YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL
2023-2024

Its red-roofed gymnasium looking like an ark floating on the blue sea, the former Shioya Elementary School boasts a unique location facing the scenic Shioya Bay. The site is also known as the venue for the traditional "Ungami (Sea God Festival)" event, a Nationally Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property. This year it is the main venue for the "Yanbaru Art Festival." Visitors are invited to appreciate the works at the Exhibition Section, select Okinawan crafts at the "YAF CRAFT MARKET" at the Craft Section, participate in workshops, and enjoy food made from local ingredients. Please discover the art experience unique to this festival in a special space where you will forget the passage of time.

Established in 1981, the nursery came into being with the discovery of the Okinawa rail in the northern region of Okinawa Prefecture. Nestled in the lush natural surroundings of the Kinyuka district in Ogimi Village, the nursery has been actively engaged in preserving the ancient culture of the area. Operating under the theme of "community-based daycare," the nursery collaborates with the local community to impart this rich heritage to the children, fostering the wellspring of abundant life.
The building, which closed in 2019 due to the integration of nursery schools in the village, will be used as the new exhibition venue for the Yanbaru Art Festival, where two artists will exhibit their work.

In 1950 (Showa 25), an awamori distillery was established in the northern area of Okinawa's main island in the Takasato area of Ogimi Village with an investment from local people. Their product, "Maruta," is carefully prepared using natural water of nature-rich Yanbaru. The medium-hard water, reputedly one of the most delicious natural water in the prefecture, is pumped from the mountains near the brewery and used for koji making, preparation, and final dilution of the drink. Locals are proud of their awamori, and for the Yanbaru Art Festival, a prominent art mural appears on the wall of the brewery warehouse.

Okuma is Yanbaru's longest-established resort that offers a natural white sand beach and beautiful sunsets. You can enjoy the finest relaxation stay with a full dose of Yanbaru, such as cottages scattered in the garden full of greenery and flowers, and breakfast that is particular about local ingredients. This time marks the 5th year of a venue of the "Yanbaru Art Festival" at the resort. Encountering artworks in the northernmost part of Okinawa is a new pleasure of the Okuma winter stay.

In the center of Kunigami Village, elementary and junior high schools, post office, old-fashioned shops, and more line the main street. The village, which sits by the entrance to Yanbaru Forest and its rich ecosystem, was once crowded with passers-by. However, the traffic volume has dropped sharply since the opening of the Hentona Tunnel on National Highway 58. However, in recent years, the "Hentona Odori-kai" has been created, and events that use local resources and ideas are actively held, and the area is regaining its former vibrancy.

Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa is a resort hotel with one of the largest garden pools in the prefecture. All rooms have ocean views adding to an elegant stay in a tropical country. Many services are available specifically for women, such as spas, beauty treatment and nail salons, a well-equipped fitness club, and a breakfast buffet and restaurant to enjoy international cuisine. Please pay attention to how artworks are fused into a healing space where visitors can immerse themselves in the nature and culture of Okinawa.

Kanucha Resort is a resort hotel facing Oura Bay on the east coast of Nago. The resort has plenty of photogenic spots, such as a spectacular view from the lobby, a trolleybus running on its vast grounds, and a lit pool at night. In addition, it has a golf course, relaxation menus, and daily events, so children and adults can enjoy the best stay. Original art adds more flowers to the resort's unique space.

At "Yanbaru Art Festival 2017-2018," local children planted young trees around the statue of Agu that continue to grow as "Agu Forest." As the work aimed at creating the scenery of Okinawa grows, people keep watching over it from generation to generation.

Located in Onna Village, one of the best beach resorts in Okinawa, this hotel offers a yonna~na stay in Okinawa.
The concept is "Yonna~Chu Life," which means "relax, take your time, and have a wonderful time" in the Okinawan dialect. Each guest room is designed as a condominium-type space, featuring kitchen and laundry facilities for added convenience. The open public space "TAMARIBA" is accessible 24 hours and the swimming pool with a gazebo. An Okinawan experience in a laid-back and comfortable style.

Opened on February 27, 2020, the hotel is an art and culture spot expressing the "now" of Naha, Okinawa. With a gallery and restaurant, the gallery space at the center of the hotel provides a "place for transmission and exchange" for a new generation of artists and creators. It is a place where one can experience firsthand the diverse works of art that have emerged in response to the current era and the breath of young expressionists.