Art, nature and tradition in perfect balance in the Seto Inland Sea

Art, nature and tradition in perfect balance in the Seto Inland Sea
By Euronews
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Around 3,000 islands dot the Seto Inland Sea , also dubbed the ‘Mediterranean of Japan’. It’s a region rich in art, natural beauty, tradition and

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Around 3,000 islands dot the Seto Inland Sea
, also dubbed the ‘Mediterranean of Japan’. It’s a region rich in art, natural beauty, tradition and religious heritage, all of which make it one the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

Since ancient times the island of Miyajima has been worshipped as a holy place of Shintoism. Even today it’s a source of spirituality, epitomized in the the stunning floating gate, the Torii, as Shinto priest Michinori Fukuda explained: “From this gate we enter a sacred place. As this sanctuary, Itsukushima, is located on the sea, in the past people would come through the gate, the Torii, by boat to get here.”

The present Shinto shrine dates back to the 12th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. For centuries ordinary people weren’t allowed to set foot on Miyajima.

“As the whole island was considered sacred, it was worshipped. Therefore it wasn’t possible to live on the island, nor to build houses,” said Michinori Fukuda.

Our journey through the Seto Inland Sea continues to Onomichi, the gateway for the over 60 kilometre long “Shimanami Kaido”, an expressway that links six small islands and features bike lanes all along the way.

The members of the Onomichi Cycling Association come here every week to enjoy the country’s most exciting cycling course. Sublime views and architectural marvels line the way.

“It’s a paradise for cyclists,” said one of their group. “It’s great. It’s great!” enthused another.

Among the treasures of this route is the Tatara Bridge, one of the world’s longest cable-stayed bridges. The elegant steel towers reach a height of 220-metres. It’s always a special moment for the group to cross this bridge at such a dizzy height.

“When I ride my bicycle high up, like on the Tatara bridge I feel like I’m flying,” said exhilarated cyclo-tourist Tomoko Takeda

Our island hopping takes us further north to another gem; Naoshima
, also known as the ‘Island of Art’. Just a few decades ago this island was a sleepy fishing community. Today Naoshima boasts contemporary art as far as the eye can see.

The small island showcases installations, sculptures and museums. Several of these architectural jewels have been designed by the world renowned architect Tadao Andō.

“We thought about the landscape of the Inland Sea and asked ourselves how best we could design an architecture for this gentle landscape that was in harmony with the people,” Ryoji Kasahara, Head of Art Management, Fukutake Foundation told us.

“We wanted to integrate nature without spoiling it, and at the same time let the architecture itself shine through.”

A perfect example of this is the Chichu museum. ‘Chichu’ means ‘below the earth’ and most of the museum’s structure is underground in a hilltop.

The space was constructed to house just a few master pieces, among them several paintings of Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” series.

“When we created this Claude Monet space we tried to imagine: What would Monet have done with it? Exposing the paintings to natural light – that is the answer,” Kasahara explained.

On this island modern art and a traditional way of life go hand in hand. And there is a unique bond between artists and residents, according to Yoko Horiguchi, president of the ‘We love Naoshima’ association: “The children of Naoshima can communicate with the artists. This experience gives them the desire to maybe become an artist in the future.”

From the winter paradise of Nagano to the stunning Seto Inland Sea with all its treasures, Japan has a multitude natural wonders artistic riches to offer visitors. If you’d like to see any of our reports again, check out our website.

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