Every summer, the city of Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture turns rice paddies into giant canvases, planting colorful rice varieties to form massive works of art. Known as tanbo art, these living murals stretch across nearly three hectares and can only be fully appreciated from above. Gyoda’s rice paddy art holds the Guinness World Record for the largest of its kind, and each year it draws visitors eager to see what design will emerge from the fields.
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All photos by Shotaro Hamasaki, courtesy mitone design.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Kochi prefecture’s Monet’s Garden Marmottan, a beloved recreation of Monet’s iconic garden in France, Kitagawa Village has brought the garden’s peaceful beauty to the Gomen-Nahiri Line in Kochi. Designed by mitone design, this special train is filled with photographs taken over the year at the garden, showing blooming flowers, soft light, and beautiful scenery. Even the ceiling features a custom pattern inspired by Monet’s kitchen tiles, with a hidden character named “Kitagawa Monet-san”, designed by Anpanman’s creator Takashi Yanase.
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all photos by Sayuki Inoue
Located in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, the Shosoin is the Imperial treasure house associated with Todai-ji Temple. Constructed in the 8th century, it safeguards nearly 9,000 precious artifacts once belonging to Emperor Shomu, donated by his widow, Empress Komyo. In a new exhibition going on this summer at the Osaka Museum of History, several artists have been selected to reinterpret and create artworks based on the treasures.
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08coffee is a quaint coffee shop and coffee bean retailer located in the city of Akita. Set off from the main road, the space is as cozy as its neighborhood. It occupies a large white building with parking on the ground level and the cafe space above it, that serves up specialty coffee from all around the world, which is roasted on premise every morning.
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Marie Asaba is a Yokohama-based illustrator who depicts children, animals and plants using delicate expressions and bold compositions. Raised in lush Toyama, Asaba draws on her early connections with nature to inform her work, and her own identity. In a new exhibition titled ‘FACE’ the illustrator points her gaze to the subtle expressions of her many subjects, both animate and inanimate.
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We were saddened to learn that Kimiko Nishimoto, known for absurdist self-portraits, passed away on June 9, 2025. She was 97. Nishimoto’s creative journey began, unexpectedly, at the age of 72 when she decided to take a photography class. She immediately fell in love with the medium and began taking humorous, comical and sometimes surreal self-portraits.
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There are several remote corners of Japan that have been comparing themselves to world-famous tourist destinations. Whether it’s out of pride, a bid to attract tourists, or just a good sense of humor, their reasons vary. But that’s not to say their intentions are misguided. Each site has various similarities and resemblances, along with their own character that you won’t find elsewhere. From the Amalfi Coast of Japan to the Machu Picchu of Japan, here are all the places to see the world, without ever leaving Japan.
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“Garden of a youth hostel – Katsunuma” (2024). Pencil and watercolor on paper mounted on panel
Wielding just pencils and watercolors, and an eye for the small things in life, artist Yukiko Suto traverses Japan, capturing the nostalgia and beauty of residential neighborhoods. Old homes, parking lots, roadside gardens, and weeds: these common elements of Japan are easily overlook. But for Suto, they are all evidence of some stranger’s labor and joy, and thus worth capturing, which she does in stunning detail.
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As the Osaka Expo draws the world’s attention to Osaka, the city is poised to add an additional attraction. Between May 28 and June 24, Osaka Art & Design 2025 (OAD2025) will run parallel to the Expo, transforming the city’s urban space into a public art museum.
The event, which brings together local Japanese shops and companies, sees more than 60 venues across the city’s neighborhoods host more than 600 creators and brands from Japan and around the world. You can browse the full guide on their website but below are a few of our highlights!
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a triptych by Toyokuni Utagawa depicting an excursion to gather bamboo shoots (early 1800s)
According to Japan’s ancient calendar of 72 microseasons, right now is microseason 21: the time of year when “Bamboo Shoots Sprout.” Known as takenoko in Japan, these voracious plants have numerous uses in Japan, both as building materials but also edible vegetables. They can be store-bought but in ancient Japan they were delicacies that had to be picked and eaten right away or they would harden. The image above from the 1800s is part of a series depicting seasonal activities around the year. This one, from May, is a beautiful triptych that depicts noblewomen out on an excursion to gather bamboo shoots.
However, their incredible vitality and speed at which they grow—sometimes as much as 1 ft per day—can also wreak unexpected havoc on homes, particularly in the countryside.
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