Gazing across the water basin, it’s hard to tell where the Fukuda Art Museum garden ends and the Oi River begins. Fukuda Art Museum opened in October 2019. It is nestled in Kyoto’s scenic Arashiyama district.
Fukuda Yoshitaka founded this museum. His goal was to repay the generosity he received from Kyoto. The museum embodies the depth of Japanese culture.
The Fukuda Art Museum boasts 1,800 artworks. These pieces date from the Edo period to the 20th century. The focus is on Kyoto painters. Maruyama Okyo and Yosa Buson are featured artists. You can also find modern painters like Yokoyama Taikan. He developed the nihonga style.
Award-winning architect Koichi Yasuda designed Fukuda Art Museum. The concept was harmony between nature and Japanese art. The architecture blends traditional and modern Japanese design.
Notice the large basin in the garden. It acts as a water mirror. It reflects Arashiyama’s beauty. The galleries resemble Japanese kura warehouses.
The garden fully uses its location. It faces the Arashiyama mountains across the Oi River. The design incorporates Arashiyama as borrowed scenery. The water basin connects with the Oi River. This creates a sense of continuity. It makes the garden feel vast.
Inside the basin, water falls from six small elevations. This creates a feeling of connection to the Oi River. Rocks on the pond’s bottom are deliberately unfixed. You can see a checkerboard pattern of rock and gravel. The borderline with the moss garden is ambiguous.
Shallow water helps preserve water quality. It maintains a mirror-like surface. Water flows constantly with minimal sun exposure. Scenic stones are set just above the water. This provides shade and reduces algae growth. Aquatic plants emphasize the depth toward the Arashiyama mountains.
The Fukuda Art Museum uses tree varieties from Mt. Arashiyama and Mt. Ogura. Maples, cherries and Japanese red pines are included. The corridor resembles a veranda. It allows you to see the changing seasons.
Japanese red pines recall a lost landscape. The Fukuda Art Museum planted trees that passed a disease examination. This prevents the spread of pine wilt. It helps preserve Kyoto’s landscape.
The Fukuda Art Museum was featured in TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2023.
Inside, a glass wall features ajiro wickerwork. This pattern is found on some kimonos. Photography is allowed, so capture your memories.
The museum holds special exhibitions four times a year. The works on display change. Each visit offers a unique encounter with art.
Consider visiting the on-site cafe. It grants a view of Togetsukyo Bridge. Enjoy the cafe’s sweets as you take in the scenery. Emperor Kameyama named the bridge. He saw the moon shining over the river. It looked like the moon was crossing the bridge. Imagine the moonlight over this landmark. The Fukuda Art Museum hopes to stir your emotions. The museum provides an unforgettable experience.