The Oku-Noto Triennale art festival can be combined/customized with various other driving itineraries in Ishikawa. You can conveniently access these sites in Ishikawa from various "gateways," the Kanazawa JR Station (Mapcode: 41 558 874*22 if arriving by train), or either the Komatsu (MapCode: 120 529 748*33) or Noto Satoyama Airports ( (MapCode: 283 475 067*52 if arriving by air). All three locations have multiple rental car outlets. Due to crowds, be prepared to park away from the actual festival sites. There are normally people directing traffic near the site(s).
Highlights of the festival:
This Itinerary includes all the 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale 2017 art sites that are still open (13) as well as several art museums along the way. For more information visit the website above.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Note that Suzu City, the geographic center of the string of art sites, has a variety of accommodation options.
The Noto Satoyama Airport is centrally located in the Noto Peninsula. As of early 2019 there were 2 daily round trip flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport via All Nippon Airways. There are several rental car companies with offices at the airport. Airport code is NTQ.
2017 Oku-Noto Art #1; located in the old Suzumi Preschool building.
Only open via pre-arranged admittance. Contact the Oku-Noto office via email (info at oku-noto dot jp) or phone (81-76-882-7720).
"There are lots of salt-pans around the Otani district in Suzu. The artist felt a profound connection between her surname (formed from the Chinese characters for "salt" and "field") and the place, and chose as the venue for her work a former nursery on the hill overlooking the sea. She created a work, inspired by an anecdote of one Kikutaro Kakuhana; he had received orders from his superior to protect salt production in his hometown during the WWII instead of being sent to the battlefield, hence passing down the precious method of salt making. By stretching through a space countless red threads from a salt-collecting boat that had been once in actual use, she spun the memory and history of those engaged with the agehama-style salt production, Japan's ancient tradition that remains only in Suzu."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open during the festival, but requires pre-arranged admittance at other times.
Address :
4 Shimizu-machi, Suzu, Ishikawa 927-1324
10.2
km / 6.3
miles
-
(13
minutes)
3.
53 Bus Station of Suzu by Aleksander Konstankinov #1 - 珠洲海道五十三次｜ アレクサンドル・コンスタンチーノフ
2017 Oku-Noto Art #37a (1 of 4); Bus stop on west side of road. One of four bus stops (called "stations" by the artist) re-envisioned by Mr. Konstankinov for the Oku-Noto Art Festival 2017.
"The artist chose four bus stops across the region which seemed to have been forgotten as they dissolved into the surrounding scenery, and transformed them into artworks. The artist associated "Suzu" with pearls and came up with an idea to wrap the bus stops with structures, as pearls are embraced by their shells. Being a mathematician, the artist set a different theme responding to the location of each of the four bus tops based upon a common basic horizontal and vertical structure. The self-built aluminum structures resonated with the surrounding landscape making each of them a new and unique bus stop."
2017 Oku-Noto Art #7; in the Hiki Community Center building.
"In Suzu, surrounded by sea on three sides, marine transporattion used to be the main way to get around. The artist drew inspiration for this artwork from a family legend; his grandfather once live in Suzu where he suffered from a serious illness, but narrowly escaped death because of ice brought in from Kanazawa by the sea route. Highlighting real images sot in Suzu, the artwork was composed of a ship, sculptures, sound and light, occupying the entire space of the former community centre. The phantasmagoria of Suzu as seen from the sea and this family story were overlaid on the history of the Noto Peninsula."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open during the festival, but requires prearranged admittance at other times.
Address :
Hiki Community Center, To-81, Orito-machi, Suzu, Ishikawa 927-1446
0.9
km / 0.6
miles
-
(1
minutes)
5.
53 Bus Station of Suzu by Aleksander Konstankinov #2 - 珠洲海道五十三次｜ アレクサンドル・コンスタンチーノフ
2017 Oku-Noto Art #37b (2 of 4); Bus stop on west side of road. One of four bus stops (called "stations" by the artist) re-envisioned by Mr. Konstankinov for the Oku-Noto Art Festival 2017.
"The artist chose four bus stops across the region which seemed to have been forgotten as they dissolved into the surrounding scenery, and transformed them into artworks. The artist associated "Suzu" with pearls and came up with an idea to wrap the bus stops with structures, as pearls are embraced by their shells. Being a mathematician, the artist set a different theme responding to the location of each of the four bus tops based upon a common basic horizontal and vertical structure. The self-built aluminum structures resonated with the surrounding landscape making each of them a new and unique bus stop."
The Suzu Ware Museum is a museum highlighting Suzu ware (Suzu-yaki) pottery. Suzu ware originated from Sue ware brought from the Korean peninsula in the 5th century. It was adapted to Japanese conditions, and has been produced in the Noto Peninsula since then for both daily use pottery and even religious objects. The museum highlights the history of Suzu ware through the centuries.
