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Welcome to Marunekodo Art Festival
Welcome to Marunekodo Art Festival
The Marunekodo Art Festival began in May 2020, and we successfully held our 6th annual festival in 2026.
Our festival launched right amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing us to host our early events online. Despite the challenging circumstances, we have continuously searched for viable ways to create and connect, keeping the festival alive each year.
Every summer, we open the call for artists and begin preparing for the exhibition held the following spring. During this roughly 8-month period, artists gather monthly for meetings and work on their creations while influencing and inspiring one another.
What is Marunekodo?
What is Marunekodo?
Marunekodo is a private residential home located in Uji City, Kyoto. It is home to Takashi Ohtani ( founder & owner of Marunekodo), Mio Ohtani (Festival Committee Member and Takashi’s wife), their three children, and two cats.
One of the defining features of this art festival is that exhibition and artistic creation take place directly within a living space. Marunekodo is not just an exhibition venue for a few days; participants can use Marunekodo as a creative workspace throughout the entire 8-month preparation period. Rather than a site accessible only during the event, we welcome artists to use this space continuously to interact and collaborate as well.
Art in Daily Life
Art in Daily Life
Most of our executive committee members and participating artists are not professional artists. By using a home like Marunekodo as a site for creation, we aim to offer a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how we can incorporate artistic thinking, time, and creative space into everyday life.
In the early years, most participants were simply doing their best to complete their works. Over time, however, the depth and quality of the exhibitions have grown significantly year by year.
Looking Ahead: Study Groups and Global Perspectives
Looking Ahead: Study Groups and Global Perspectives
As we enter our 7th year, we are launching new study sessions to deepen our understanding of past artistic expressions. By exploring various artworks and their broader contexts, we hope to discuss our own creative work from multiple perspectives and make the process of making art even more fulfilling.
While preparing for these study sessions, we found ourselves looking at many works from around the world—which inspired us to write this greeting to our visitors from overseas.
We are a small art festival located in the suburbs of Kyoto. If you are interested, we would be delighted to welcome you to our exhibition.
September 2026
Marunekodo Art Festival Executive Committee
7th Marunekodo Art Festival
7th Marunekodo Art Festival
Dates: May 2 (Sun) – May 4 (Tue / National Holiday), 2027
Hours: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Closes at 3:00 PM on the final day)
Admission: Free (Donations welcome)
*Some special events may require a participation fee.
Venue: Marunekodo
Address: 2-167 Hirookadani, Gokasho, Uji-shi, Kyoto / 京都府宇治市五ケ庄広岡谷2-167
Access: Approx. a 15-minute walk from Keihan Keihan-line or JR Nara-line Oobaku Station (黄檗駅).
Location Map: Google map link
Notice: No parking space available. Please use public transportation.
Contact: mio.yamane@gmail.com
Official Instagram (Japanese only):
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