Experience art in Kanazawa and Oku-Noto. An art trip to enjoy the whole town

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa: Kanazawa's leading art museum, visited by over 2.5 million people a year

This popular art museum is essential when talking about Kanazawa's art scene. It was built in the center of Kanazawa in 2004 and designed by the architectural unit SANAA. The glass-walled building that houses the exhibition planning room is surrounded by a plaza that is gently connected to the city.

The museum also has a free social space and many permanent outdoor exhibits. The museum's openness to the public has influenced other museums in Japan. The permanent work "Swimming Pool" by Argentine contemporary artist Leandro Erlich, which is exhibited in the center of the building, is synonymous with the museum and is popular with people of all ages and genders.

Meanwhile, the paid exhibition hall has hosted solo exhibitions by famous artists from Japan and abroad, as well as a number of special exhibitions capturing the sensibilities of the times. In recent years, the museum has been notable for hosting many design-related exhibitions, as befits a town of crafts, and has focused on biotechnology, such as "Collection Exhibition 2: Immortal Life," which runs until January 8, 2018. This museum is a fitting starting point for a tour of Kanazawa's art spots, opening the door to a world of expression that is often difficult to get into.

Suzuki Daisetsu Museum: Designed by architect Yoshio Taniguchi. Immerse yourself in silence and experience the philosophy of Zen.

It opened in 2011 at the foot of a hill within walking distance of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Since then, it has become a hot topic spot with a constant stream of visitors from Japan and abroad. Daisetsu Suzuki (1870-1966) was a Buddhist philosopher born in Kanazawa who was one of the first to introduce Zen and Japanese culture to the world. He is known for influencing many cultural figures, including the American Beatniks* who were active in the mid-20th century, and John Cage, a musician known for his experimental style.

*A collective name for a group of writers and poets including William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, and the movement that led to them

The outstanding feature of this museum is that the number of exhibits is carefully selected to highlight the beautiful architecture, and the experience of the space allows you to experience the philosophy of "Zen". It was designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, the architect who also designed the new wing of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The long corridors leading to the exhibition rooms and the experience of the "Water Mirror Garden", which praises amazing tranquility, will take you on a momentary journey of contemplation.

If you are interested in this building, there are other places worth visiting. In fact, Taniguchi Yoshio's father, Taniguchi Yoshiro, is an architect from Kanazawa. Because of this connection, there are many buildings in the vicinity that were designed by the father and son. These include the Kanazawa Municipal Tamagawa Library, a joint project by father and son, the Kanazawa City Nishimachi Education and Training Center, with its impressive paper crane lights, and an architecture museum is also planned to open on the site of Yoshiro's birthplace. Take a tour of the city of Kanazawa and take a deeper look into the world of Taniguchi architecture.

Kanazawa Art Gumi, HAAG, SLANT: Unique galleries near the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

New galleries are constantly opening in the city of Kanazawa. They are all located within walking or cycling distance of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, so we recommend visiting them while enjoying exploring the city.

Kanazawa Art Gumi is located in a corner of the tourist-filled Omicho Market, on the third floor of the Hokuriku Bank Musashigatsuji branch, designed by the master of modern Japanese architecture, Murano Togo. In the large space with a vault door on the wall, exhibitions introducing young artists from the Hokuriku region and events connecting citizens with art are held every day.

Located in Higashi Chaya District, a tourist spot, is the gallery "HAAG," which is set in a townhouse that is over 100 years old. Here, you can enjoy the fusion of a quaint two-story space and the works of students and graduates of Kanazawa College of Art.

And right next to the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, "SLANT" is a gallery with exposed concrete where works by cutting-edge artists from Japan and abroad are displayed. It has the most presence in Kanazawa as a space focusing on contemporary photography.

If you want to witness a deeper creative process, head to Geishuku, located in Ishibiki Shopping Arcade, a little ways from the tourist area. This space, set up by students from Kanazawa College of Art, is a residence and studio for the resident artists, which is sometimes opened as an exhibition space. Geishuku serves as a hidden experimental space for up-and-coming artists from all over Japan, allowing you to get up close and personal with their actual creative process.

Oku-Noto Triennale: An art festival in the "far-flung region" that began in 2017

Finally, we will introduce the Oku-Noto Triennale, which began in 2017. The festival takes place in Suzu City, a town at the tip of the Noto Peninsula, about a two-hour drive from Kanazawa City. Jutting out into the Sea of Japan, this "extreme tip of the Hokuriku region" once flourished as a key point of maritime traffic, and was a bustling area where different cultures from the continent and Japan intermingled.

However, the town has fallen into decline due to the influence of modernization. The Oku-Noto Triennale is held in this land that combines rich nature with a history of cultural ups and downs. The general director is Kitagawa Fram, the driving force behind the internationally acclaimed Setouchi Triennale. 39 artists from 11 countries and regions will participate, and you can encounter the stories hidden in Oku-Noto through their works.

Oku-Noto has a culture of valuing people and things that come from outside the region. The coast of the peninsula is dotted with artworks that are unique to this area that has built a deep relationship with the sea, with motifs of driftwood and "lore." Meanwhile, in Suzu city, artworks that make use of distinctive buildings such as a former railway station and a former red-light district convey to visitors the feelings of the people who lived in the town.

The 2017 event is already halfway through, but if you're planning on visiting the surrounding area, be sure to stop by. By combining your visit with Kanazawa's art spots, you'll be able to get a better feel for the history of the area and the magnetic force that lies within it.

Kanazawa is a city with a strong tradition of traditional crafts, and has long been slow to accept new cultures. However, the opening of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, has brought a breath of fresh air to the city. In this compact city, new and old creators are actively interacting, promoting the appeal of local art and architecture. Now, with the addition of the "Art Festival at the End of the Earth," a cultural tour of Kanazawa and Oku-Noto is also a chance to experience the possibilities of art that can be born in other parts of Japan, not just Tokyo and Kansai.

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*Some content was updated on September 6, 2019.