Sagawa Art Museum is set near Japan’s largest lake, Biwako. As a part of the 40th anniversary commemorative project for Sagawa Express, a major transportation company, it was opened in 1998.

Here they have a collection of the three masters representing the Japanese art world: Nihonga painter Ikuo Hirayama, sculptor Churyo Sato, and potter Kichizaemon Raku.

The museum has a collection of over 350 items from Mr. Hirayama including rough sketches! The museum has the largest collection scale in Japan. With many work, they change the exhibit theme depending on the season and hold special exhibits.

The Sagawa Art Museum stands on a large site, and the scale of it all can be felt even before entering the museum. Once you pass through the entrance gate, the water garden and main building is to the front. The scale of the structure is quite amazing. In addition, the inorganic, almost monotonic, structure yields a modern impression.

If you look only at the building, it may seem a bit dull. But given its Mise-en-scène—open blue sky; undulating water at the foot of the building; and the plants in the water garden—it all looks like a unifying visual where nature and building creates a harmony.

This section of the art museum is located on the shore of Lake Biwa and breezes whip directly from the lake. Each time a zephyr blows over the water garden, it creates a ripple and the sunlight reflects from the waves. It’s a wonderful sight that includes shapeless wind and light.

The architectural beauty that matches the scenery has gained a solid reputation and at the Architectural Institute of Japan Awards, the Sagawa Art Museum received the most prestigious award in the domestic architecture field, the Year 2000 Work Selection Award. The museum has received various other awards and the photogenic beauty recognized by experts is a must-see.

Now let’s head in the museum. As we mentioned before the museum has art pieces from three masters and each gallery is named after each, with corresponding works.

This time we received special permission to take pictures under the guidance of curator Sakiko Matsuyama.

Hirayma’s exhibition room, has a spacious ceiling that provides a great open feeling! Warm lights gently illuminate the pieces, causing Hirayama’s work to stand out more. According to Ms. Matsuyama, “Since Mr. Hirayama has many pieces that are big, we created a large environment to display pieces with more space in-between.”

The exhibition room has benches to sit and get fully immersed by the artist’s world.

Next is Mr. Sato’s exhibition room, with the bronze statues. Make sure to look at the statue from all directions. Also in this area you can actually touch the artwork! Normally most art museums prohibit such action to preserve the pieces, but these bronze statues are permitted. By touching the statues you are able to directly feel the smoothness and minute details.

And to the third master, Mr. Raku’s exhibit. His works are at the Raku Kichizaemon Wing which was built in 2007 for the 10th anniversary of the art museum. Mr. Raku himself created the design and supervised the wing’s construction. This is the only place in the world where you can view Raku’s artwork in a structure that was designed by him. It was made under the concept of Shuhari, which is a teaching method in Japanese tea ceremony to “Protect the teaching, develop it, and create something new.”

The exhibition room is right beneath the water garden. The lighting in the exhibit is dim, bold, and feels like you are in the ground. Meanwhile, part of the glass ceiling creates a very dramatic space by allowing in the shadows from moving water. The light shimmering in the dimness creates a very comfortable feeling and it seems like many people enjoy taking their time in this area.

With the spotlights on the artwork in a dim room, it seems as though the pieces are floating. Also since it is dim, you don’t notice the people around you and can focus on the pieces even more.

One thing you can’t forget about in the Raku Kichizaemon Wing is the tea room. Like the main wing, this was designed by Mr. Raku.

A normal tea rooms are built in a small building separate from the main house. Most people will probably imagine a very “Wa” (Japanese) and simple style. However Mr. Raku’s tea room is something different, he has condensed all his passion for tea ceremony and his creativity in this one and only tea room.

The first place you enter is the waiting area for guests, also called yoritsuki in tea ceremony terms.

If there wasn’t a hanging scroll on wall, you wouldn’t think that this room was related to tea ceremony. Also take a look around: the wall is made from undressed concrete and the floor is made from railroad ties. You can imagine how excited the guests must be when seeing this unique design by Mr. Raku.

The next area you enter is koshikake machiai. This is the area where you wait for the host before entering the tea room. It is a brighter than the yoritsuki—that is because you are outdoors and can see the sky.

This area called Mizuroji is right below the water garden. A section of the water garden has been cut out in a circle and the concrete wall separating the water garden has a device to let in some water. The sound of the water dripping down the wall gives a very cozy sound. The wall, water and blue sky will be sure to give you a fresh feeling.

To the tea room koma (small room), Banda-an.

The tea room itself if very simple, however they use material from Japan and overseas to create something unique, such as using susudake (soot-colored bamboo) from a deconstructed old home for the ceiling and old materials from Bali for the alcove post.

The room also uses Echizen washi (Japanese paper) as a screen for the tea room window, which changes color with the light. For example during the day when the sunlight reflects off the reeds and cattails, it imparts a green reflection on the Echizen washi. With the setting sun in the evening the light will turn orange and so will the washi.

By using washi and natural light, this design by Mr. Raku allows guests to feel the change of time and season while being a tea room.

Ms. Matsuyama tells us “there is another space beyond the koma” and leads us to ----

A large space! This area, Fugyoken, is where you have usucha (weak powdered tea). Once you have a seat, your view will be aligned with the plants in the water garden. It was intentionally designed this way by Mr. Raku with the thought: “Sit at the same level as the water surface. People must live in the same level with nature, and keep the same line of sight.”

Interestingly, sitting here it does give a feeling like becoming one with nature.

To visit this area you must sign up for the tea room guide tour Chashitsu Kengaku (open every Thursday to Sunday, 5 times a day, takes about 30 minutes per tour, 1,000 yen per person – tax included, museum entrance fee not included). Also it is possible to join tea ceremonies that are held on a regular basis. You can check for details on their official website.

The photogenic Sagawa Art Museum with an eye catching architecture, a landscape in harmony with nature, and domestic art work of the highest level. Going through the museum, it doesn’t just present art, it is a unique museum that touches your sense.

Other than their collection they also conduct events like the “Maho no Bijyutsukan II” (The Magic Museum II), an event where adults and children can experience light and art that you can touch. How about spending a day at Sagawa Art Museum for a chance to feel the splendor of nature and art?