Lingua Franca Jogasaki Culture Museum — Attraction in Ito

We stopped by not knowing much about the museum... so glad we did, as it was a personal highlight of Izu-Kogen! The owner (Yasuda-san?) was so kind and gentle; you can tell he really loves his community and wants the Izu art & culture scene to thrive. The museum has a permanent exhibition (e.g. vintage tech, agricultural tools) as well temporary exhibitions showcasing local craftsmanship and seasonal content (glasswork, hydrangeas etc). There's a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and art, again all from nearby artists. My friend and I were lucky enough to meet one of the artists on our way out (Shimizu-san) and had a great chat with her and another lovely woman who was working the cafe. You really get a sense of how curious, warm and welcoming the locals are when you visit! I'd recommend swinging by if only to...

One of Izu Kogen's hidden treasures! Originally, it was a cultural museum exhibiting items of daily life from around the Izu peninsula. They hired a new manager who added an area that features rotating art exhibits, a place to buy locally made crafts, and a learning center. Local food shops often set up temporary sales, and there frequent special events like book fairs, bazaars, and cultural events.

Mr. Yasuda is an artist in several genres, speaks English very well and is very well connected with many local people and businesses. He is a very valuable resource for information about Ito.

If you want to learn about Izu and Ito, see a very interesting collection of Izu artifacts, and get a feel for the local art scene, you must visit Lingua Franca - Jogasaki...

For a coffee or ume homemade soda drink with great little puddings and snacks, it is a fantastic little gem. Great service and friendly relaxed vibe. Sits in front of a local craft store which has great hand made clothes, cases, coasters and other stuff. The craft store is managed by really...