- Culture
- Hokkaido
Kan Yasuda Sculpture Park Arte Piazza Bibai
In this outdoor museum, visitors can interact with the artworks of Kan Yasuda, exhibited around the park adjacent to a forest as if part of nature themselves. A restored wooden schoolhouse of a former elementary school and its gymnasium are also used as part of the exhibition space, providing a rare space for visitors to enjoy the seasonal changes of nature and art all in one place.
Artworks scattered throughout the expansive park
Arte Piazza, meaning art plaza in Italian, is aptly named for the expansive park located adjacent to a forest with about 40 works of art scattered throughout, placed to blend with the abundant surrounding nature that changes with the seasons to create a unique scenery. All of the sculptures can be touched freely, and the park makes a great spot for a picnic or sketching. With children running care-free around the artworks, this park also serves as a place of relaxation for local residents as well.
Graceful wooden schoolhouse used as exhibition space
The restored wooden school building and gymnasium of the former Bibai City Sakae Elementary School, which was actually used until 1981, are utilized as the indoor exhibition space. The unique atmosphere that evokes nostalgia even for first-time visitors is itself a form of art. The sculptures are situated in a way that viewers can enjoy various facets of the works from different angles and standpoints. The gymnasium is also used as a space for various types of art in addition to Kan Yasuda's exhibits, and serves as a venue for events and concerts.
Take a break in the stylish café
After enjoying the long stroll through the vast park, take a break at Café Arte with a cup of authentic hand drip coffee, homemade bread using Bibai wheat, or various sweets as you indulge in the resonance of art. Feel the breeze and rustling of the trees while sitting at the terrace tables in early summer, or comfort in the enveloping warmth of the wood stove in the winter. There are many ways to enjoy the quiet hours amid the changing seasons.
Location
| Name | Kan Yasuda Sculpture Park Arte Piazza Bibai |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.artepiazza.jp/english/ |
| Address | Sakae-machi, Ochiai-cho, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido |
| Access | Approximately 10 minutes' drive from JR Bibai Station East Exit |
| Business Hours | 9:00 to 17:00 Café Arte is open 10:00 to 17:00 (closes at 16:00 on weekdays from mid-November to mid-March) |
| Closed | Every Tuesday and the day after a public holiday (except Sundays), December 31 to January 3 |
| Inquiries | TEL: 0126-63-3137 |