Nariwa Museum designed by ANDO

This museum stands in a small city called Takahashi nestled in the mountains. The nearest JR station is Bicchu-takahashi, about 35 minutes by limited express Yakumo from JR Okayama Station. A very relaxing place with this beautiful modern museum standing on the foundation of the former castle-like residence of feudal lord YAMASAKI and a friendly local shopping street called HONCHO KAGURA ROAD.

The museum first opened in 1953 and was rebuilt in 1977. The present building designed by ANDO is the third museum building, completed in 1994. 

The museum is mostly for displaying KOJIMA Torajiro's works and collections. He had a very special trusted relationship with OHARA Magosaburo, the 2nd president of Kurabo textile company and the founder of Ohara Museum of Fine Arts in Kurashiki. OHARA sent KOJIMA to Europe several times where KOJIMA purchased Wesern paintings funded by OHARA. Which lead to the opening of the first gallery in Japan that publicly showed a collection of western art in 1930.

Here ANDO uses underground water to create serenity around the museum. There's a pool outside where water flows quietly and another behind the wall which contains static water. 

Water lilies grow in the inner pool. They were brought in from Ohara Museum of Fine Arts, which had been given some water lilies from the pond of Monet's garden in Giverny.