New “SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL” Opens March 20, 2027; About 25 Artists in Narita, Inzai and Sakae

A new art festival, the “SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL,” will be held in Narita City, Inzai City and Sakae Town in Chiba Prefecture. It runs for 56 days, from Saturday, March 20 to Sunday, May 23, 2027. It is organized by an executive committee made up of the three municipalities and Chiba Prefecture, with Fram Kitagawa as general director. About 25 artists and groups from Japan and abroad are expected to take part. Venues include the Narita City Culture and Arts Center, the former Munakata Elementary School and the Chiba Prefectural Boso no Mura.

What does “Sora Mizu Ku” mean? An area of airport, Lake Inba and the Tone River

The name is read “sora mizu ku.” According to the official website, the first character, “sora” (sky), stands for Narita International Airport, and “mizu” (water) for waterside areas such as Lake Inba and the Tone River, which have been bound up with the region through land reclamation and development. The final character, the same one as “sora” but read “ku” (emptiness), expresses a worldview in which nothing exists on its own and everything exists within a web of relationships.

The theme is “Particles and waves reflected in the sky and water: there, we become ku.” According to the materials from the project announcement, the name derives from a single question: how artists will perceive the features of the area, such as the airport’s vapor trails, the Tone River and Lake Inba, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Boso no Mura.

Why an art festival in Narita now?

The materials point to the ongoing expansion of Narita International Airport’s functions, including the construction of a third runway and the redevelopment of its terminals. With expectations growing for regional development centered on the airport, the festival is positioned as an initiative that makes use of the area’s characteristics. Its aims include increasing the number of visitors, attracting inbound tourists and enhancing the appeal of the region.

The official website communicates in four languages, Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, and information is also planned at Narita International Airport and elsewhere. The airport company and railway companies also take part in the executive committee as observers. As of October 1, 2026, donors and sponsors include Narita International Airport Corporation and the Keisei Group.

What works can be seen? Venues and participating artists

The venues and artists listed in the project announcement materials are as follows. Plans submitted to the open call for works are under review.

• Narita City Culture and Arts Center (first half of the run) and the former bank site on the Naritasan Omotesando (second half of the run): Anila Quayyum Agha (Pakistan), Albert Yonathan Setyawan (Indonesia), Xu Zhen (China), Kama Wangdi (Kingdom of Bhutan), Tseng Shih-kai (Taiwan), Marcos Kueh (Malaysia), Tsherin Sherpa (Nepal) and others

• Narita City Kozunomori Community Center (Morinpia Kozu): Andrew Dewar (Canada). A participatory work with residents inspired by airplanes is also planned at the center

• Inzai City: Kentaro Yanagi and Tsuyoshi Hisakado at the former Munakata Elementary School; Company (Korea/Finland) at the former Munakata Post Office; Tsuyoshi Ozawa at the Inba Historical and Folk Museum; Trevor Yeung (China) around Lake Inba

• Sakae Town (Chiba Prefectural Boso no Mura, Drum no Sato): Ryota Unno, Ayumi Shibata, Riusuke Fukahori, Setsu Suzuki, Seppuku Pistols

The materials introduce reference works such as Tsuyoshi Hisakado’s “Wind” and Tsuyoshi Ozawa’s “Seven Wonders of Sanuki (The First Wonder).”

Tickets, prices and bus tours

Tickets are on sale from Wednesday, January 20 to Sunday, May 23, 2027. The artwork viewing passport costs 2,000 yen for adults (19 and over) until March 19 and 2,500 yen from March 20. For youths (16–18), it costs 1,000 yen and 1,500 yen respectively, and children (15 and under) are free. Individual viewing tickets (from March 20) cost from 500 yen per work for adults and from 300 yen for youths. Holders of a disability certificate and one companion are admitted free.

Tickets are sold online through asoview! and at the Narita City Culture and Arts Center, the Narita City Tourist Information Center and elsewhere, and set tickets with the Boso Triennale are also available. On a total of 25 weekends and holidays during the run, guided day bus tours will be operated. The tour price is 18,000 yen, including lunch, the artwork viewing passport and special travel compensation insurance. Tours depart from the Narita Station area at 9:30, and lunch is eel, a Narita specialty. Advance booking is required.

Editor’s perspective

In spring 2027, two art festivals with Fram Kitagawa as general director overlap in Chiba Prefecture: the Boso Triennale (Art × Mix 2027) in the Uchibo area (March 6 – May 30) and the SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL around the airport. Kitagawa has also served as general director of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale and the Setouchi Triennale, among others.

The SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL lists attracting inbound tourists among its aims. The question is whether it can draw airport users and overseas visitors out to the venues. The schedules of art festivals in Japan are gathered in our art fair and art festival calendar.

Overview

Name: SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL
Dates: Saturday, March 20 – Sunday, May 23, 2027 (56 days)
Closed: Mondays (except March 22 and May 3), Tuesday, March 23, Thursday, May 6
Venues: Various locations in Narita City, Inzai City and Sakae Town, Chiba Prefecture
Admission: Artwork viewing passport: adults 2,000 yen (until March 19) / 2,500 yen (from March 20), youths 1,000 yen / 1,500 yen, children free
Sales period: Wednesday, January 20 – Sunday, May 23, 2027
Organizer: SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL Executive Committee (Narita City, Inzai City, Sakae Town, Chiba Prefecture)
General Director: Fram Kitagawa
Official website: https://soramizuku.jp/
*Information as of October 19, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Lake Inba, Chiba Prefecture, September 2015 (public domain, from Wikimedia Commons)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press materials from Chiba Prefecture (October 6, 2026) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team