Shibuya

I feel like I missed a great opportunity.  The museum is well located, near Meiji-Jingu shrine and Yoyogi Park, and houses a specialized collection of Japanese woodblock prints, ukiyo-e. Ukiyo-e is considered an important part of Japan’s unique cultural heritage.

Ukiyo-e was a form of folk art between the 17th and 19th centuries that used water-based ink on woodblocks to depict images of spectacle and beauty. Often very colorful, it depicts scenes of daily life, sumo wrestling, theatrical plays, as well as landscapes with flora and fauna. Another facet shows the darker side with images of evil, death, or monsters.

The images produced from woodblock prints allowed for mass production. After the development of photography, interest in the art was diminished and the woodblock prints were sold. Mr. Seizo Ota firmly believed that these reproduction bases were works of art and collected thousands of them. After his death, the collection became the subject of the museum, which opened in 1980.

The collection of over 14,000 pieces includes paintings, prints and books, and is displayed in rotation according to the theme of the moment. Among the famous artists in this field are works by Katsushika Hokusai, Hiroshige Utagawa and Utamaro Kitagawa.

In the museum, a garden provides an opportunity to take a break.

Photography, videography and copying are prohibited inside the museum.

Official website: https://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/eng/

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