The Design Discoveries exhibition presents design treasures collected from across Japan.
Eight prominent Japanese designers travelled to a specific prefecture in Japan to uncover the rich history and evolution of their chosen design. Read on to learn more about the prefectures featured in the exhibition.
Iwate Prefecture: Jōmon period village design
Part of Japan’s north-eastern Tōhoku region, Iwate Prefecture is situated on the Pacific coast along the Sanriku coastline. It can be accessed via the JR Tōhoku Shinkansen from Tokyo, Sendai, or Hakodate. Roughly divided into four distinct regions, with Morioka as the prefectural capital, Iwate is well known for its natural environment, folkloric tradition and historic samurai structures.
One of Iwate’s prominent features is the Ōu Mountains, which are home to popular ski resorts and hot springs. The area is also renowned for its high-quality wagyu beef, rice, and sake. Located in the southwestern part of Iwate, the World Heritage sites of Hiraizumi attract visitors with over 3,000 National Treasures.
Iwate’s coast was severely affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Iwate Prefecture features in the Design Discoveries exhibition through an examination of Jōmon period village design, found at the archaeological site of Goshono in Ichinohe, northern Iwate.
Shizuoka Prefecture: Yamaha’s TransAcoustic Piano
Located midway between Tokyo and Nagoya and accessible via the JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Shizuoka Prefecture offers a diverse landscape, encompassing mountainous regions rich with forests and coastal areas lining the Pacific Ocean. The prefecture is home to Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and a revered symbol, making it a popular destination for both domestic and international visitors.
The Izu Peninsula, located in the eastern part of the prefecture, is a renowned holiday destination popular for its sandy beaches and hot spring resorts, including the cities of Atami and Ito. Located about 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, the proximity to the capital makes Izu a favoured weekend retreat.
Shizuoka is Japan’s leading tea producer, with numerous tea plantations, including those located on the Nihondaira Plateau, which also offers views of Mt. Fuji.
Shizuoka Prefecture is featured in Design Discoveries exhibition through an examination of Yamaha’s TransAcoustic Piano, located at the manufacturer’s site in Shizuoka’s Hamamatsu.
Ishikawa Prefecture: Yanagi Sōri’s cutlery
Ishikawa Prefecture is situated on Honshū’s northern coast, alongside the Sea of Japan. Its capital, Kanazawa, is renowned for its blend of historical sites and contemporary museums and is also home to one of Japan’s ‘Three Great Gardens’, Kenroku-en.
Once ruled by the wealthy Kaga clan, the region thrived as a vibrant centre for Japanese fine arts, particularly ceramics and lacquerware, during the 17th century. It remains one of Japan’s most important artistic hubs to this day.
Two notable areas of interest within the prefecture are Kaga Onsen, a cluster of four villages popular for their hot springs, and the Noto Peninsula, known for its lacquerware production. The region faced significant damage from a major earthquake on New Year’s Day in 2024.
Ishikawa Prefecture features in the Design Discoveries exhibition through an examination of the design processes of Yanagi Sōri, one of Japan’s most revered product designers, at the Yanagi Sōri Design Memorial in Kanazawa.
Toyama Prefecture: sportswear inspired by Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival
Toyama Prefecture lies along the coast of the Sea of Japan and is part of the Japanese Northern Alps. It can be accessed via the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa, Nagano, and Tokyo.
Popular destinations in Toyama include the World Heritage villages of Suganuma and Ainokura, collectively known as Gokayama. The towns are famous for their farmhouses featuring steep thatched roofs (gassho-zukuri), which were designed to withstand heavy snowfall during winter.
During spring, visitors can explore the towering snow walls of the Tateyama Snow Corridor. In summer and autumn, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route offers scenic hiking trails, including past a volcanic crater lake.
Innovative sportswear developed at Goldwin Inc., a leading sportswear manufacturer located in Toyama Prefecture, is presented in the Design Discoveries exhibition.
Hyōgo Prefecture: spinning tops
Spanning from the Sea of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea, Hyōgo Prefecture is a diverse region with many well-known sites, including the port city of Kobe – a longtime hub of international trade – and the World Heritage site of Himeji Castle.
Inland, the Takeda Castle Ruins, constructed in 1443 and often referred to as ‘Japan’s Machu Picchu’, attract visitors, particularly during autumn months, when the castle can appear as if floating in the sky on foggy mornings. The prefecture is also renowned for hot spring resorts such as Arima Onsen and Kinosaki Onsen, as well as its marbled Kobe beef and akashiyaki, a local variation of takoyaki octopus balls.
Hyōgo Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka via the JR Tōkaidō-Sanyo Shinkansen, with stops at Shin-Kobe Station and Himeji Station.
Discover wooden spinning tops from the Japan Toy Museum in Himeji in the Design Discoveries exhibition.
Fukuoka Prefecture: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
Located on the northern tip of Kyūshū, one of Japan’s main islands in the southwest, Fukuoka Prefecture is home to Kyūshū’s largest city, Fukuoka.
The prefecture is well-known for its diverse culinary specialities, including sushi, seafood dishes, grilled yakitori skewers, motsunabe hot pot, and tonkotsu pork broth ramen. Many of these dishes can be enjoyed at Fukuoka’s yatai food stalls, mostly located in the centre of the city, near Nakasu Island.
Dazaifu Tenmangu, a shrine dedicated to the historical figure Michizane Sugawara, is among the most visited sites in Fukuoka Prefecture. Surrounded by over 6,000 plum trees, the shrine is particularly popular during spring.
Fukuoka is conveniently connected to the main island of Honshū via the JR Kyūshū Shinkansen and the JR Sanyo Shinkansen, which link to Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.
The Design Discoveries exhibition features an examination of the 700-year-old Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, which takes place annually in Fukuoka’s Hakata Ward.
Kagoshima Prefecture: Haburagin, the costume of the Amami priestesses
The prefecture is located at the southern tip of mainland Japan on the island of Kyūshū, and its capital Kagoshima City is sometimes referred to as the “Naples of the East” due to its picturesque bay and mild climate.
The prefecture is also home to the Sakurajima volcano, which stands in Kagoshima Bay across from the city constantly emitting smoke and regularly causing minor eruptions, as well as Mount Kirishima, another active volcano which offers scenic hiking trails. Due to its geological activity, Kagoshima is home to many onsen hot spring facilities.
Located further south as part of the island chain stretching between Kyūshū and Okinawa, Amami Ōshima features white-sand beaches and clear waters. Part of Kagoshima Prefecture, the island is also renowned for its high-quality Ōshima Tsumugi silk production.
Kagoshima Prefecture features in the Design Discoveries exhibition through an examination of haburagin, the ceremonial attire worn by female priestesses in Amami Ōshima.
Yamagata Prefecture: Yamagata dantsu carpets
Yamagata Prefecture lies along the coast of the Sea of Japan in the southern Tōhoku region.
The mountainous area is home to many picturesque hot spring resorts, including Ginzan Onsen and Zao Onsen. Zao Onsen is also a favoured destination in winter due to its ski slopes and striking snow-covered fir trees.
Yamadera, a sprawling temple perched high on a steep mountainside, is among the most visited sites in Yamagata Prefecture. Another popular site is Dewa Sanzan, a trio of mountains, representing birth, death and rebirth.
The region is easily accessible via JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo.
Yamagata Prefecture features in the Design Discoveries exhibition through an examination of Yamagata dantsu, a wool carpet produced in Yamanobe.