★★★★★ 5.0
Discover
Yamatane Museum of Art
This building's paintings get tired and need naps! The Yamatane Museum of Art switches out its delicate nihonga watercolor paintings 7 to 8 times every year because they're so fragile they can't handle being looked at for too long. Back in 1966, when your grandparents were kids, this became Japan's very FIRST museum dedicated only to Japanese painting, right here in Hiroo district. The coolest part? It all started because a businessman named Taneji Yamazaki was best buddies with famous painter Yokoyama Taikan, who told him "Why don't you do something that benefits the world?" So he did... he built this treasure chest holding 1,800 artworks! Inside, you'll discover paintings so special that six of them are officially Important Cultural Properties, which is super rare for modern Japanese art. Can you count how many different exhibitions you could see if you visited every month for a whole year?
Did You Know?
- Founded in 1966 by securities magnate Taneji Yamazaki, the Yamatane Museum of Art holds the distinction of being Japan’s first museum dedicated exclusively to Japanese-style painting (nihonga), marking a pivotal moment in the preservation and promotion of modern Japanese art.
- The museum’s collection includes six works designated as Important Cultural Properties—a rare honor for modern Japanese paintings—such as Hayami Gyoshū’s 'Dancing in the Flames' and 'Camellia Petals Scattering,' as well as Iwasa Matabei’s 'Court Ladies Enjoying Wayside Chrysanthemums,' bridging classic and contemporary artistic traditions.
- Beyond its renowned paintings, the Yamatane Museum has a hidden educational legacy: it established the 'Yamatane Museum of Art Award' (1971–1997), actively discovering and nurturing young nihonga artists by purchasing and exhibiting their award-winning works, thus shaping the future of Japanese painting.