Located in the lush Konan Alps in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, Miho Museum is one of Japan's most popular art museums, offering a unique blend of high-quality art and the majestic surroundings.
Established with the goal of "making the world more beautiful, peaceful, and enjoyable through art," the museum houses a diverse collection of Japanese art, including paintings and calligraphy, ceramics, tea ceremony utensils, and lacquerware. Its collection also includes approximately 3,000 ancient works from around the world, including Egypt, Greece, Rome, America, Central Asia, and China. Between 250 and 500 pieces are always on display, and the museum's high-quality collection has earned it international acclaim. However, the museum's appeal extends beyond its priceless collection. The highlight is the architectural beauty that blends seamlessly with nature. The approach to the museum, via a promenade, tunnel, and bridge, designed by architect I.M. Pei, known for the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris, is inspired by the Shangri-La depicted in the Chinese classic "Peach Blossom Spring." Many architectural critics have described the tunnel as a "tunnel that transcends time and space," suggesting that the interior is a timeless space. The silver walls reflect the green of the mountains and the pale pink of the cherry blossoms, subtly changing their appearance with the seasons.


After passing through the tunnel and across a 120-meter-long suspension bridge spanning the valley, the museum building is reached. The entrance hall is filled with a mysterious rhythmic sense. The large round-windowed doors swing silently open to the left and right, bathed in soft light filtering in through the louvers, and you enter a narrow vestibules. As the inner door opens further, the glass roof rises slowly in time with the movement of the glass. As the view widens, the louvers change angle in complex ways, leading you to a grand panorama of gentle mountain ranges.


Based on the theme of "combining nature, architecture, and artworks," approximately 80% of the museum building is underground, but the space, where you can directly feel the bright sunlight and the warmth of the lush trees, doesn't make you feel that at all. The geometrically shaped glass atrium structure not only blends in with the light, but also beautifully reflects the 180-year-old pine tree and the Konan Alps beyond, creating a mystical landscape as beautiful as a folding screen painting. The museum's restaurant, cafe, and museum shop are also a highlight of your visit. The restaurant and cafe offer a menu that encapsulates the charms of Japanese cuisine, including soba, udon, and rice balls, as well as seasonal Japanese and Western sweets, coffee, herbal tea, and wine. The menu, made with carefully selected, fertilizer- and pesticide-free ingredients, is popular. The three museum shops sell original goods, stationery, books, and miscellaneous items, as well as original wines. The summer special exhibition, "The Secret of Red and Blue: The Mystery of Sacred Colors," is currently on view until August 26th. The exhibition will include the first public showing of "Dharma," a painting by Ito Jakuchu, a representative Edo period artist, since its restoration. It will also focus on the red and blue that appear in artworks from ancient to early modern times, showcasing the relationship between people and color, and will also feature a variety of experience corners and workshops where you can feel the energy of color.

Why not take advantage of your summer holidays to visit Shiga's "Shangri-La," far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city?