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The next day we flew to Tokyo, then took the train to Toyama to start a tour for a potential future Dragon Hill residency with Laurence and Johnny
We toured the IWA Sake Brewery and stayed overnight, an incredible experience set in the heart of the mountains, with the beach just a few hours away. Surrounded by rice fields, the area is home to monkeys and bears, making the setting feel both remote and extraordinary
I loved this guardian stone carving, so small, yet with such an incredible presence
The moss-covered caves and the sound of the water made for a truly special experience
We then continued further up the mountain to visit a house that is still lived in and functioning today, which famously inspired the anime film Wolf Children
We were at one of the highest points in Japan, where winter brings some of the deepest snow and coldest temperatures in the country
We then visited the Glass Museum of Toyama, designed by Kengo Kuma, where the interior was defined by beautifully crafted wooden panelling throughout
The Collection Exhibition: Baccarat, Gallé, Daum Frères, French Art Nouveau Glass was a beautifully delicate and almost surreal exhibition, with each blown-glass work evoking a deep reverence for nature
I had never seen glass shaped in quite this way before
We then went on to visit Iwase Town and its artists in residence, including a small foundry workshop where intricate metal leaves were being made
Woodcarver Iwaki-san
The delicacy of his carvings was out of this world
Ceramicist Gaku-san
Glass artist Yasuda-san
It was fascinating to see how each workshop was set within a different house
It was like a Disneyland for craft
Each restaurant used the artists’ ceramics and glass for serving, and all the fish was locally caught in Toyama
Standing in front of Gaku-san’s dragon wall tile work
