Art & Design
Art lovers will have a ball in Japan. While there are national museums of modern art and western art in Tokyo, there are lots of intriguing options for your travels.
Art island
The island of Naoshima, in the Inland Sea of western Japan, has become a renowned ‘art island’ and destination, with amazing architecture and art on display.
Museums
If you’re after more traditional Japanese art, head to the Sumida Hokusai Museum in Tōkyō which showcases the work of ukiyo-e woodblock print master Hokusai, the man responsible for the ‘Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji’, including the iconic ‘Great Wave’. Better yet, head to the charming town of Obuse in Nagano prefecture to the Hokusai Museum.
The Ōtsuka Museum of Art in Naruto on Shikoku is totally mind-blowing. There are over 1000 full-size ceramic reproductions of the world’s major works of art (including the Sistine Chapel!), reproduced to give Japanese who can’t travel abroad the opportunity to see them. A robot named 'Mr Art' gives hour-long gallery talks.