Photograph: Maan Limburg

Artist Residency in Rural Japan

Join us for the AKIYA AIR Programme, an immersive three-month residency from October to December, open to Dutch creators.

Set in the beautiful town of Yunotsu, Japan, this programme transforms vacant houses (Akiya)—a significant societal issue in rural areas—into creative havens. Participants will have the unique opportunity to live in Akiya, experience rural living, and explore diverse creative endeavours while contributing to the revitalisation of Yunotsu.

Yunotsu features stunning natural beauty, rich traditional culture and history, and a dedicated team led by Shinya Kobayashi of MUJUN, who are working to rejuvenate Yunotsu by building a new, open community with the dream of hosting an Art & Craft Festival in 2027.

Apply now to join this inspiring programme that breathes new life into Yunotsu.

This programme is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan.

ーAKIYAー

Living and workspace

Participants will stay and work in a traditional Japanese-style house owned by Shinya Kobayashi, co-founder of the AKIYA AIR programme. Formerly a vacant Akiya, the house has been revitalised and now serves as both accommodation and creative workspace for the residency. Located approximately five minutes by car from the centre of Yunotsu, it is surrounded by lush nature, fields, and mountains—offering an inspiring and serene environment.

The house is equipped with essential amenities, including a shared kitchen, bath, and toilet, as well as internet access. Living and working areas feature traditional tatami-mat rooms. In addition, artists may also have access to Kobayashi’s woodworking studio in the mountains, depending on the nature of their project.

If further space is needed, or if multiple artists are selected, additional vacant houses may be arranged as supplementary accommodation or workspaces. Any such arrangements will be communicated in advance to selected participants.

Programme Flow

  1. Orientation: Introduction to Yunotsu

Participants will begin with a guided introduction to Yunotsu and the surrounding area, including visits to local studios and cultural sites. This includes an in-depth tour of Kobayashi's woodworking studio and an introduction to the Akiya, which will serve as the artists’ residence and workspace during the programme.

2. Community Presentation & Dialogue

Participants will meet with local community members and the artist support team to introduce themselves, share their goals and artistic interests, and discuss expectations for their stay. This early dialogue sets the foundation for meaningful exchange and collaboration.

3. Research & Studio Visits

Participants will have time to independently explore Yunotsu and the broader Iwami region, including studio visits and field research in areas such as traditional craftsmanship, architecture, and local history. A visit to Iwami Ginzan—known for its unique natural and cultural heritage—will help inform and inspire each artist’s conceptual approach.

4. Final Presentations in Japan

The programme will culminate in a mandatory final presentation in Yunotsu, where participants will share the results of their residency with the local community, collaborators, and stakeholders. Following this, an additional presentation will be held at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tokyo, offering participants the opportunity to present their residency experience and creative outcomes to a wider audience.

5. Exhibition at MONO JAPAN Fair 2026

The artworks and documentation from AKIYA AIR 2024 and 2025 will be exhibited during the MONO JAPAN Fair, scheduled to take place from 23–25 January 2026 in the Netherlands. This presentation provides a platform for the artists to share their results with an international audience and strengthens the cultural bridge between Japan and the Netherlands.

Resources and Facilities

Materials Available

From Satoyama

Rocks, stones, soil, wood, bamboo, straw, iron (steel), and more.

From Akiya

Old household items and discarded materials.

Beach Debris

From large debris, referred to as ‘continental debris’ to smaller items.

Facilities Available at MUJUN Workshop Yunotsu

Heavy Machinery

Excavators, forklifts, crane trucks, transport vehicles, light trucks, chain blocks, etc.

Blacksmith’s Workshop

Equipped with furnace, spring hammer, press, and hardening furnace.

Carpentry Workshop

Equipped with sawing machines, automatic planer, planer, table saw, drying machine, chainsaw, general tools, and blades.

Workspace 1

100 square meters of concrete floor adjacent to the blacksmith forge.

Workspace 2

Several rooms with tatami flooring in an old farmhouse.

Workspace 3

Abandoned farmland and mountain forest covering 170,000 square metres on-site.

Possibilities at MUJUN Workshop Yunotsu

Circular Craft Making in Satoyama

E.g.

  • Camping

  • Bonfires and hearth cooking

  • Mountain maintenance

    (wind and water flow management)

  • Timber processing

    (felling, transport, sawing, processing)

  • Bamboo cutting and processing.

  • Construction of mud walls using soil, straw, and bamboo

  • Charcoal production 

Sustainable Tool Making in Satoyama

E.g.

  • Collecting sand iron from beaches and rivers

  • Steelmaking from charcoal burning to steelmaking at the blacksmith’s workshop

  • Crafting tools and blades at the blacksmith’s workshop

  • Reprocessing old iron at the blacksmith’s workshop

  • Restoration of old tools

Relaxing Leisure Activities

E.g.

  • Hot springs, Kagura (traditional Shinto music and dance), and drinking sake.

  • Karaoke at Kirakuya or Tokitsufu

  • Zazen and shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) at a temple

  • Fasting and relaxation massages

  • Surfing in the Sea of Japan

  • Hiking on Mount Sanbe, followed by hot springs and Jingisukan (grilled lamb dish).

  • Fishing and snorkelling along sandy beaches

  • Various cafes and restaurants.

  • Watching the sunset on secluded beaches

Optional

Upon request and consultation with the local coordinator, residents can access the following services:

Cultural Exchange Support

Explore Yunotsu's rich food, nature, culture, and history, including its renowned ceramic tradition. With this support, participants will have the chance to engage in local activities, such as flower arranging and martial arts classes.

Additional Support

Tailored experiences such as:

  • Traditional Carpentry Culture (Daiku Bunka): Including architectural woodworking, traditional joinery, and shrine/temple construction techniques.

  • Plasterwork (Sakan): Focusing especially on historical kote-e (relief plaster art), with opportunities to investigate and reinterpret this fading local tradition.

  • Roof Tile Craft (Sekishu Kawara Industry): Research into the legacy and current practices of Sekishu-gawara, with potential access to disused industrial spaces and materials through local collaborators.

  • Washi making at Ishikawa Washi Workshop.

  • Tour of the Paper Cloth Workshop

  • Visit to Iwami Ginzan Tile Workshop

  • Pottery Studio Workshop

  • Tour and hands-on experience at the Iwami Kagura Mask Workshop

  • Visit to Hirata Family Residence, including a tour of the Tatara furnace, local history, valuable housing, and natural farming

  • Rental car service

  • Tour of local sake brewery

  • Visit to local fermentation workshop