KOUMI-MACHI KOUGEN MUSEUM OF ART

An art museum in the middle of nature

 Located in Matsubara Heights, at the base of the magnificent Mt. Yatsugatake, Koumi Machi Kougen Museum of Art was planned on the theme of “harmony and fusion between man and nature.” Set in the natural landscape of the slope of Matsubara heights, with abundant nature all around, the museum is open and spacious reflecting its surroundings. By enjoying art we can come in contact with nature.Through encouraging creativity and welcoming hearts, this is a museum for everyone.

Tadao Ando Architect and Associates

Ando Tadao; a profile

• Born in Osaka in 1941
• Self-educated in architecture
• In 1969, he founded Tadao Ando Architect and Associates
• Among the many prizes he has won, in 1995, he won the Nobel Prize for architecture, also known as the Prtizker Prize.
• He was a guest professor at both Colombia and Harvard Universities.
• He is currently a Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University

Some of his best-known works include:

• Row House in Sumiyoshi(Osaka)
• Church of the light (Osaka)
• Meditation Space, UNESCO, Paris
• Awaji yumebutai (Awaji Island project)
• Modern art museum, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
• Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, St. Louis, USA.

Super High Vision gallery and the digital archives

By means of our powerful, 135-inch high super high vision screen, we are delighted to be able to showcase works from the Orseilles Art Museum in this program unique to our museum.Also using the high vision software, every year we present “Young artists of Koumi Town." Elementary school children from KoumiTown have their paintings and voices digitally recorded. Furthermore we are beginning to support this production for visitors to the museum.

SP Record Collection

This collection of 370 classics, sold in Japan before the war, with over 1,100 copies collected. The current cello recoding of Bach’s cello suites is by the Spanish musician, Pablo Casals. There are plans to display a recorded concert with the legendary violinist Efrem Zimbalist playing Brahms Violin Sonata.

Mingei (folk craft)

Born from works which live up to the (kokoro) spirit/ethics of MINGEI (folk craft), works overflowing with beauty and integrity and grace, this is an introduction to works of ceramic art.

島岡達三    Shimaoka Tatsuzou

• Born in Tokyo in 1919
• Studied ceramics at Tokyo Institute of Technology
• After war service, he moved to Mashiko
• Apprenticed with Hamada Shoji promoter of the MINGEI movement
• Later on, he became an independent potter with this own kiln, fusing “ZOGAN” and Jomon period techniques...creating the style now known as Jomon Zogan (a pottery technique where white clay slip is applied to rope impressions made in the surface of the pot when it is still wet)
• In May 1996 the Japanese Government designated him a Living National Treasure.

栗林今朝男   Kuribayashi Kesao

• Born in 1924 in KitamakiVillage, Minami Sakugun (now KoumiTown)
• Discharged from military service in 1946
• In 1955 he entered a national exhibition for the first time
• 1968 became a member of the kokugakai　（Japanese Artists Association）
• In 1995, he entered an exhibit “akai chiheizen” (Red Horizon) in the Parisian exhibition to mark the 50^th anniversary of the end of WW2. He won the Grand Prix.
• In 1997, he won the International Art Culture Prize.
• In 1998, Kuribayashi received the Medal of Honor (Dark Blue Ribbon)
• Currently, a member of the Kokugakai, Shinshu Art Museums Board and Saku Art Museums Consultant Board.

General Information

Closed

            On Tuesdays; when Tuesday is a holiday, closed the following Wednesday

Also closed the day after National Holidays, when changing the exhibits and during the winter period （from the end of December to the end of March）

However the museum is open on the 30^th of April, 5^th May, 3^rd August and 10^th August

Opening Hours  

09:00- 17:00
Last entry is at 16:30

Admission Fee
Adults                                                      Y500 (400)
Elementary and Junior High School Students     Y150 (100)
(The figure in brackets refers to the group rate; applicable for groups of 20 or more).

Free parking is available for up to 100 cars
There is also parking available for tour buses.

Visitors to the museum are asked not to take photographs, use ball pens, fountain pens, brushes or other writing materials inside the museum. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Visitors to the museum are asked not to smoke inside the premises.

Visitors are requested to follow the instructions of the attendants.

Access

By train

Take the Nagano Shinkansen to Sakudaira Sta. Transfer to the Koumi Line and get off at Koumi Sta.Alternately if on the Chou Line, transfer at Kobuchizawa Sta. for the Koumi Line and get off at Koumi Sta. In front of Koumi Sta. get on a bus bound for Koumi Re’ex and get off at bijutsukanmae.Alternately get a taxi to bijutsukanmae. This should take approximately 20 minutes.

For Bus information please contact
Koumi Town Office      Tel: 0267 92 2525

By car

On the Chuo Expressway turn off at Sudama IC. Follow Route 141 until you see the turn off for Matsubarako (Matsubara Lake). The museum is approximately 4km past the lake.On the Joshinetsu Expressway turn off at Saku I.C. Follow Route 141 until you see the turn off for Matsubarako (Matsubara Lake). The museum is approximately 4km past the lake.

Building Details

Main Building 2 Storeys
Observatory 3 Storeys
The Building is made from concrete.
Total area: 7667.73m2
Building area: 1188.42m2
Extended floor surface 1583.22 m2

Museum Information

Observatory

From the observatory you can see the whole museum with Mt. Yatsugatake in the background. When you leave the museum why not climb up and take a look?