Atami MOA Museum of Art

If you have a few hours free and you’re in Atami you cannot go past the city’s incredible Museum of Art. With a strong focus on showcasing some of the best Japanese and East Asian art in the world it’s a great place to immerse yourself in the area’s rich cultural history and arts community. Recently renovated, the striking building sits atop a lush green hill overlooking the city. The museum was established in 1982 by the Mokichi Okada Association (MOA), an organisation dedicated to preserving the memory of avid art collector Mokichi Okada who also opened the Hakone Museum of Art. The space was founded with the hopes to share and showcase the wide variety of local art and encourage and promote the development of tourism, and art and crafts within the area.

Atami MOA Museum of Art

Featuring an impressive traditional style noh theatre, a wide variety of rotating exhibitions as well as permanent attractions, the MOA Museum of Art has been welcoming swarms of local and international guests for almost 35 years now. Constantly in an evolution of self-improvement and collection expansion, the museum gets better with each passing year. The gallery is open every day, except Thursdays from 9:30am until 4:30pm and entry into the space is 1,600 yen.

Atami MOA Museum of Art

One of the other highlights of a MOA visit is exploring the museum’s many cafes, restaurants, and tea houses scattered around the grounds. If you’re after lunch you can’t miss a chance to experience the Japanese-French fusion delights of Au Mirador. Featuring a rotating menu that offers some of the best produce in the area it’s an ideal stop off for lunch. If you’re after more classically Japanese style food, check out Hana-no-chaya. Located in a scenic Japanese-style tea garden Hana-no-chaya is open from 11am until 3:30pm and serves a seasonal variety of foods including classic local sweets. There’s also another tea house close by called Ippaku-an Teahouse, here you can try organic matcha green tea and sencha green tea alongside a selection of Japanese-style sweets.

Atami MOA Museum of Art

When you just need a little coffee pick me up pop by the simply titled The Café. At this more contemporary style coffee shop you can grab a quick latte and pastry as you wander into the gallery. Last but not least, if it’s soba you’re craving Nijo-shinmachi Sobanobou sells authentic hand-made Kirishita soba made from buckwheat grown in the Togakushi Region in Nagano Prefecture.

Atami MOA Museum of Art

The museum is situated on the northeastern coast of the Peninsula, so if you’re coming via public transport simply take the bus bound for MOA Bijutsukan (MOA美術館) and get off at the route’s final stop. The simple and direct ride takes about 10 minutes and will cost about 170 yen each way. It’s also a short taxi ride if you do miss the bus and if you’re travelling by car the museum is home to ample car parking that’s free for gallery guests.

Atami MOA Museum of Art

MOA Museum of Art

4.5

465 Reviews

Shizuoka Pref. Atamishi Momoyamachou 26-2

0557842511

9:30-16:30(Last entry16:00)

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