A Gallery in the Heart of Gujo Hachiman: Art San Gallery Opens Its Doors

We are pleased to announce the opening of Art San Gallery's physical space in the historic town of Gujo Hachiman, nestled in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Gujo Hachiman is often called the “water town” — a place where narrow streets, wooden houses, and murmuring canals come together to form one of Japan’s most picturesque and peaceful environments. Known for its pristine rivers and deep-rooted traditions, the town embodies a rare harmony between nature and culture.

View from Art San Gallery, located just in front of Sogui Sui in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu.

The gallery stands just in front of Sogui Sui (宗祇水), one of Japan’s most renowned natural springs and the first to be designated among the country’s “100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters.” Named after the 15th-century renga poet Sogi, who is said to have composed verses beside its flowing waters, Sogui Sui remains a cherished local treasure — its crystal-clear source still in use today, a symbol of both purity and poetic continuity.

Each summer, Gujo Hachiman comes alive with the Gujo Odori, one of Japan’s oldest and most spirited traditional dance festivals. Held over 30 nights from mid-July to early September, it culminates during Obon in mid-August, when dancers take to the streets through the night. What sets Gujo Odori apart is its openness — there are no barriers between performers and the public. Everyone is invited to dance. The steps are simple, and the spirit is shared. Under lantern-lit skies, the town transforms into a moving circle of memory, celebration, and shared rhythm.

From the gallery, you can glimpse one of the town’s most iconic sights: the red-lacquered bridge that spans the Kodara River, just where it meets the Yoshida River. This confluence, framed by stone paths and sloping rooftops, captures the essence of Gujo Hachiman — a meeting point between nature and tradition, stillness and movement. It is a view that changes with the seasons and mirrors the quiet, attentive energy we bring into the gallery space.

Inside, Art San Gallery presents original works by international artists, including creations on traditional Japanese shikishi boards. Our space is designed for slow looking and quiet discovery — a place where art finds resonance in its surroundings.

Whether you are drawn by the clarity of its waters, the cadence of its dances, or the beauty of its handmade culture, we warmly invite you to visit Art San Gallery in Gujo Hachiman — and experience the dialogue between art and place.