House of Light, Tōkamachi-shi, Japan
The House of Light is a beautiful guest house on a promontory that overlooks Tokamachi. It is part of the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale and is the work of American artist, James Turrell who is known as an artist of light. The idea behind it is as a place of meditation and it was inspired by a Junichiro Tanizaki essay. The artist has combined his work into the play of light in a traditional Japanese house. It is an amazing place to stay but also worth a look around if you are in the area and have time to take the guided tour.
The rooms in the house are the traditional Japanese style with plenty of wooden beams and tatami floors, though there is definitely a modern feel to it. Much of the lighting is indirect, giving off colored glows and many areas can change colors to give several different effects. If you are there for the day tour you will not get the full effect of this but stay at night and you will enjoy playing with the settings. In the main room is a retractable roof which slides back to reveal a view of the sky. It can only be opened when the weather is fine so rainy or snowy days are out but lying back on the tatami and gazing up at the stars is an amazing feeling. This room is known as “Outside In” and the changing lights inside the room are supposed to emphasize the different lights at dawn and dusk.
Epic Japan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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