Kurashiki’s pride, the Ohara Museum of Art.
I love art and visit museums all over Japan. Of them all, the Ohara Museum of Art is one of my particular favorites.
It displays wonderful works ranging from Western art to contemporary works from Japan and abroad.
But that’s not all the Ohara Museum of Art has to offer. Even people who think “museums are intimidating” can enjoy it!
I visited the museum with model Isako, and staff member Okazaki showed us around.
Here’s a concise look at what makes the Ohara Museum of Art so special.
Photography is normally prohibited inside the Ohara Museum of Art. We were granted special permission to take photographs this time.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in April 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Ohara Museum of Art
The origins of the Ohara Museum of Art
Established in 1930, the Ohara Museum of Art was Japan’s first private museum focused on Western art.
At the time, it was difficult to see authentic Western paintings in Japan.
The painter Kojima Torajiro strongly wished to make outstanding works available to see in Japan, and businessman Ohara Magosaburo supported his vision.
With Magosaburo’s support, Torajiro collected Western paintings to help advance the Japanese art world.
The works collected at that time form the core of the Ohara Museum of Art’s collection today.
The two are said to have shared a deep friendship. This museum was born of friendship and passion.
The layout of the Ohara Museum of Art
The Ohara Museum of Art is divided into the Main Gallery, the Branch Gallery, and the Craft and Oriental Art Gallery.
The collection comprises about 3,000 works. As of April 2023, about half of them are on display.
There is also a museum shop where you can buy souvenirs.
Yurin-so Villa, opposite the Main Gallery, is normally closed to the public, but opens for special visits every spring and autumn.
- Branch Gallery (currently closed)
- Craft and Oriental Art Gallery
- Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery (provisionally called “Shin-Kojimakan” before its official name was decided; grand opening scheduled for the end of fiscal 2024)
- Museum shop
- Yurin-so Villa
Highlights of the Ohara Museum of Art Main Gallery: Artworks
Here’s a brief introduction to some highlights among the many wonderful works.
El Greco’s “The Annunciation”
This work is said to be a miracle to find in Japan.
It depicts the angel telling the Virgin Mary that she will bear Christ. The colors and background are dramatic!
Apparently, the halo above the Virgin Mary’s head was added later. They have left it as it is, as part of the painting’s history.
Monet’s “Water Lilies”
Among the many “Water Lilies” paintings, this one was apparently a favorite of Monet himself, and he kept it rather than selling it.
The fact that he gave away such an important work suggests that he had respect for Japan.
The painting depicts a pond and water lilies, but can you see the sky and clouds reflected on the water’s surface?
Be sure to view it from a little farther away.
Gauguin’s “The Delightful Land”
Gauguin, who sought a primitive way of life, traveled to Tahiti in the South Pacific and painted this work there.
I felt a mysterious atmosphere.
Works by famous artists such as Picasso, Tsuguharu Foujita, Matisse, and Modigliani
The Ohara Museum of Art displays many works considered to be “one of the artist’s masterpieces”.
For example, the Matisse work on the right in the photo is such a masterpiece that Matisse’s daughter, who modeled for it, regretted, “I really shouldn’t have let it go.”
A variety of contemporary art
The Ohara Museum of Art displays more than just medieval Western paintings!
For example, there are works made by slashing canvases painted bright red.
I saw this work when I was in high school, and it made a huge impression on me. I vividly remember thinking, “Art doesn’t have to be any particular way.”
There are works across a wide range of genres, including pieces by Duchamp, an artist who sent shockwaves through the art world, and Yayoi Kusama, known as the “Queen of Polka Dots.”
Highlights of the Ohara Museum of Art Main Gallery: Building
An exterior like a Roman temple
The Ohara Museum of Art Main Gallery is built in the style of a Roman temple.
Its large columns give it a dignified air.
An interior with varied architectural styles
The expanded Main Gallery atrium is an airy, open space with a high ceiling.
The walls and ceiling are modern and stylish.
The steel pillar on the right side of the photo was apparently discovered during the expansion work. It has been left in place as a reminder of the museum’s history.
The Craft and Oriental Art Gallery, with white walls and unusual red walls
The Craft and Oriental Art Gallery is built in a traditional Japanese style.
Alongside its white walls, there are also storehouses with red walls that catch the eye.
