Hello everyone! Miyanaga from GP here. 

While Kyoto is bustling with countless tourists, overtourism has also become an issue in recent years. Because of this, I’m particularly interested in the collaborative art project “NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO”, by the creative company NAKED—which is a project that aims to address Kyoto’s overtourism problem.

The Collaborative Art Project Begins Again This Year

The art project “NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO” will be held from Friday, July 26th to Sunday, August 25th. This project, organized by the creative company NAKED, INC., envisions Kyoto as a single garden, transcending various labels and bringing the city together as one.

By offering nighttime content that allows visitors to enjoy Kyoto’s sights at night, this project aims to make a significant impact on the social issue of overtourism in Kyoto.

[Overtourism] Solving the Issues of Tourist Cities

Japan is overflowing with tourists from overseas, with inbound tourism reaching record highs. While the appeals of food, traditional culture, and weaker yen have made Japan a popular tourist destination, overtourism has become a significant concern.

This project was conceived with the idea of solving this issue through the power of art. Focusing on Kyoto, one of the most visited tourist cities, this project collaborates with Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu, all of which belong in Shiga Prefecture. NAKED, INC. leverages its expertise in “light art” to create various forms of nighttime content, promoting dispersed tourism as a countermeasure to overtourism.

What is NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO?

Launched in 2022, this project had a significant impact in its inaugural year, over a duration of three months. It involved 21 locations, including world heritage sites like Nijo Castle, Nishi Honganji, Koshoji, and Hieizan Enryakuji, as well as Ace Hotel Kyoto. The project attracted about 300,000 participants and generated approximately 5 billion yen for the Kyoto area. The project also extended beyond the real world, creating a Metaverse Kyoto, where new tourism experiences were developed by crossing over reality and entering the virtual world at locations like Nijo Castle and Ninnaji.

Last year, the project was held for six months from July to December in the Kyoto area, with 18 locations participating, including the world heritage sites Kamigamo Shrine, JR Kyoto Station Building, and Heian Shrine. The project utilized unique venues in Kyoto to promote Japan’s traditional culture to the rest of the world.

Enjoy the Summer Nights in Kyoto! An Ancient City Illuminated by Lanterns

This year, the third time the project is being held, it is promoting nighttime tourism in Kyoto through summer events at unique venues, such as the world heritage site Nijo Castle—and initiatives that make you want to walk around Kyoto at night. The project envisions areas like Sanjo to Shijo in Kyoto and Uji as “one garden”, offering paid rentals of artistic lanterns, “NAKED Distance Lanterns®︎”, that encourage people to stroll through Kyoto’s night streets.

Of course, overtourism is a concern of its own, but Kyoto summers are also notoriously hot. When it’s tough to walk around during the day, this project, which livens up the cooler nights, is a welcome idea. Don’t you think it would be a beautiful experience to walk through Kyoto at night, lantern in hand, enjoying the old city’s atmosphere? Locals and tourists alike participate in the light art, with Kyoto’s streets bathed in the soft glow of lanterns.

Continuing from the first year, summer events are also held as part of the nighttime content to enjoy Kyoto’s summer. Highlights include the traditional summer festival at the world heritage site Nijo Castle, the lighting of Kyoto Tower, and other summer events making use of Kyoto’s unique venues. Don’t miss out on these! Now then, see you next time.

“NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO 2024 supported by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group” Summer Season Event Details

Event Period: Friday, July 26th, 2024 – Sunday, August 25th, 2024
https://garden.naked.works/en/kyoto