The Island Of Art – Omishima

Omishima is one of the islands located along the Nishiseto Expressway, which is more commonly known as Shimanami Kaido. Did you know that it has a fantastic selection of modern art? There are 5 art museums on Omishima and in this article I will introduce one of them.

The Tokoro Museum Omishima is located among beautiful nature in the western part of Omishima Island. To get there, follow Shimanami Kaido, get off at Omishima IC, and continue on for some 20 minutes.

The Modern Art Museum of Omishima

The art exhibition starts immediately at the museum entrance with an artwork of a man and a woman.

The museum is built on a gentle downward slope, which allows visitors to enjoy the artworks as they descend.

Designed By World-Famous Architect Toyo Ito

Making the place a blend of art and nature and giving it a tremendous sense of spaciousness, the side walls are dotted with numerous openings that lead out into the natural environment.

At the very end of the museum, past the art installations, the building opens up to reveal a stunning panorama of the Seto Inland Sea below. There are chairs on the terrace so you can sit, relax and enjoy the fantastic view. Further on from the terrace there is more art, so take a look and see if you can find it all.

If you turn around and face the museum, you can see new expressions of the art from a different angle.

At the terrace, you can pour yourself a cup or two of the coffee made by the kind staff members at the museum. Before you know it, you’ve stayed longer than you intended.

Please come and spend time at the museum and see the many expressions of the Seto Inland Sea at different times of the day.

Tokoro Museum Omishima
Address: 2362-3 Omishimacho Urado, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture
Open: 9:00 – 17:00
Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a public holiday, the following day will be closed instead) and Dec 27-31
Admission fee: 300 yen – elementary school children 150 yen
Groups (20 people or more): 20% discount
Special passes that gives access to the other museums (3 museums or 5 museums) are also available
Parking: Available (free-of-charge)
http://museum.city.imabari.ehime.jp/tokoro/

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Futoshi Hineno