Stone & Ocean Beppu 2026: Art Exhibition Guide
Kyushu-Okinawa · OitaCultural
A three-day gallery show in Beppu pairing paintings built from mineral forms with sea-and-flower jewellery.
Overview
“STONE & OCEAN” is a small joint exhibition and selling show held at gallery Shimaya, a private gallery in Beppu’s Matsubara-cho district. The English title is the event’s actual name, not a translation.
It brings together the painter Otori Akiko (大鳥亜希子), whose fine-art work takes the forms of naturally occurring minerals as its motif, and Kunimatsu Eriko (國松絵理子), designer of the accessory brand PARAISO.
This is a neighbourhood-scale art event rather than a civic festival — worth knowing before you plan a trip around it. It suits visitors already in Beppu for the onsen who want an hour of contemporary craft.
When and Where
The show ran from 31 July to 2 August 2026, from 11:00 to 17:00 each day.
The venue is gallery Shimaya (gallery嶋屋) at 7-4 Matsubara-cho, Beppu, Oita Prefecture. The gallery can be reached on 0977-26-2066.
What to Expect
Two bodies of work shown side by side, both of which are for sale.
- Otori Akiko’s paintings use the shapes and structures of naturally occurring minerals as their starting point.
- Kunimatsu Eriko’s PARAISO accessories draw on sea and flower motifs and are described as resort-style.
- The show ran for three days only, in a converted private gallery rather than a museum space.
- Works and accessories were available to buy directly during the exhibition.
Tickets and Admission
No admission fee was stated. As a selling exhibition, entry is normally free and items are priced individually.
No booking is required for a show of this kind; visitors call in during opening hours.
Tips for Visitors
- Matsubara-cho is a short walk from Beppu Station and close to the Matsubara Park area, so it combines easily with a hot spring stop.
- Small private galleries keep short and changeable hours — call ahead on 0977-26-2066 before making a special trip.
- gallery Shimaya posts its schedule mainly through Instagram rather than a website.
- If you are in Beppu specifically for art, check the Beppu City Art Museum programme as well; it runs a separate annual schedule.
Access and Map
| Dates | 31 July – 2 August 2026, 11:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Venue | gallery Shimaya |
| Address | 7-4 Matsubara-cho, Beppu, Oita |
| Admission | Not stated; selling exhibition |
| Enquiries | 0977-26-2066 |
| Official site | gallery Shimaya on Instagram |
Source: OITA Drip.
Image: Japan Events Guide (placeholder image)
