Viator
[Tochigi] Experiential Art Museum in a Vast Underground Space
Book now for today
Free cancellation - 24 hours notice

7,052 JPY

Overview
  • 'Genki-ro' appeared in the massive quarry remains of Oya, transformed into a gigantic tree as if it were a living creature, standing out impressively in the overwhelming space.
  • The artwork is interactive; it involves a large kiln in which herbs are boiled in water, and the resulting steam is channeled into the artwork through pipes. Visitors can enter the artwork and drink fresh herbal tea, and the herbal steam absorbed through the skin and lungs is said to genuinely improve one's physical condition.
  • Inside the artwork, the steam creates a condition where one cannot see even a meter ahead. Visitors can fully indulge in the experience with all five senses: the fragrance of herbs, the fine touch of the steam on the skin, and the sound of dripping groundwater from the ceiling.
  • Mr. Kuribayashi states, 'This artwork is not complete in its current form. In the future, through this sauna-like device, many people will interact and become friends with the residents of Oya.
What to expect

Contemporary artist Takashi Kuribayashi's artwork 'Genki-ro'. After the Fukushima disaster, Mr. Kuribayashi, who visited Fukushima for 10 years, said he received a lot of energy from the people of Fukushima. Rather than forming a negative image based on superficial information, he realized the importance of taking time to see and experience reality for himself and verify the facts. Inspired by these experiences, he created 'Genki-ro,' a structure resembling a nuclear reactor that generates herbal steam. This symbolizes the idea of 'What if people who entered a nuclear reactor came out feeling energized?'—turning a negative issue into a positive expression. This teaches us the importance of stepping out from a world filled with prejudice and misconceptions, which are often formed through external information, and to fully enjoy the present.

Map of destination or departure area

Share this activity

copy URL