In Marugame, Kagawa, the same prefecture as Naoshima, I stand at the museum’s entrance and gradually take in its distinctive structure.
I visit a contemporary art museum in Marugame, Kagawa. Whenever I think of Kagawa museums, Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea comes to mind first. Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House are world-class, even by global standards. I rarely consider that there might be other outstanding museums in the prefecture. But here I stand, realizing that this one is remarkable too.
The museum’s defining feature is its exterior. It often appears in magazines, yet when I first saw photos of the building, I couldn’t quite grasp its structure. It became a place I longed to visit someday. From the front, I see what looks like a painting on a canvas-like wall – and intriguingly, that wall is set within a recessed section of the building. I wonder whether that wall might actually be part of an exhibition room. At the same time, I find myself puzzling over where the entrance could be, so unusual is its shape.
The museum is just a short walk from JR Marugame Station. The scene I had seen in photos now appears before me, and I move closer—but still, the building’s structure remains unclear. As I approach the canvas-like wall, I finally see the entrance at the lower left corner of the “canvas.”
The museum’s full name includes Genichiro Inokuma, an artist born in Marugame. I learn that the museum holds many of his works, which explains why his name is part of the title. Yoshio Taniguchi, who has worked on numerous museum projects designed the building. The museum opened in 1991—surprisingly long ago. Taniguchi has designed many well-known museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Horyuji Treasures Gallery at the Tokyo National Museum.
Inside the museum, there aren’t many exhibition rooms, but the spaces feel just right. On the third floor, there are three rooms. The second floor has two rooms, one of which is open to the third floor, and the first floor has a lobby and a shop.
When I visited, a special exhibition “Home Sweet Home” was on display. A piece that caught my eye on the third floor was Yusuke Kamata’s Japanese Houses. Japanese architecture is simple and opens toward the south, using columns in interesting ways. I was struck by the words of an American architect from the past, who suggested that because Japan had confidence in its own culture, it may have tried to impose it during overseas governance.
The works on display are contemporary pieces. In a way, Genichiro Inokuma, who forms the foundation of this museum, can also be considered a contemporary artist (he passed away in 1993). Looking through a photo book of his work, I discover that he was the kind of artist who painted on theater curtains.
Perhaps because of its location, the museum was quiet, allowing me to enjoy the works at a relaxed pace. From the front of the building, I climb the stairs on the left to reach the third floor, where a café awaits—a calm and pleasant spot to linger. The outdoor space right next to it is also wonderful, though I can’t help noticing the nearby apartment building. I suppose that’s one of the compromises of being built in the heart of the city.
Marugame is only about a 30-minute train ride from Takamatsu. When you plan a museum tour of Naoshima or Teshima, you make sure to carve out time to visit this museum as well.
Visited in 2025
Basic Information
■ Name : The Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art / MIMOCA
■ Address : 80-1 Hama-machi, Marugame-shi, Kagawa, Japan
■ Homepage : https://www.mimoca.jp/en/
