Okayama – For many travelers interested in contemporary art, the city of Okayama is simply a stop before the ferry to Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima, the celebrated art islands of the Seto Inland Sea.

However, The Rabbit Hole museum and its nearby annex, Fukuoka Shoyu Gallery, turn the area around Okayama Castle into an art destination in its own right.

On a rainy afternoon, the castle precinct is nearly empty and the city center seems suspended between showers. Inside The Rabbit Hole, the sparse attendance becomes an advantage. Its three floors unfold almost privately, each turn revealing a new encounter that alters the building’s atmosphere.