Apparently, part of the wall of the Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel, visible in the back left of the photo, uses the same namako-style design. It was designed to blend in when viewed from the Ohara Museum of Art.
Are museums intimidating? Difficult?
Do you think you need knowledge or education to enjoy art?
You don’t!
Staff member Okazaki shared some ways to enjoy art.
- Think about why something catches your attention
- Take a close look and ask yourself how it was made
- Wonder about things like, “Why this color?”
- Pay attention to how you feel when you look at a work
- Hide the title and artist’s name, and look at it with fresh eyes
These are just examples, so enjoy art in whatever way works for you.
“When the way you observe changes, every day changes. Enjoy discovering interesting things,” Okazaki told us.
Little spots and tips to enjoy the Ohara Museum of Art even more
The View Through the Round Window
Don’t miss the round window in the gallery on the second floor of the Main Building—the window and the view are both beautiful!
There are very few tall buildings in the Bikan Historical Area, so places where you can take in a close-up view of it are precious. (The view from Yurin-so Villa, the Ohara family’s former second residence, is also excellent, but it is not usually open to the public.)
You can also get a close-up look at the decorations atop the pillars that stood at the entrance.
A Place with a Wide View of the Garden
From a certain spot inside the Main Building, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the Japanese garden at “Shinkei-en Garden.”
It’s in a spot that’s easy to miss, so see if you can find it.
You Can Visit the Annexes (the Annex and the Crafts and Oriental Art Gallery) Later—There’s No Time Limit
The Ohara Museum of Art has three buildings (the Main Building, the Annex, and the Crafts and Oriental Art Gallery). Your ticket is stamped at the entrance to each building when you enter.
You can visit any building that hasn’t been stamped on your ticket (meaning you haven’t entered it) on another day, as long as you still have your ticket. There’s no time limit!
So even if you don’t have much time, you can say, “I’ll just see the Main Building this time, and visit the Annex and the Crafts and Oriental Art Gallery the next time I come to Kurashiki.”
The Annex is closed for an extended period.
The Ohara Museum of Art’s Activities
The Ohara Museum of Art does more than just display works of art.
It carries out a wide range of activities for the local community and the art world, and to help more people learn about the Ohara Museum of Art.
- “Gallery Tours,” in which curators explain the museum’s history and artworks
- “Friendly Talks,” where visitors discuss their impressions in front of artworks
- Concerts inside the museum
- Yoga sessions inside the Ohara Museum of Art and at Yurin-so Villa, its former second residence
- Art classes led by the museum director
- The participatory experience program “Children’s Art Museum”
- Learning support for local elementary and junior high school students
- Experience programs for preschool children
- “ARKO,” which invites emerging artists to Kurashiki, supports their residency and art-making, and holds exhibitions
- Mystery-solving game: Find the “Secret Painting” Hidden in the Ohara Museum of Art
The museum is one of the leading institutions in Japan for the breadth of its support activities for children!
Personally, I think that “as a historic museum with a high international reputation, it wouldn’t be surprising if it acted a little ‘high and mighty.’”
And yet, it carries out broad and flexible activities, making it “a museum everyone can enjoy,” creating opportunities for children to encounter authentic works of art up close, and supporting artists working today—these are the things I love about the Ohara Museum of Art.
In the second half of the article, we interviewed Ohara Museum of Art staff member Okazaki Shota, who told us about the museum’s vision and what makes art so fascinating.
- Model: Isako
Ohara Museum of Art Information
| Name | Ohara Museum of Art |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-0005 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening hours | [December–February] 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (last admission: 2:30 p.m.) [March–November] 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last admission: 4:30 p.m.) |
| Closed | Mondays Open when a Monday falls on a public holiday or substitute holiday Closed during the winter; occasional temporary closures |
| Admission (tax included) | [General admission] Adults: ¥2,000 High school, junior high school, and elementary school students (under 18): ¥500 |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Available Reservations are not required for individuals |
| Smoking | Entirely smoke-free |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, accessible toilets |
| Childcare facilities | Nursing room, diaper-changing tables, stroller rental Nursing room in the Crafts Gallery Diaper-changing tables on the second floor of the Main Building and in the Crafts Gallery |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair rental, ramps, accessible toilets, elevator |
| Website | Ohara Museum of Art Official Website |
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