Along two sides of the Suzu Ware Museum is 2017 Oku-Noto Art #33 (originally located along the beach at Mitsuke beach). The work is titled Drifting Landscape by Liu Jianghua from China. "Suzu-yaki (Suzu-style pottery), which began in the 11th century under the influence of the Eurasian Continent, was a representative of Japanese pottery in the Middle Ages. The artist laid porcelain from Jingdezhen, China's "Porcelain Capital" together with Suzu-yaki ceramic items along the beach close to Mitsuke-jima Island. Mitsuke-jima appears in the legend of Kobo Daishi, a monk who studied Buddhism in China. The pieces of porcelain, displayed as if they had been washed up on the seashore, included the items made by the artist in the shape of everyday objects, and invited viewers to reflect on Japan's relationship with mainland Asia as well as the globalization of today. After the festival, the artwork was relocated to the Suzu Ware Museum in the Tako-jima district to be a permanent installation." From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Across the way from the museum is the Suzu Ware Shop featuring quality pottery from local artists.
2017 Oku-Noto Art #33; along two sides of the Suzu Ware Museum (originally located along the beach at Mitsuke beach).
"Suzu-yaki (Suzu-style pottery), which began in the 11th century under the influence of the Eurasian Continent, was a representative of Japanese pottery in the Middle Ages. The artist laid porcelain from Jingdezhen, China's "Porcelain Capital" together with Suzu-yaki ceramic items along the beach close to Mitsuke-jima Island. Mitsuke-jima appears in the legend of Kobo Daishi, a monk who studied Buddhism in China. The pieces of porcelain, displayed as if they had been washed up on the seashore, included the items made by the artist in the shape of everyday objects, and invited viewers to reflect on Japan's relationship with mainland Asia as well as the globalization of today. After the festival, the artwork was relocated to the Suzu Ware Museum in the Tako-jima district to be a permanent installation."
2017 Oku-Noto Art #14. There are two parts to this installation; it is worth the short walk from one part to the other.
"A twisting tunnel structure changes its colors on the former railway track interrupted by a road. Visitors who walk into the tunnel find a telescope at its end. When they look through it, they see abrightly colored signboard in the distance that conveys the message ''Something Else is Possible'. The artist suggests to look ahead to the regeneration and future of the region beyond the terminal station of the Noto Railway Line. During the Triennale period, many visitors walked towards the signboard along the track leading up to the abandoned Tako-jima station, as if traveling from the past to the present, and to the future of the region."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open 24/7.
Address :
Na-98 Takojima-machi, Suzu, Ishikawa 927-1204
0.6
km / 0.3
miles
-
(2
minutes)
9.
53 Bus Station of Suzu by Aleksander Konstankinov #3 - 珠洲海道五十三次｜ アレクサンドル・コンスタンチーノフ
2017 Oku-Noto Art #37c (3 of 4); Bus stop on west side of road. One of four bus stops (called "stations" by the artist) re-envisioned by Mr. Konstankinov for the Oku-Noto Art Festival 2017.
"The artist chose four bus stops across the region which seemed to have been forgotten as they dissolved into the surrounding scenery, and transformed them into artworks. The artist associated "Suzu" with pearls and came up with an idea to wrap the bus stops with structures, as pearls are embraced by their shells. Being a mathematician, the artist set a different theme responding to the location of each of the four bus tops based upon a common basic horizontal and vertical structure. The self-built aluminum structures resonated with the surrounding landscape making each of them a new and unique bus stop."
2017 Oku-Noto Art #37d (4 of 4); Bus stop on west side of road. One of four bus stops (called "stations" by the artist) re-envisioned by Mr. Konstankinov for the Oku-Noto Art Festival 2017.
"The artist chose four bus stops across the region which seemed to have been forgotten as they dissolved into the surrounding scenery, and transformed them into artworks. The artist associated "Suzu" with pearls and came up with an idea to wrap the bus stops with structures, as pearls are embraced by their shells. Being a mathematician, the artist set a different theme responding to the location of each of the four bus tops based upon a common basic horizontal and vertical structure. The self-built aluminum structures resonated with the surrounding landscape making each of them a new and unique bus stop."
2017 Oku-Noto Art #18; in the former Iiduka Preschool. Ms. Hibino has presented her work as a costume artist through advertising, theatre plays, dance performances, ballets, films and TVs.
"The installation titled "Between Gravity and Zero-Gravity' and a series of dance performances were inspired by the emotional experience the artist had when diving into the sea of Suzu. In the room with natural light, the costumes for the dance performances were displayed, floating calmly like sea creatures. Visitors could try on some of them and enjoyed the feeling of floating in the sea. At weekends, dancers performed expressively on the seabed-like stage and much attracted the audience."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open during the festival, but requires prearranged admittance at other times.
Address :
Ha-57 Shōin-machi Iizuka, Suzu, Ishikawa 927-1202
4.2
km / 2.6
miles
-
(8
minutes)
12.
