Adachi Museum of Art

OVERVIEW

Admire the stunning collection of paintings, ceramics and woodcarvings amassed in the Adachi Museum of Art, a treasure-trove of contemporary Japanese masterworks. The works housed in the museum – which is named for founder Zenko Adachi, who was born impoverished and became a wealthy businessman – showcases his private collection. The two star pieces are Yokoyama Taikan’s six-panel folding screens known as “Autumn Leaves” and his painting “Mountain after a Shower.” Other standouts include an elegant wooden carving of a Bodhisattva with a fish basket, which pays homage to a Tang Dynasty legend, and a dazzling gold-painted porcelain vase by Kitaoji Rosanjin. He wasn’t just a ceramic artist; Rosanjin created his own aesthetics in the culinary world by producing tableware, flower vases and paintings for the dining room. Be sure to gaze out over the surrounding gardens, which were designed around Adachi’s belief that “the garden is also a picture.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a private collection of contemporary Japanese art in the Adachi Museum of Art.
• Learn about the museum’s founder, a poor bullied child that prospered as a businessman.
• Behold highly influential works that include two masterpieces from Yokoyama Taikan.
• View the museum gardens, designed around the belief that “the garden is also a picture.”

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.