September 2024
Benesse House Museum is an art museum and hotel in one facility. The theme of the museum is “A harmonious integration of nature, architecture, and art”. Being both the architecture of the building and exhibitions mordern, it is like a treasure box outside and inside. Architect is Tadao Ando, who is the strength of geometrical designing and blending lighting expression to architecture. Unique display areas which based on the concept of the sea and valley locate both inside and outside. Even the sunlight and ocean view surrounding the museum are spice to make new impression of the exhibitions. There are also some exclusives for night over guests. Benesse house, the hotel provides exhibitions displayed only for the guests and night time art touring.
Secondly, you will explore a unique vine bridge in Tokushima.
Niyodo river has six bridges that have narrow bodies and simple structures. The name means “bridge which sinks bottom” in Japanese came from the bridge literally sinks under the water when it rained heavily. One of the bridges, Asao chinka bridge is famous for taking place for popular dramas and films. Enjoying the beautiful view of the river, exploring every six Chinkabashi following flow of the river is good idea to create a travell memory.
There are some famous town revitalisation projects using beautiful historical buildings such as Machiya and Ozu castle.Machiya is a traditional building style which was for citizen houses in the past. Because of the depopulation for maintain and succeeding, some of Machiya were abandoned despite being a highly valuable cultural material. After revitalisation project started, some of the traditional machiya-buildings were renovated to a hotel, restaurant and small wedding hall remaining the traditional architecture. Town has totally come back to life and visitors! Another effort to improve the city was Castle stay which was the very first attempt in Japan. Ozu castle is loved as a town symbol by local people and opened for visitors in day times. Surprisingly, guests can make reservation to stay the castle tower as a hotel! Spending time calling mind of ancient history staying a night inside of important cultural property is essential experience. You will enjoy the breath of the architecture by your five senses. Silence inside of robust wooden building, The fragrance of cypress, artistic design of traditional rooms...everything will satisfy you.
Shikoku is treasure island of the nature, art and traditional architectures. It is the best choice for visitors who like to go around some unique landmarks in short stay because it does not take time to tour all four regions. After exploring hidden gems in four regions, you will be as satisfied as when you found the four stars of Southern Cross in the clear night sky!
Resources:
Benesse Art Site Naoshima — https://benesse-artsite.jp/en/
三好市公式観光サイト 大歩危祖谷ナビ MIYOSHI CITY TOURISM OBOKE IYA NAVI — https://miyoshi-tourism.jp/
SHIKOKU TOURS — https://shikokutours.com
NIPPONIA HOTEL — https://www.ozucastle.com
大洲市観光まちづくり戦略会議「大洲市観光総合サイトVisit Ozu」— https://jp.visitozu.com