Suddenly, after a long silence, I've decided to restart my blog!

It's an unfortunate coincidence that this is happening now, but precisely because of this situation, we want to share Naoshima's present and its charm, and hope that once it's safe to travel again, you'll come visit!! With that sentiment in mind, we want to start sharing again.

We hope you will enjoy watching our new staff members, who have just arrived on Naoshima, discover and explore the island through this blog, with guidance from the islanders through their fresh eyes. We look forward to your continued support!

Now, I must refrain from saying "Please come visit!" and instead share this: Naoshima Town's flower, the "Shima Tsutsuji" azalea, has been in full bloom for several weeks now. The vibrant, pale pink color adorns the mountains, bringing a splash of color to the calm Seto Inland Sea. The blooming season lasts a long time, delighting our eyes.

The cherry blossoms have finished blooming, but the approximately 130 'Oshima' cherry trees at "Sakura no Meikyu" (Cherry Blossom Labyrinth), designed by Tadao Ando (photo from two weeks ago), have already turned into lush green by this week. These cherry trees, planted in 2016, are still growing. We hope to see you all again next spring with their even larger forms!

I can only hope that we all do what we can individually and that life returns to normal as soon as possible.