Yokota(Okuizumo) ー Jikke Van Loon is a renowned visual artist inspired by the Japanese ethos. She was captivated by the spirituality of Japan and opted to visit Yokota, a town in the Chugoku Mountains that retains the authentic scenery of Japan. The aim of her journey to Shimane’s local town, deep in the mountains, was to restore the soul of the statues of the Guardian Buddha (仁王像), which reside in Holland, to their original place.
The Buddhist statues had been initially placed at the gate of Iwayaji Temple (岩屋寺), which flourished in the Japanese medieval period but is now dilapidated. Eventually, the statues were transported to RIJKSMUSEUM, The Netherland National Art Museum. It was Ms Van Loon who was mesmerized by the beauty of the carvings as she encountered the Buddhas in Amsterdam.
Ms Van Loon was keen to bring back the souls of the Buddhas to their origin. She devised a clever idea of tracing the shape of the carvings and commenced visiting Yokota in 2015. Since then, she dedicated herself to restoring the Buddha employing the Netherlandic traditional art technique, Delftware, in a gesture that reinforces the bond between the countries.
How to get to Yokota Cho
By rental car(recommend)
It takes 90 minutes from the centre of Matsue, near the station, to the centre of Yokota Cho through Rute 432 and 314.
By JR Sanin Main Line and Kisuki Line
It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes from JR Matsue to JR Izumo Yokota.