Creative Travel to Japan 2024

The Exhibition Creative Travel to Japan was first held between 2016 – 2018 and was resumed in 2022 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

 Our Exhibitions serve to promote tourism based on local cultures, by spreading information about some of the many and varied appeals of Japanese cultural life.

The theme of the fifth iteration, to be held this year, is "Japanese culture from the land of Niigata." The event will focus on the culture of Prefecture of ‘Niigata’, which continues to preserve the land and environment of this important part of Japan. Along with the Niigata Plain extending along the lengthy coastline, the prefecture’s fertile land was formed from soil carried by the ‘Shinano’ River, Japan’s longest river, while melting snow feeds its clear waters. People far and wide benefit from this bountiful region, which, thanks to a benign climate and natural resources, is well-suited to agriculture. This Exhibition will explore the secrets of how traditional culture has been passed down through successive generations within Niigata, where people and nature have come to naturally coexist in everyday life.

Known as Japan’s main rice-producing prefecture, and with an abundance of delicacies from the mountains and the sea, Niigata boasts a rich food culture that connects the lives of so many people. This, along with the wealth of Japanese cuisine, was explored in December 2023 by the celebration of the 10th anniversary of "Washoku: The traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese people" being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ikenobo (flower arrangement) and Urasenke (the tea ceremony) will also be introduced as representative aspects of traditional culture that emphasise the impact of the four seasons on life in Japan. Japanese flower arrangement, or ikebana, began with the Ikenobo school, which boasts a 560-year history that has blossomed alongside the seasonal flowers of Japan. Founded by Sen no Rikyu, the Urasenke school preserves the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, providing insights into the Japanese spirit through tea utensils and a culture of hospitality that reflect the changing seasons.

The Creative Travel to Japan Exhibition will be held in vibrant Paris during Spring time in the year of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a “festival of peace” that pushes the boundaries of human performance. Just like the Olympics, the earth is a stage upon which each individual shines. This Exhibition aims to generate interest in Japan by showcasing a culture that makes life more brilliant and honours the blessings of nature which connect the lives of so many people. It is an invitation to embark on a journey and learn about the Japan of today.