Nariwa Museum of Art

Located in the center of Nariwa Town you will immediately spot the art museum's building. Designed by Osaka’s world famous architect Tadao Ando, it is clear by the moderist design that the contents of this museum are important and worthy of this stunning structure.

To be honest, I have driven so many times through Nariwa Town on my way to other locations and the building has always impressed me from the road front. I’m not sure why I have never actually stopped to go inside, but it’s probably due to always having an excuse to be somewhere else. Being part of the JapanTourist team is making me slow down and re-visit the places that are familiar to me after two decades in this area.

Anyway, getting back to Nariwa Museum, as you walk to the entrance immediately you see these amazing images of the modern concrete building, the landscaped shallow cascading man-made lakes that surround the museum and then the steep green lush mountains in the background. I’m not sure my pictures really portray what you see and feel as you walk up the slope to the entrance.

Nariwa museum was built to celebrate the impressionist painter Torajiro Kojima, who was born in Nariwa Town in 1881. He is considered to be one of Japan's best impressionist painters and his work inspired the Ohara family who went on to build the Ohara Museum in the 1930’s in Kurashiki City.

As you walk around, starting from the second floor through each space you will be moved by each piece you see. As you can probably sense, I do love art but am by no means an expert in the subject, but I am definitely moved by the talent of those who can create art.

I am sure that if you visit this museum you will be blown away and moved by the paintings you see and you will walk away thinking, how can this museum be tucked away in this small mountain town?

The best way to enjoy this location is to set aside two days when you can travel to Takahashi City by train and then roam around this beautiful city, taking the taxi tour to Nariwa museum and then up to Fukiya village where you can stay the night and then return to Takahashi City and catch the train back to Okayama City.