Art Camp Hakushu Exhibition

Rediscover influential art movements through rare footage, performances, and archival material at the Art Camp Hakushu: Summer 1988-2010 Revisited Through Archived Footage Exhibition at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art.

What to expect

Back in 1988 — before Japan had large, internationally renowned outdoor art festivals — artists, musicians, dancers, architects, and farmers gathered in Hakushu Town in Yamanashi Prefecture to create the Hakushu Summer Festival. Led by the renowned dancer and actor Min Tanaka, this festival evolved into Art Camp Hakushu and Dance Hakushu, and ran until 2010. Now, this exhibition brings the festival back to life with rare footage, posters, and artifacts, offering a fresh look at one of Japan’s most creative movements.

Exhibition highlights

• Room 1 — The Beginnings: Early documentary footage from 1988-1989, including legendary performances by Milford Graves and Kazuo Kenmochi.
• Room 2 — The Evolution: Posters, pamphlets, and TV clips tracing the festival’s journey over 20 years.
• Room 3 — Spaces of Creativity: A deep dive into the unique artistic spaces created at Hakushu, including bamboo domes and earthen houses.
• Room 4 — Performances & Interviews: Footage of iconic acts, like Tuvan Khoomei throat singers and Czech puppetry, plus an exclusive interview with Min Tanaka.

Schedule

The exhibition runs from February 15 to March 23, 2025.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.). Closed on Mondays (except public holidays, in which case the museum is closed the next working day, unless it’s a Sunday).

Tickets

Tickets cost ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for university students.

How to get there

From Shinjuku in Tokyo, take the Limited Express Azusa to Enzan Station. Then, switch to a local train headed for Kobuchizawa. Get off a Ryūō Station, then take the bus headed for Shosenkyo-Iriguchi-Tenjimmori. Ride for 7 minutes and get off at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art bus stop. The whole journey will take about two hours and cost ¥4,150.

Alternatively, take the Limited Express Azusa all the way to Kōfu Station, then take the same bus as above, and get off at Yamanashi Prefectural Art Museum bus stop (¥4,230, also two hours).