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Miho Museum
The Miho Museum's combination of historical artefacts and innovative modern architecture make it a lovely day trip option for those visiting Kyoto.
The Miho Museum was founded in 1997 by Mihoko Koyama: Toyobo textile company heiress, founder of the Shinji Shumeikai spiritual movement, and one of Japan's richest women. It is after Koyama that the museum is named, and most of its exhibits belong to her own private collection.
Located some way outside of Kyoto in the hills of Shiga Prefecture, the Miho Museum is as famous for its unusual architecture as for its impressive collection of historical artefacts. The building was designed by I.M. Pei, the world-renowned Chinese-American architect responsible for the glass-and-steel pyramid at the Louvre, and is widely accepted to be one of his best designs. In his design, Pei made every effort to integrate the building into its natural environment, juxtaposing steel and glass with wood, stone and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
In terms of exhibits, the museum has two distinct wings. In the south wing are ancient treasures from Egypt, Western Asia, Greece, Rome, China and the Islamic world; in the north wing are Japanese painting and artefacts. The main exhibit changes roughly once a year, while special exhibits change every few months.
Please note: the museum is closed from mid-December until mid-March.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 61 7 3186 8800
A quick note about our experiences: Our experiences are designed to be part of a complete, tailor-made travel package and are not available to book individually. This allows us to ensure every detail – from accommodation to transport – is perfectly coordinated for you. If you're interested in one of these experiences, we'd love to help you build a full itinerary around it!
Interested in this Experience? It is included in this tour:
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Discover Japan's artistic heart among the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
Art and the Seto Inland Sea
All over the world, the finest art is found almost exclusively in big cities. But Japan has always done things differently, and on this itinerary you'll discover that Japan's true artistic heart lies not amid skyscrapers and neon – but amongst the rural islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
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