Bibai, Hokkaido
Free your inner wild child
Thoughts collected and composed by Lisandra Moor
Photos by Anna Petek
In a world where calendars and to-do lists punctuate our lives, green spaces have become my retreat of choice. They are rare in Tokyo, where skyscrapers provide lukewarm shade, and the ground is paved from building to building, nary a strand of grass in sight.
I look back fondly on the years I spent in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, where nature was only a short drive away. Luckily, my work allows me to revisit the region every so often. I am thankful for this—otherwise I’d have long gone mad in the city.
Located northeast of Sapporo, Bibai’s landscape is defined by farmland and rolling hills. Venture off the Hokkaido Expressway long enough, and you’ll find yourself at the center of a playground like no other: Arte Piazza.
Part museum, part art workshop, Arte Piazza is dedicated to the life and work of artist Kan Yasuda. White gates sculpted from marble shimmer in the sunlight. Hidden in the shadows, under the canopies of trees, you might find a round, black sculpture.
The art pieces look, without a doubt, man-made. Yet, the aura around them seems to whisper, “We belong here.” So do I, I thought.
Museum rules don’t apply at Arte Piazza. You’re encouraged to roam, touch, sit, and climb (with caution). This is, I learned later, Yasuda’s philosophy: let emotions inspire movement. Let the child in you run free.
Thoughts collected and composed by Lisandra Moor.
Photos by Anna Petek
