Experience contemporary art that enhances the mountain scenery and the nostalgic charm of the countryside, showcased throughout the Akigawa River Valley, flowing from Tokyo’s innermost village, Hinohara, to Akiruno City. This art festival, offering a full-on enjoyment of the mountains, is held at the peak of the autumn foliage!
You’ve never seen a Tokyo like this before!
Diverse Array of Artworks by 14 Artists is on Display Across Eight Venues in 20-Kilometers Stretch of the Valley.
From November 1 (Friday) to December 1 (Sunday), 2024, the Akigawa Valley—a scenic area renowned for its stunning autumn leaves, located in Hinohara Village and Akiruno City, Tokyo Metropolitan—hosts the “Akigawa Art Stream 2024.”
Now in its fourth year, this evolving art festival blends the cutting-edge art community of TOKYO with the timeless beauty of a mountain village steeped in centuries of history. Fueled by dynamic entrepreneurship, it continually updates both the local landscape and the global art scene. Through the co-creation of groundbreaking talents and locals seeking inspiration, the festival offers a rich array of aesthetic mountain experiences, including live performances at newly restored warehouses and in the depths of culturally significant heritage sites.
Highlight of “Ever-Evolving” the Art Festival.
Immersive Enviromental Art Experience Unveiling the Hidden Gems of TOKYO’s Mountain Villages.
The origin of the art festival lies in the ambition to elevate TOKYO’s art scene ecosystem to a global standard. In response to the lack of platforms for emerging artists to freely express their talent in the capital, the festival aims to create a space where their creativity can flourish, set against the rich natural beauty of the Akigawa River Valley. Local Tama-native and festival director OKADA Tomohiro initiated this project in 2021, starting from a single traditional house—now Arts Camp Hinohara—once frequented by roaming monkey troops
.With each edition, the festival has gained recognition from the local community, creating a magnetic blend of cutting-edge art and the rich mountain culture. Previously inaccessible yet captivating locations have been opened as venues, stretching across a 20-kilometers area from the mountaintops of Hinohara Village to Akiruno City. Continuously evolving, the festival offers a comprehensive experience of the autumn foliage and the valley’s beauty.
In Akiruno City’s Itsukaichi area at the foot of the valley (accessible via JR Musashi-Itsukaichi Station), the region’s largest warehouse will open its doors for this special occasion. At this venue, named “Ookina Kura, The Big Warehouse,” world-renowned olfactory artist MAKI UEDA presents an exclusive work exploring the scents of the mountains. Through this innovative olfactory art, visitors are invited to experience the mountains in a whole new way.
From Itsukaichi to Hinohara Village, art unfolds in various locations along the Akigawa River Valley, art comes alive in various unique locations, blending seamlessly with the autumn foliage. At “Arts Camp Hinohara,” an art center housed in a traditional village home so rooted in history its age is unknown, visitors can experience a range of intriguing works. Highlights include an interactive installation by Fukuoka-based collective anno lab, winners of the top prize in the Art Division at the final Japan Media Arts Festival, and “Trickster,” a mysterious sculptural creature by ASANO Nobuharu with a devoted fanbase nationwide. Other exhibits include MIYAKE Mai’s reinterpretative installation transforming mountain harvests into art, and a mythological-themed piece by SUGAYA Aki, crafted with silk produced through sericulture in Hinohara Village. These creations offer an immersive, multi-sensory art experience.
At a gallery located along the approach to Hossawa Falls, a renowned landmark of the west Tama region of Tokyo, visitors can view a large-scale masterpiece by SHIMAZAKI Ryohei, who creates modern ukiyo-e painting based in the village.
From paintings and sculptures to cutting-edge digital and olfactory media art, the exhibition offers a diverse and sustainable art experience rooted in the natural and cultural landscape of Tokyo’s headwaters.
At the newly established workation and activity hub “Village” in Hinohara Village, artists in residency program explores an ongoing exhibition during the festival. It features taxidermy and fur archives by wildlife expert MATSUYAMA Ryota, alongside live creations by aspiring hunter and young women artist KANEKO Moe. The venue hosts open studio-style exhibitions showcasing the works of diverse creators, offering a dynamic and evolving art experience.
Live Performances, Markets, and Local Explorations…
the Art Festival where You can Fully Immerse Yourself in the Mountains of TOKYO!
Echoes of sound fill the mountains with DAISHI DANCE (DJ) and KANISASARE Ayako (gagaku musician) on November 23.
At the “Big Warehouse” venue, Fires Akigawa Craft Market β by craft makers take place on November 2 and 3.
Every weekend, enjoy a bounty of mountain delights and festivities!
