Kurashiki, Okayama. Opened in 1930 as Japan’s first museum of Western art. The historic building houses modern masterpieces, and I felt a rare sense of fulfillment.
The Ohara Museum always appears in lists of Kansai museums. It became Japan’s first museum of Western and modern art. The museum opened in 1930, before the Second World War.
In Kurashiki, Okayama, the museum is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, a designated preservation district of traditional buildings. At the heart of this charming area along the Kurashiki River, where old houses and white-walled storehouses line the streets, the Ohara Museum enjoys a setting that naturally draws visitors in.
The Kurashiki River flows in front of the Ohara Museum, symbolizing the Bikan Historical Quarter. From the stone gate, I see the building rise like a Greek temple. In 1930, this design must have looked strikingly unique.
Stepping inside the grounds, the ticket booth stands to the right. After getting a ticket, I enter the Main Hall, a European-style building with two floors. Both the first and second floors showcase highlights from the museum’s collection. Among the major artists on display are Monet, Matisse, Gauguin, Picasso, and Cézanne, covering works from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. While many are Western artists, I also found works by leading Japanese painters of the early 20th century, including Tsuguharu Foujita, Ryusei Kishida, and Shigeru Aoki.
Personally, what left the strongest impression was a work by the Belgian artist Frédéric on the wall above the entrance to the second floor of the Main Hall. It read, “All things return to death, but God’s love will bring all things back to life.” Painted directly on the wall, it stretched from end to end, probably around 10 meters long, giving it an incredible sense of scale.
Newer buildings extend to the back of the Main Hall. Near the exit, I explored contemporary art by Yayoi Kusama and Tomoko Konoike. The museum’s shop shows they also collect works by Warhol and Lichtenstein.
Leaving the Main Hall, I headed toward the Craft and Asian Art Pavilion. Japanese-style prints were displayed along the way, and at the back, several Buddhist statues were lined up. According to a timeline, the museum apparently sent staff to China to acquire pieces, so these were likely collected there. The pavilion itself has an exterior that resembles a traditional storehouse, and inside, the space has a charming, atmospheric feel.
The Main Hall shows the museum’s history. I read that acquiring some works took a month-long ship journey to Europe. This shows how hard it was to build and run the museum.
The Main Hall, nearing its 100th anniversary, feels very old. Knowing the museum’s history, I sensed a solemn atmosphere inside. After walking through the galleries, I felt a unique sense of fulfillment, unlike in any other museum.
Nowadays, there are many new museums, but I hope people also take the time to visit historic ones like the Ohara Museum, and feel the weight of history that comes with them.
Visited in 2025
Basic Information
■ Name : Ohara Museum of Art
■ Address : 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
■ Homepage : https://www.ohara.or.jp/
■ Others
・Photography inside the museum was not allowed.
