Ohara Museum of Art
- Founded in 1930 by Magosaburo Ohara, an Okayama-based entrepreneur, Ohara Museum of Art is Japan’s first museum featuring Western art. It exhibits world-famous paintings, such as El Greco’s “The Annunciation” (one of only two of his paintings in Japan) and Monet’s “Water Lilies”. Guests would feel as if they were visiting a European museum, while staying in Japan. It also offers morning tour, and other events, so check with the museum.
Ohara Museum of Art
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
- Opened in 2002, the museum is renowned for its building designed by Tadao Ando. Its wide-ranging collection includes Western-style paintings by such artists as native of Kobe, Ryohei Koiso, Japanese paintings by such artists as Kaii Higashiyama, Rodin’s sculptures, and prints. In 2019, Ando Gallery was built for displaying architectural models of Tadao Ando, offering more to see. From December 2022, celebrating its 20th anniversary, the museum will hold an exhibition dedicated to Lee Ufan, a leading artist of Mono-ha or “School of Things”.
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
Manekineko Art Museum
- The museum was established in 1994 by the first director who was fascinated by manekineko (lucky cats) of Japan, one of typical folk art objects. Osamu Mushiake, the second director, followed his footsteps. The museum houses some 800 lucky cats created since the Meiji era, including “manekineko beckoning with two paws” to attract both money and customers, and wooden cats custom made by an Indonesian artist. In the adjacent LUCKY CAT HOUSE, you can enjoy the experience of painting on unglazed manekineko.
