The visit to the Sugimoto foundation is an extraordinary testament to the commitment of a Japanese artist to mother nature and ancient culture and civilization. The project is carefully thought out and each stone has been placed to exactly where the artist wants it.

It is definitely worth a 35 minute trip by train from Tokyo, and if you decide to go make sure you make an appointment as it requires a reservation. And if you are searching a restaurant nearby, try Il Mare an Italian restaurant: http://il-mare.co.jp

In the history of humanity, art was born at the same time as human consciousness. Art, from its very inception, has been intertwined with religion, serving to explain the mysteries of world we live in. Painting, sculpture, music, and theater: over the years and into the new millennium, throughout numerous transformations, these arts have been passed down to our generation. Now it is our time to reconsider how humanity is to engage with the world. By looking back at the history of art, we can gain important insights into how we have dealt with this world in the past and consider the path humanity must take for the future. source Odawara Art Foundation

Paved with optical glass, the stage sits on framework of Hinoki cypress. Parallel to the tunnel, it is aligned with the axis of the winter solstice. The best-known examples of are probably Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto and the Monjudo hall on Mount Mitoku in Tottori. On the morning of the winter solstice, the optical glass stage glows as it catches the light on its cut edges. The auditorium is a full-size recreation of a ruined Roman amphitheater in Ferento in the Lazio region of Italy. To the audience, the glass stage appears to be floating on the surface of the sea.

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