【Toyota Municipal Museum of Art】A Museum That Feels Like a Work of Art Itself

The Museum Was Designed by the Renowned Yoshio Taniguchi

The Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, characterized by its simple modernist architecture of iron and glass, was designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, known for various museum projects including the MoMA in New York. The museum, predominantly white with natural lighting, features unique elements not found in other museums, such as glimpses of other exhibition rooms through gaps and views of Toyota City from the corridors along the hillside path.

Around the museum is an artificial pond, reflecting the museum in a way that blends into the landscape like a work of art. Thus, the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, focusing on every detail both inside and outside, is like a piece of art itself, arguably making it “the most beautiful art museum in Japan.”

Hosting Gallery Tours and Children’s Programs

The Toyota Municipal Museum of Art hosts various programs that offer learning and experiences for both children and adults. One such program is the “Gallery Tour,” where volunteers guide visitors through the exhibition, sharing thoughts and perspectives on selected artworks, enhancing the understanding of art.

Additionally, there is an upgraded version of the usual gallery tour, the “View × Think × Convey” appreciation meeting, focusing on just one exhibit for an in-depth discussion. The museum also actively collaborates with schools, where curators and volunteers visit and conduct art appreciation sessions, providing children with opportunities to engage with art.

Make Sure to Visit the Museum Shop

When you visit the art museum, be sure to stop by the museum shop! In addition to selling original goods, the shop offers a wide range of the museum’s publications, including official guidebooks and art books. You might discover unique designs not found elsewhere, and the shop even carries publications from the museum’s opening, so you could find that long-sought-after book.

Why not visit the museum shop and search for your own special treasure?

About the Restaurant and Tea Room in the Art Museum

Dining at the museum is also an attractive feature! Inside the museum, there is a restaurant and a tea room. The restaurant is a recommended scenic spot in the museum, offering views of the museum’s terrace, the large pond, and the cityscape.

In spring, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms, and in early summer, the flowers of the iris ensata. The menu includes regular items as well as limited-time menus that correspond to the exhibitions.

On the west side of the museum grounds is the tea room “Doji-en,” named after the area’s former name “Dojiyama.” Here, you can enjoy the scenery of nature changing with the seasons. After enjoying the artworks in the museum, take your time in the restaurant or tea room, reflecting on the artworks while enjoying a leisurely moment.