Higashiyoshino Village, located at the southernmost tip of the East Nara Nabari area, is about a 1.5–2 hour drive from central Osaka. It is a peaceful village surrounded by mountains and blessed with crystal-clear streams. In summer, it has been gaining popularity as one of Kansai’s best river play spots, and Mt. Takami—often called the “Matterhorn of Kansai”—is well known among mountaineers.
The village also offers plenty of local specialties born from its natural surroundings, including Yoshino cedar, persimmon leaf sushi, ayu (sweetfish), amago trout, and sōmen noodles.
What makes this little hidden-away village even more unique is that many artists and creators have chosen to base themselves here. And here’s the surprising part—some of them even come from overseas!
A Special Time When Artists Open Their Studios
This time, I visited the event Open Atelier Higashiyoshino to get a glimpse of what the resident creators are making and what kind of lifestyle they lead in this village.
This event, now in its second year, is all about what the title suggests—artists and creators opening up their studios and workshops. It’s a special four-day occasion held once a year, where you can not only view and purchase their works but also chat with the creators themselves and get a feel for their lifestyle here in Higashiyoshino.
On November 3rd, with autumn in full swing, I headed out to Higashiyoshino Village with two friends. One of them, Nagisa, lives in Nagoya, and the other, Keiko, lives in Osaka, so we met up at Kintetsu Nabari Station. From there, we all hopped into my car and set off for Higashiyoshino.
As we left the city behind, the scenery gradually shifted to lush, mountain-filled landscapes. After about an hour’s drive, we finally arrived in Higashiyoshino Village.
This time, I’d like to share some of the ateliers we visited, run by artists who relocated here from overseas.
Ha Partners
We parked the car at the Higashiyoshino Village Hall and walked over to the atelier Ha Partners, run by Felix Conran, who moved here from the UK. You might recognize the name—his grandfather was none other than Sir Terence Conran, the renowned furniture designer behind The Conran Shop, which also has locations in Japan.
Hearing that, and knowing I even own a Terence Conran coffee cup set myself, I was feeling a bit nervous. But as I looked at Felix’s work and started chatting with him, I was relieved to find he was such a warm, approachable person—with a wonderful smile.
Me: “How long do you plan to stay here each year?”
Felix: “I’m here for good. The only time I go back to the UK is for things like a friend’s wedding.” laughs
Me: “What? No way!”
But when it came to talking about his own work, he grew completely serious. His home is currently under renovation; the process itself could be seen as part of his artwork. With real passion in his eyes, he explained the idea behind the cedar wood flooring pattern, made from the local Yoshino cedar, and how he envisions the design of his kitchen.
Next to that were some adorable mushroom-themed works by his partner, Emily Smith. She was busy chatting with other visitors, so I didn’t get the chance to talk with her much. Looking back, I wish I’d waited a little longer to hear more about her work.
Atelier MA
We headed back to the car and set off for our next destination. I had actually been to the Open Atelier last year as well, and there was an artist whose work I really liked—so I made sure to visit again this year.
Atelier MA is a studio created from a renovated warehouse. From the outside it looks rather plain, but once you step inside, it’s like entering another world. Colorful works hang across the vast open space, while paints and what seem to be unfinished pieces lie casually on the floor—radiating pure creative energy. This is exactly the charm of the Open Atelier.
The artist behind this space is Douglas Diaz. When I visited last year, I was really drawn to his powerful, wild works. I remember telling him, “Your art feels almost urban to me, which is such an interesting contrast to this remote mountain village of Higashiyoshino.” He replied, “Well, I’m actually from New York City—maybe that’s why it shows up in my work.” And suddenly it all made sense!
And then, there was Douglas welcoming us. Without thinking, I blurted out,
“Hi! I came here last year—do you remember me?”
“Of course! How have you been?” he replied.
Reuniting with an artist like that—it really made me happy.
When I visited last year, Douglas’s works were mostly monochrome, almost like they were painted in ink. But this year, things had completely changed—there were so many more colorful pieces, full of vibrant hues.
As he himself put it, it was a “big change.” I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed by the shift, but I could still see that his signature style was very much alive underneath it all.
This year, I really wanted to buy one of his works—even a small one—so I picked one out. It didn’t take me long to decide.
Here’s the piece, already framed as soon as I got home. The only problem is—I’m still debating where in the house to hang it!
Why is it that so many artists gather in Higashiyoshino? What is it that draws them here? After visiting the Open Atelier, I feel like I’ve gotten just a small glimpse of the answer.
Here’s how I see it… In Higashiyoshino, you’re cut off—in the best possible way—from the clutter of an artificial, noisy environment. It’s a place where artists can truly focus on their work, while being surrounded by nature and traditional culture that spark creativity. But I don’t think that’s all. There must be some other “something” here, something only artists can really sense. After all, so many amazing people have chosen this village as the base for their work.
And finally, here are some photos from other ateliers, along with a look back at last year’s Open Atelier.
