Shiga Kogen Roman Museum

The Shiga Kogen Roman Museum of Art is a building that resembles a work of art itself and harmonizes with the surrounding nature. The museum displays a variety of works from different genres, and the exhibition changes with the seasons, making it worth visiting multiple times. In addition, the area around the museum is surrounded by the rich nature of Shiga Kogen, and the view from the museum is also magnificent. The museum also has a cafe and shop, allowing you to spend a relaxing time there. Why not enjoy an art experience in harmony with the beautiful nature of Shiga Kogen?

There are many tourist spots around the Shiga Kogen Roman Museum, such as hot springs and ski resorts. Popular spots like the Shiga Kogen Ski Resort and Nozawa Onsen can be visited in combination with the museum. In addition, at Shiga Kogen Ishi no Yu, you can see the Genji fireflies, which are designated as a national natural monument. Yamanouchi Town has 7 national designated cultural properties, 8 prefectural designated cultural properties, and 53 town designated cultural properties. Traveling around the Shiga Kogen area is also enjoyable.

The Shiga Kogen Roman Art Museum is an architectural art museum designed by world-renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa. Its white walls and glass exterior harmonize with the surrounding nature, and the first-floor hall, with a ceiling height of 15 meters and triangular display cases, features an installation called "Steps" by contemporary artist Atsuko Mochida. The museum also includes works by famous artists such as Japanese painter Furukawa Kobori, Western painters Chagall, Picasso, and surrealist Dali, making it a notable architectural art museum.

At the Shiga Kogen Roman Museum, there have been exhibitions that allow visitors to feel the history of the local Yamanouchi area. In the winter of 2022, the special exhibition "Kodate Katen Special Exhibition Yamanouchi Jomon" was held, which showcased about 100 Jomon period artifacts (pottery, earthenware, stone tools, etc.) excavated from the Isemiya site, Sano site, and Kamibayashi Nakamichi Minami site. It was a valuable opportunity to see Jomon pottery. In the future, there will be unique exhibitions rooted in the local area, so when you visit the area, be sure to also visit the museum's exhibitions.

At the Shiga Kogen Roman Museum, you can not only enjoy art works, but also fully appreciate the surrounding nature. The museum is located in the midst of the nature-rich Shiga Kogen, where you can also take a stroll. At Jigokudani Monkey Park and Tano-ura Wetland, you can see the abundant nature and the wild animals that live there. It's also nice to relax in the evening at Nozawa Onsen hot springs.

The Shiga Kogen Roman Museum of Art displays unique collections rarely seen in other art museums. There are six types of collections on display: "Contemporary Glass Brilliance - Yumiko Yoshimoto's Glass Angels," "Bright and Cheerful Colored Glass World - Naoto Yokoyama's 'Glass Deco'," "Roman Glass Excavated from the Roman Empire," "Kodama Katei, a Southern Painter from the Local Area," "Traditional Kilim Representing the Nomadic Lifestyle and Culture," and "Romantic Collection that Reminds Us of the Good Old Days." If any of these collections pique your interest, please come and visit.

Next to the Shiga Kogen Roman Museum, there is a museum shop. This shop offers goods based on the permanent collection exhibition and also collaborates with planned exhibitions for limited periods. They have a wide range of products, from everyday use pens, memo pads, and postcards to one-of-a-kind items. After finishing viewing the museum, why not choose a souvenir at the shop?