitt and we enjoyed exclusive tours of the region's key art sites: Ando Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, and the Valley Gallery, each showcasing unique approaches to contemporary art.

In Kyoto, our visit began at the historic Jishō-ji, or Silver Pavilion, a Zen temple built in the 15th century as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Known for its understated elegance and harmonious integration with nature, the Silver Pavilion provided a historical start to our Kyoto leg.

Our visit to the studio of contemporary artist Kohei Nawa was inspiring. Nawa is best known for his PixCell series, where he covers the surfaces of discarded items with transparent ‘cells’ to create a pixelated effect. His studio space, a former sandwich factory now repurposed as an artist residency and collaboration hub, gave us a unique glimpse into his upcoming projects and the processes behind his work.

We rounded off the trip with a dinner hosted by contemporary calligraphy master Kyoko Nakamura at the historic Yoshida Sanso imperial villa, a prime example of traditional Shoin architecture. Nakamura's unique illustrations blend traditional Japanese symbols such as white rabbits and Kanji lettering with contemporary digital techniques and colour, creating neon works which often nod to the style of manga. As the evening drew to a close, we enjoyed traditional ‘enkai’ entertainment with a dance performance by ‘Jikata’ geishas who are trained in classical music. The perfect note to end our stay!

Our trip to Japan stands out as one of our most successful, leaving all our guests with a deepened appreciation of Japan's artistic heritage, history and culture. As one member commented: 'there are no words to describe the collective experience and the visual and cultural feast'. 

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