About 7,000 miles from New Orleans, in the sleepy town of Naoshima on the Seto Inland Sea, a charming Cajun restaurant serves up generous portions of piping-hot gumbo. Buddy, the owner and chef, has visited the American South more than 30 times and opened Gumbo Hut Shioya out of a deep passion for Southern culture and cuisine. 

Step inside the quaint restaurant and you’ll find walls adorned with portraits of blues legends like B.B. King and Muddy Waters. Out of the kitchen, the aroma of simmering gumbo drifts from a five-gallon pot. In a country known for miso and dashi, Buddy reaches instead for cayenne, okra, and andouille sausage.

Despite the cultural asymmetry, Buddy’s Gumbo Hut is actually quite fitting in Naoshima Island, a hub for experimental art installations and avant-garde architecture. The island is peppered with the surreal and unexpected, featuring work from artists such as James Turrell and Yayoi Kusama. Gumbo Hut Shioya stands as yet another artistic installation, bringing the spirit of New Orleans and southern hospitality to the famous “art island.”

The gumbo is delicious, delivering a balanced blend of spice, smokiness, and heat in every bite. Pair that with a crisp Japanese draft beer, and you’ll feel well nourished after a long day of exploring the island’s abundant contemporary art museums and sculpture gardens. This hole-in-the-wall gumbo joint proves that the spirit of Southern hospitality can be found in places where you least expect it.