Sagawa Art Museum

Overview

The Sagawa Art Museum is a registered museum of Shiga Prefecture, located in Moriyama City. It opened in 1998 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Sagawa Express and is operated by the SGH Cultural and Sports Foundation. Most of its grounds are given over to a water garden, and the buildings that appear to float on the water make it a museum to be enjoyed as a whole landscape.

Highlights

• ●Gabled-roof halls floating on the water garden
• ●Works by Ikuo Hirayama and Churyo Sato
• ●Raku ware in the Raku Kichizaemon Hall
• ●A National Treasure bronze bell

History

The museum opened on 22 March 1998 and centers its collection on works by the Japanese-style painter Ikuo Hirayama and the sculptor Churyo Sato. On 2 September 2007, the Raku Kichizaemon Hall was added to display the Raku-ware ceramics of Raku Kichizaemon XV, and the collection also includes a bronze bell dating to 858 that is designated a National Treasure.

Map

35.1094, 135.9461 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Arrive at the Sagawa Art Museum in Moriyama City
2. 2Admire the buildings floating on the water garden and their exterior
3. 3View the exhibitions of Ikuo Hirayama and Churyo Sato
4. 4See the Raku ware in the Raku Kichizaemon Hall and enjoy the summer-night illumination

Did you know?

💡 The architecture, designed and built by the Takenaka Corporation, has won numerous honors including the Good Design Award, the Chūbu Architecture Award, the AIJ Annual Architectural Design Commendation, and the BCS Prize. Its two gabled-roof exhibition halls floating on the water garden are especially acclaimed.

Nearby spots