Pottery, music, the outdoors... Rather than just looking at art, create it yourself!

Go, see, and experience the world of art
File.18 Fujino Art House
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

The former Fujino Town (now Midori Ward, Sagamihara City), located at the northwestern tip of Kanagawa Prefecture, is said to be a place where artists such as Tsuguharu Fujita and Setsuko Migishi lived during World War II and discussed the "Grand Art City Concept." The "Fujino Hometown Art Village Concept," which arose from these connections, is the background to the creation of the "Fujino Art House" that we visited this time.

It's a little difficult to explain this in one sentence.
First of all, the building is well-equipped with various art workshops and music studios where you can experience different art forms, and it also has accommodation facilities. You can enjoy barbecues and camping in the lush outdoor space. In short, it's an art space where you can fully enjoy whatever you want, just as its slogan, "Do what you love, as much as you want," suggests.

Because it's built on a hillside near Lake Sagami, you enter the building on the third floor. The lobby, with its wooden block flooring, is a pleasant space filled with plenty of natural light.

The passageway leading to the music studio is aptly named the "Sound Promenade." If you're curious why, be sure to take a walk through it. You're sure to feel a thrilling, artistic mood.
Incidentally, the wall space is designed as a gallery space that can be used casually. It's free to use for up to two weeks!

There are a total of three music studios. Equipped with grand pianos, drum sets, mixers, and other equipment (some for a fee), they can be used for a wide range of purposes, from choir and chamber music practice to band practice, dance practice, and recording.

This is the "Sound Chest" located in front of the music studio. I thought the design, which makes good use of the natural wood grain, was lovely... and when I opened the drawers, I discovered that each one had a mechanism that produced a different sound.
This, too, is an art piece that's fun to experience.

Creation Hall is a versatile creative space that can be used for everything from piano recitals to contemporary dance performances. The 225 seats are movable, and when the stage and seating are stored away, the space becomes flat, making it suitable for use as a martial arts training room as well.

The workshops on the first floor consist of three areas: the "Woodworking Workshop," the "Clayworking Workshop," and the "Free Workshop." All of them do not require reservations, making them convenient to use anytime.
Limited-time programs and workshops are also being planned, so check the website for details!

Let's start with the "Woodworking Workshop." It's equipped with power tools like drill presses and scroll saws, as well as hand tools like saws and glue, so both adults and children can freely try their hand at creating their own art pieces.
* Free-form crafts using glue: from 800 yen, woodworking crafts: from 1,000 yen

The materials offered are diverse, including various shapes of wood, natural materials such as pine cones, ribbons, beads, and metal wire. You can feel the staff's desire for customers to try creating their own unique works by combining different materials.
You're free to make whatever you want, but "anything goes" can be surprisingly difficult. In case you're unsure what to make, there are a variety of samples available, including cars, sailboats, and dollhouses. Reliable instructors are always on hand, so feel free to ask for their help.

This is "The Clay Workshop." Pottery experiences, where you can create whatever you like as if you were playing with clay, are very popular with both adults and children. Once you've made your favorite shape—plates, cups, or unique objects—the workshop takes care of the drying, bisque firing, glazing, and final firing processes. You can pick up your finished product yourself, or you can have it delivered (cash on delivery), so there's no need to worry.
*Hand-molding: 1,000 yen, Painting: 1,200 yen, Decorative art accessories: 800 yen

This is a machine located in the "Free Workshop." It's a "sandblasting" machine that uses sand to engrave patterns, allowing you to create original cups and other items.
* Sandblasting: from 800 yen

Finally, I looked up at the accommodation building from the spacious outdoor area. With 17 rooms and a maximum capacity of 100 people, it caters to a wide range of needs, from family trips to club training camps. The rooms offer views of the lush greenery of Fujino, making it a great place to relax.
As I was thinking about how the surrounding mountains are full of deciduous trees and how the autumn foliage would be magnificent, I began to realize that this nature-filled space itself is art.