JP / EN
CONTEMPORARY ART IN OTARU, HOKKAIDO
A gallery within a hotel, where historic architecture meets the contemporary art of Hokkaido.
A HOTEL GALLERY, EST. 2022
A hotel gallery where dreamlike Art Deco
meets contemporary art
by artists with roots in Hokkaido.
Set within a beautifully renovated historic building, UNWIND GALLERY showcases contemporary works by artists with ties to Hokkaido. Exhibitions change with the seasons and unfold across the hotel’s first-floor lobby and Bar Ignis Otaru. Admission is free.
Free admission
The gallery is open to everyone, free of charge. Whether you’re a local or simply passing through, you’re always welcome to stop by.
Open daily: 7:00 – 24:00
THREE WAYS TO UNWIND
01/03 — ART × SEASONS
UNWIND GALLERY features artists with ties to Hokkaido, with exhibitions changing seasonally. From painting and sculpture to wax art and mobiles, the gallery offers a diverse mix of works. Open to everyone, it’s an easy stop while exploring Otaru.
02/03 — ART × TASTE
At Bar Ignis Otaru, each exhibition is paired with an original cocktail inspired by the art, inviting you to experience it through taste and aroma. Sip, slow down, and discover the work that speaks to you.
03/03 — ART × OWNERSHIP
The works on display are available for purchase, allowing a favorite piece to stay with you long after your visit. Take home a memory of Otaru, captured through art.
From September 1 to November 29, 2026, UNWIND GALLERY presents “Reflections on Light” by Hokkaido-based artist Yokoi Haru. Using Zentangle, a technique that builds intricate compositions through repeated patterns, the exhibition explores themes of light and beauty.
ARTIST
Born in Miyoshi, Aichi, Yokoi Haru began creating Zentangle art as a student, using repeated patterns drawn in ballpoint pen to form intricate monochrome compositions.
In 2023, Yokoi moved to Sapporo, Hokkaido, where they continue to explore the sensations and perceptions that emerge through everyday life, and how they can be made visible.
In recent years, their practice has expanded into concrete poetry, where words become visual expression, and ambient DJing, creating space for inner reflection. Working across different media, Yokoi continues to explore new ways of giving form to sensation and perception.
BAR IGNIS OTARU
At UNWIND GALLERY, Bar Ignis Otaru is part of the experience. Each exhibition is paired with an original cocktail inspired by the art, inviting you to enjoy the gallery through taste and aroma as well as sight.
Sip, explore, and discover the work that speaks to you. An experience unique to UNWIND.
EXHIBITIONS
2022 — 2026
ARTIST CONTACT FORM
UNWIND GALLERY presents four exhibitions each year, featuring artists with ties to Hokkaido.
If you’re interested in exhibiting your work with us, please submit your portfolio and a brief overview of your previous work through the form provided.
ARTIST APPLICATION
THANK YOU
ABOUT UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU
Built in 1931 as Hokkaido’s first hotel exclusively for foreign guests, the former Etchuya Hotel has lived through a remarkable history. During the war, it was requisitioned by the Japanese Army as an officers’ club, and after the war by the U.S. military. Today, the building is recognized as an Otaru Historic Building and is included among Japan’s Heritage of Industrial Modernization.
After standing quiet for many years, the building was brought back to life through a bold renovation. Its historic atmosphere and architectural beauty were carefully preserved, while contemporary design gave the space an entirely new character.
The result is a boutique hotel unlike a traditional classic hotel. A place where history and modern sensibility meet in a uniquely UNWIND way.
UNWIND GALLERY
