OUR PROGRAM

Arts Itoya is an artist in residence program in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, Japan. Studio Kura, the company in charge of the long running residence progam in Fukuoka Prefecture, started it in 2018 after reforming an old kimono shop called Itoya.
 

Small Capacity

We can accommodate up to four people.

Long Stays

We offer slots from 1 month to 3 months in length.

Onsen Everyday

Easy access to a traditional hot spring bath house.

 

Electric Bicycle

You can go anywhere.

 

STUDIO AND ACCOMMODATION

Arts Itoya provides artists with residential facilities and bicycles during their staying period. Accommodation consists on one traditional Japanese rural house, which can be shared by up to four artists. Each artist is provided a private single room. Common room, bathroom, toilet and kitchen facilities are shared with other residence artists and there is internet Wi-Fi connection in the house. One partitioned studio space is offered to the artists as working space as well as exhibition space. There are enough restaurants and stores for daily needs at walking distance.  

FEES AND EXPENSES

The artist will pay 100,000 JPY for each period of 4 weeks of stay. This means for an eight-week slot you will need to pay 200,000 JPY and an twelve-week slot will be 300,000 JPY.We need the artist to make a deposit of 20,000 JPY for each 4 week slot once he or she is accepted and a slot is chosen. The rest of the payment for their stay can be paid in cash upon arrival. For example, if you were going to stay for four weeks with us you would need to pay 20,000 JPY through PayPal as soon as we decided on the date for your residence, and 80,000 JPY once you arrived to Arts Itoya. You would pay 100,000 JPY in total. Please note that any daily expenses including food and transport, and art supply are not covered in our residence fee. We do not have our own funding program, so artists are encouraged to apply for funding in their own countries. We are pleased to help providing an invitation letter and any information to accepted artists.

ABOUT TAKEO AND ARTS ITOYA

Takeo is a town located between Saga City and Nagasaki Prefecuture's Sasebo City. It is home to Takeo Onsen, which was started 1300 years ago. There is a gatehouse in the onsen area which was designed by Kingo Tatsuno, designer of the Bank of Japan building
and the Marunouchi building of Tokyo Station. The gatehouse is classified as an Important Cultural Property.

 

Great Camphor Tree

 

Gatehouse

 

Takeo City Library

 

Inside the Studio

 

Inside the Studio

 

Studio from Outside

 

Studio from Outside

 

Residence House, Fassade

 

Residence House, Entrance

 

Residence House, Inside

 

Residence House, Room

 

Residence House, Kitchen

 

Arts Itoya Shutter Art

 

Arts Itoya Shutter Art

 

Arts Itoya Shutter Art

 

"飛竜窯 (Hiryu Kiln)" is located near ARTS ITOYA

 

 

HOW TO GET TO ARTS ITOYA

Takeo Onsen is connected to Fukuoka's Hakata Station

  • FUKUOKA AIRPORT

    If you want to get to Hakata in a fast and cheap way, you should take the subway. The ride to Hakata station takes five minutes. If your plane arrives at the domestic terminal, use the domestic terminal 2 escalators and elevators, and go to the underground level. From the international terminal, take the free bus from bus stop no.1. Get off at the domestic terminal 2, which is the last stop. Go to the underground level, using the escalators and elevators.

  • HAKATA STATION

    Takeo Onsen and Fukuoka (Hakata Station) are connected by hourly limited express trains (about 70 minutes, around 2800 yen one way).

  • TAKEO ONSEN STATION

    Arts Itoya is located about 800 meter west of Takeo Onsen Station

    Welcome to Arts Itoya!

OUR TEAM

Saori Matsuzaki

Artist in Residence Coordinator

Turu Miyuri

Artist in Residence Coordinator

Hirofumi Matsuzaki

Founder

 
Apply to Our Program
 

Attractions near to Takeo

(all easily accessible by train)

Arita and Imari

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8300.html Arita and Imari are two towns near Takeo which are not only beautiful in their mountain valleys but are the first place in Japan where Porcelain was produced 400 years ago. Kaolin is the essential mineral for making Porcelain and when discovered in the mountains, Korean craftsmen with the necessary skills were bought to Saga Prefecture. A staff associate of Arts Itoya, Katsura-san, is an expert on Porcelain and its history and can provide for a fascinating and educational tour of these towns. This includes seeing craftsman of today continuing the 400 year tradition of making world renown Arita Porcelain.  

Nagasaki

Nagasaki is a little over an hour away by train and makes for a fascinating day or weekend trip. The history of Nagasaki goes way beyond the atomic bomb with the first European traders settling here after Japans 200 years of isolation from the rest of the world. Street trolley cars shuttle you to all the historic sites which can be viewed in a day. Come evening one can take a free shuttle from Nagasaki station to a beautiful Onsen in the Mountain overlooking Nagasaki and take in what is regarded as one of the greatest city views in the world – while soaking in the Onsen. http://jpninfo.com/22601