Woodone Museum of Art

In short

Woodone Museum of Art is an art museum at an elevation of around 600 meters in the Nishi-Chugoku Mountains, in Yoshiwa, Hatsukaichi City. It was built to display and exhibit approximately 800 works of art owned by Wood One Co., Ltd., and opened in September 1996.

• ​Modern Japanese paintings​​: The core of the collection. Portrait of Reiko in a Woolen Shawl, painted by Kishida Ryusei in 1920 depicting his daughter Reiko, is well known. The works on display change with each exhibition
• ​Permanent craft exhibitions​​: Meissen porcelain, Art Nouveau glass works, Satsuma ware from the late Edo and Meiji periods, and more can be viewed in the permanent exhibitions
• ​A highland art museum​​: Consisting of a main building and a new wing, it sits in a quiet mountain setting. You can take your time with the works alongside the changing seasons of the surrounding forest

History and Highlights

​Woodone Museum of Art​ is an art museum located at an elevation of around 600 meters in the Nishi-Chugoku Mountains, in Yoshiwa, Hatsukaichi City. Nestled in a rich natural environment where primeval forests remain, it opened in September 1996. Built to display and exhibit approximately 800 works of art owned by Wood One Co., Ltd. (formerly Juken Sangyo), a manufacturer of wood building materials, it is currently operated by the Woodone Museum of Art Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.

The collection consists of five areas: modern Japanese paintings, Meissen porcelain, Art Nouveau glass works, ceramics from China's Qing dynasty, and Satsuma ware from the late Edo and Meiji periods. Among the most well-known is the oil painting Portrait of Reiko in a Woolen Shawl, painted in 1920 by Kishida Ryusei depicting his daughter Reiko. Van Gogh's Peasant Woman and Renoir's Study of a Woman and Woman with a Basket of Flowers are also introduced as representative works of this museum.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Modern Japanese Paintings​​: The core of the collection is modern Japanese paintings, with Kishida Ryusei's portrait of Reiko as its prominent example. The works displayed change with each exhibition.
• ​Permanent Craft Exhibitions​​: Meissen porcelain, Art Nouveau glass works, and Satsuma ware from the late Edo and Meiji periods can be viewed in permanent exhibitions. Comparing the splendid porcelain with the delicate glass works is one of the museum's pleasures.
• ​Highland Art Museum​​: The museum consists of a main building and a new wing, situated in a quiet mountain setting. Visitors can take their time appreciating the artwork alongside the changing seasons of the surrounding forest.

Tips for Exploring

The museum houses a café and a shop where visitors can take a break after viewing the art. In the same highlands of Yoshiwa is Mominoki Forest Park, making it possible to spend a day combining a stroll in the forest with a museum visit. Because the facility is located in the mountains and the climate differs from flat areas, bringing an extra layer to wear is recommended. If there is a particular work you wish to view, it is advisable to check the exhibition schedule on the official announcements before visiting.