In addition to exhibitions, the “Akigawa Live Stream” hosts performances across various locations in the valley.
On Saturday, November 23, at 12:00 PM, takes place in the garden of the National Important Cultural Property “Kobayashi House” at the mountain’s summit. The event features a DJ set by DAISHI DANCE, known for his residency at Tokyo’s legendary club AgeHa, delivering uplifting sounds that resonate under the autumn sky. It also includes a gagaku performance by the brilliant and witty KANISASARE Ayako, a gagaku musician celebrated for blending traditional music with global influences.
Sunday, November 3 (holiday) will feature live performances by KANISASARE Ayako at the art exhibition venues (Arts Camp Hinohara and Ookina-Kura The Big Warehouse).
Sunday, November 17 see shakuhachi musician YABUNOUCHI Yosuke performing live at “Village.”
On Saturday, November 2, and Sunday, November 3, a beta version of a craft market featuring artisan creators will be held in front of the “Ookina-Kura The Big Warehouse” venue. Centered on the theme of developing creative experiences that embrace the charm of Itsukaichi’s traditional warehouses, this event explores the everyday potential for art experiences beyond the festival itself in the promising Akigawa Valley area.
Additionally, the festival offers workshops and talk programs led by artists, providing a wide range of cultural experiences that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the mountain village’s unique charm.
Official Web Site: https://artstream.tokyo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akigawa_art/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/CClusterJapan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativeclusters
Event Details
Event Period
November 1, 2024 (Friday) – December 1, 2024 (Sunday)
Open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only
(Some venues may have different schedules.)
Opening Hours
10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Venues
Akiruno City, Itsukaichi Area
Access: JR “Musashi-Itsukaichi” Station (transfer from JR Chuo Line at “Tachikawa” or JR Ohme Line / Seibu Line at “Haijima”). Approximately 1 hour from Shinjuku Station.
- “Ookina Kura Big Warehouse“: Akiruno City, Itsukaichi 841
- “Chisana Kura Small Warehouse“: Akiruno City, Itsukaichi 27
- “Former Ichikura Residence (Itsukaichi Local Museum)”: Akiruno City, Itsukaichi 920-1]
Hinohara Village
Access: From JR “Musashi-Itsukaichi” Station and Itsukaichi Area via Nishitokyo Bus to various venue areas.
- “Arts Camp Hinohara”: Hinohara Village, Hizato 2458
- “Gallery Yamabiko”: Hinohara Village, Motoshuku 635
- “Mountain Shop”: Hinohara Village, Shimomotogo 22
- “Village”: Hinohara Village, Motoshuku 790-2
- “Important Cultural Property Kobayashi House”: Hinohara Village, Fujikura 4994
Admission Fee
Passport Ticket: ¥1,500
(The Passport Ticket also grants access to Akigawa Live Stream events.)
Featured Artists
MAKI UEDA: Olfactory Art
anno lab: Media Art (Interactive)
MIYAKE Mai: Painting
ASANO Nobuharu: Sculpture
KUSANO Emi: Media Art (Generative AI)
SHIMAZAKI Ryohei: Contemporary Ukiyo-e Painting
Nana Akuya: Craft Design
IKESHIRO Yasutake: Graphic Design
NAKAMOTO Hiroshi: Video Art
SUGAYA Anki: Contemporary Art (Installation)
KONSEKI-In: Sculpture
KANEKO Moe: Contemporary Art (Installation)
MATSUYAMA Ryota: Mountain Animal Archive
Akigawa Live Stream
DAISHI DANCE (DJ): November 23
KANISASARE Ayako (Gagaku): November 3, November 23
YABUNOUCHI Yosuke (Shakuhachi): November 17
Akigawa Craft Market β
SAKAO Mizuho
FUJII Sora
OKADA Yoshio
HINAKO
TAKANASHI Kotoko
YAMAGUCHI Mizuki
Director: OKADA Tomohiro
Space Design: MIYACHI Yo
Logo Design: Kyun-Chome
Organizers and Supporters
Organizer: Creative Cluster Institute https://creativecluster.jp/
Sponsor: Toyota S&D Nishi-Tokyo
Support: Hinohara Village, Akiruno City
Grant: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Arts Council Tokyo [Support for Community Arts and Culture Activities]
Partner: Nishitokyo Bus Itsukaichi Office
Contact Information
Phone: +81-50-5216-0876
Email: akigawa@artstream.tokyo
Official Website: https://artstream.tokyo/
Headquarters Address: Arts Camp Hinohara, 2458, Hinohara Village, Nishi-Tama, Tokyo