Around quiet currents by Kanazawa College of Art Project Team, SUZUPRO - 金沢美術工芸大学アートプロジェクトチーム[スズプロ]｜静かな海流をめぐって
2017 Oku-Noto Art #22, artwork(s) featuring historical and social background to the development of the Japan sea and Suzu-city in an abandoned house in the Iida area.
"A mixed team of professors, researchers and students created artworks through series of fieldwork and workshops at the old house built in the Meiji period (1868-1912) and its courtyard. They included 'Oku-Noto Mandela': a large scale mural featuring cultural exchanges between Suzu and the continent, animals and plants, as well as stories told by local people; 'The Tree in the House' combined colossal 'objects' left in the old house to create a great tree; 'Diving into the House' was a noren (shop curtain) made of indigo-dyed threads taken from fishing nests inviting viewers to go through into a deeper space; and 'Garden of Rice' showed a landscape of rice production. Taking into account the histories and lives that were left behind on the site, the team created a space where visitors could experience its multi-layered cultures."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open during the festival, but requires prearranged admittance at other times.
Address :
13-87 Iida-machi, Suzu, Ishikawa 927-1214
0.7
km / 0.4
miles
-
(3
minutes)
13.
Small lost article museum by Tatsuo Kawaguchi - 河口龍夫｜小さい忘れもの美術館
2017 Oku-Noto Art #27. Mr. Kawaguchi is one of the most established contemporary artists in Japan. Kawaguchi’s artworks reveal the relations between something visible and invisible.
"A forgotten railway, station and platform. What does it mean to forget something, and what does it mean to be forgotten? Posing these questions, the artist filled the former Iida station with 'lost articles' which are inseparable from a station. The silhouettes drawn on the waiting room wall and the objects placed at the office are the negative and positive of the lost articles. Walking through forgotten umbrellas standing towards the end of the platform, visitors reached a freight train. They left words for the future on its inner blackboard walls. The forgotten station was revived as "Small Lost Articles Museum."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open during the festival, but requires prearranged admittance at other times.
Address :
Uedo-machi Kitagata, Suzu, Ishikawa 927-1215
0.7
km / 0.5
miles
-
(4
minutes)
14.
Cabaret in preparation at world’s end by EAT&ART TARO - さいはてのキャバレー
2017 Oku-Noto Art #28; in Sayi's Cabaret. NOTE: There are cabaret-type programs programs performed here in the evenings. This is a great place to see and experience some local culture. Check with your hotel concierge for current programs/hours. Depending on where you are spending the night you may want to come to this site after dinner.
"The cabaret originated in Paris at the end of the 19th century and served a places for ''social gathering for adults', where artists gathered together to enjoy dance and comedy, broadcasting culture. With a hope to bring about such a place in Suzu, the artist transformed a former waiting space of regular liners into a nostalgic cabaret (designed by Ryuji Fujimura). During the daytime, it served as cafe; after dark, alcohol and meals could be enjoyed. The dressing room was set up with costumes and make-up for hostesses and dancers, and several shows were presented during the festival. The space has been used as a rental hall since the end of the festival."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Check with hotel concierge for current programs/hours.
2017 Oku-Noto Art #30. Located at old Uedo Station. RMC is based in New Delhi, India. RMC creates and curates contemporary art, and makes books, teaches, and creates situations. NOTE: Best viewed in the evening when it is lit up so you may want to visit after dark, depending on where you are spending the night.
"By tracing the outlines of the doors, walls and the roof of the former Uedo station building, the artists constructed a frame structure in the same form as the original building and placed it at an angle on top of the disused building. During the day the frame structure was integrated into the surrounding scenery among trees, fields and mountains, whereas at night it glowed blue-white, as if released from gravity. Could it be the ghost of the station building, a cast-off skin, or an image of the future? The artwork questioned the existence of memories and non-material things which belonged to a place or an object."
From the Suzu 2017 Oku-Noto Triennale Catalogue
Hours :
Open 24/7, but best seen in the evening when it is lit up.
The Kanazawa Station (Kanazawa-eki) is a railway station in Kanazawa-shi (Kanazawa City), Ishikawa-ken (Ishikawa Prefecture) operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and the private railway operators Hokuriku Railway, and IR Ishikawa Railway. The station serves the Hokuriku Shinkansen line (currently operating between Tokyo, Nagano and Kanazawa). The station averages about 22,700 boarding passengers per day.
The station has a Midori no Madoguchi (みどりの窓口, literally "green window") with a MARS (マルス Marusu, which stands for Multi Access seat Reservation System) capable of selling reserved seats throughout the entire JR system.
The departure melody used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen platforms was composed by songwriter and producer Yasutaka Nakata, who was born in Kanazawa. The station has numerous rental car offices on both the east and west sides. It also serves as a bus station hub.
