From the sky to hidden places. A tour of museums to enjoy spectacular views and art

*Please check the official website for the latest information on each facility.

[Osaka] Experience Osaka's skyscrapers at the "Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum"

Located within a 10-minute walk from Osaka Station and Umeda Station, Umeda Sky Building is known as one of Osaka's landmark towers. It boasts a location 173 meters above ground, overlooking the city of Osaka.

Located on the 27th floor of this building is the "Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum," whose theme is "to inspire people with dreams and hopes."

The hallmark of this museum is that it is an experience-based experience. You can enjoy the latest experiences that go beyond just viewing artworks, such as the world's first "3D video experience that lets you jump into a painting," which allows you to enter the world of the artwork as if it were an attraction, and the "VR (virtual reality) experience that connects you with the artist," where you can see a guide to Koji Kinutani's museum and see him working in his Tokyo studio.

The spectacular view that can be seen here is the view from the Sky Gallery, located almost in the center of the exhibition space.

During the day, you can see cars and trains crossing the bridge over the Yodo River, and planes landing at Itami Airport, making you feel as if you are looking at a diorama of Umeda.

In the evening, you can enjoy the sea view as you look out over Mount Rokko, Awaji Island, and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in the distance as the sun sets. At night, the area is enveloped in a glittering landscape, allowing you to experience the completely different expressions of the cityscape during the day and at night. Just like the works on display, you will surely be amazed by the overwhelming power that unfolds below you.

The museum allows re-entry on the same day, so why not visit at different times of the day, such as during the day, in the early evening, or at night?

Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum

[Shiga] Get lost in a paradise at the "MIHO MUSEUM"

About 50 minutes by bus from Ishiyama Station, about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station. "MIHO MUSEUM" is a mysterious art museum located in the nature-rich mountains of the Konan Alps, south of Lake Biwa.

With the aim of "making the world a more beautiful, peaceful and enjoyable place through art," the museum exhibits a collection of ancient art from around the world, including Japanese art, as well as art from Egypt, Rome, South Asia, and China.

Designed by IM Pei, who also designed the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, the museum has an approach road leading to the museum building. It is said to be based on the utopia depicted in the Chinese classic "Peach Blossom Spring," but in the tunnel on the way, you will encounter a landscape that seems unreal.

Unlike ordinary tunnels, the tunnel is not made of concrete, but has silver panels affixed to the inside. This silver wall reflects the green of the mountains and the pale pink of the cherry blossoms beyond, creating a space that is enveloped in a fantastical world, just like the one in the photo.

Once you enter the tunnel, it's completely silent, and you'll feel as if you've been transported to another world. Your senses of sight and hearing are taken over, and it's a scenic spot that perfectly describes itself as being "lost in a paradise."

The museum is scheduled to open in March of this year. Admission requires prior reservation, so if you are thinking of visiting, please check the official website and make the necessary reservations in advance.

MIHO MUSEUM

[Kanagawa] Become one with the nature of Odawara at the Odawara Cultural Foundation Enoura Weather Station

Enoura Observatory is located in Enoura, Odawara City. When we say "weather station," we generally mean a place where the local climate is measured, such as for observing earthquakes and volcanoes. However, this is an art museum that opened in October 2017 after 10 years of conception and design by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. It was named a "weather station" as it is "a place to observe the sky and nature and reflect on oneself."

The 100-meter-long gallery building exhibits Hiroshi Sugimoto's masterpiece "Seascape." In addition, the outdoor stone stage and optical glass stage host a variety of performance programs.

The reason why the museum is said to offer such a spectacular view is because of its location surrounded by the nature of Odawara and its structure. Each building incorporates traditional Japanese architectural styles and construction methods, so you will feel as if you are one with nature while visiting the museum.

In the tunnel inside the museum, the Winter Solstice Light Worship Tunnel, you can capture the moment when the morning sun rises over the horizon and shines straight into the distance once a year on the morning of the winter solstice. This mystical sight is only possible in this place where the museum and nature are integrated.

Another great spot to enjoy the view is the Optical Glass Stage at the tip of the gallery, which overlooks Sagami Bay. The stage is constructed using a method known as the nail-free suspension method at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto. Optical glass is laid out on top of the stage, making it appear as if the glass stage is floating on the water, creating the illusion that the sky and sea are connected.

Come enjoy the mysterious sensation of becoming a part of nature, something you can only experience at this museum.

Odawara Cultural Foundation Enoura Weather Station

[Hiroshima] Surrounded by the vast Seto Inland Sea at the Sea View Museum

The last place we will introduce is the Umi no Mieru Mori Art Museum, located on a hill surrounded by nature. It is about 40 minutes by train or car from Hiroshima Station, or about 10 minutes by taxi from Miyajimaguchi Station on the JR or Hiroshima Electric Railway.

This museum, which opened in 1981 under the philosophy that "artworks should not be privately owned, but publicly owned," houses a collection of modern Japanese paintings, centered around the work of Japanese painter Takeuchi Seiho, European perfume bottles, and prints from the Chinese Qing dynasty.

The main feature of the Umi-no-Mori Art Museum is its excellent location with a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea. After you've finished looking around the museum, don't forget to stop by the Umi-Mori Terrace inside the museum to enjoy the view of the Seto Inland Sea, including Miyajima, known as one of the Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan.

There is seating both inside and on the terrace, but if you have the chance, we recommend going out to the terrace and enjoying the fresh air and the view of the Seto Inland Sea that stretches out before you. With a view of the vast Seto Inland Sea and the surrounding mountains, it is a great spot to fully enjoy the nature of this area.

After appreciating the artwork, you can take a moment to relax and enjoy the scenery before your eyes. Why not add this sort of elegant moment to your trip to Hiroshima?

One recommended way to spend time at the museum is to take a walk on the Mori no Yuhodo, a walking path. In addition to the babbling of the stream and the slow movement of the waterwheel, the museum offers a unique view of the seasons, with cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, hydrangeas in summer, autumn leaves, and snowy winter scenery. Experience the four seasons of the Seto Inland Sea throughout the museum.

Sea View Museum

If you can enjoy not only fine art and culture, but also breathtaking views, visiting art museums will be even more fun. Be sure to use this article as a reference and check out the next art museum you'd like to visit.