About Tokonomato

Tokonomato is an artist-run residency and studio program based in Nagano City, Japan. Created as a space for focused artistic practice, exchange, and reflection, the program supports contemporary artists working across disciplines through self-directed studio work and cultural immersion.

Located about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen, Nagano City offers a quieter environment that encourages concentration while remaining easily accessible. Artists are invited to engage with their work through production, research, and experimentation, alongside everyday life and the surrounding landscape of Japan.

Tokonomato was founded by artist and curator Guillermo Creus.

Tokonomato is grounded in the belief that artists benefit from time and space to develop their practice within a new cultural and physical environment. Through everyday life, sustained engagement with place, and informal exchange, new perspectives and ways of working can emerge naturally.

Location

Tokonomato is located in the Uematsu area on the eastern side of Nagano City. Set within a quiet residential hillside neighborhood, the area offers open views over the city, clear seasonal air, and a calm environment removed from the intensity of urban life, while still remaining closely connected to everyday amenities and the city center.

Nagano offers close access to a range of cultural and artistic sites. Within walking distance are Zenko-ji and the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum, while institutions such as the Mizuno Museum of Art provide opportunities to engage with both modern and traditional Japanese art. The city maintains a balance between distance from the density of major urban centers and proximity to a strong cultural environment.

Beyond the city itself, the surrounding region offers a rich combination of cultural and natural environments. The town of Obuse, home to the Hokusai Museum, and Matsumoto — known for its active cultural scene and connection to Yayoi Kusama — can both be visited as day trips. Kanazawa, including the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, is also accessible by train in approximately one hour.

At the same time, the region is shaped by mountains, forests, and distinct seasonal changes. In Togakushi, visitors can walk through cedar forests and historic shrine paths, while nearby areas such as Mount Iizuna, Myoko, and Hakuba offer access to expansive natural landscapes throughout the year.

Together, these environments provide a setting where residents can remain focused on their practice while engaging with the cultural landscape, natural surroundings, and slower rhythms of life in the Nagano region.

About the Founder

Guillermo Creus is an artist and curator whose work has developed through exhibitions, collaborations, and independent projects across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Prior to founding Tokonomato, he created “Fortress to Solitude,” an online platform dedicated to supporting artists and fostering dialogue across different cultural contexts.

After several years away from studio practice, he returned to painting in 2023, expanding his work through ongoing engagement with Japanese materials and contemporary painting practices. He is currently based between Nagano and New York City.