Shinsei-kan Museum

"An art museum operating out of a traditional Japanese home building located in Biei, the ""town of hills."" The 200 year old home was moved here from Niigata and contains over 200 paintings and ceramics works. The works of painter Suda Kokuta, who long did the pictures for Ryotaro Shiba's travelogue series, ""Kaido o Yuku,"" became part of the collection after being introduced to the director, an old friend of Shiba. The pieces by Living National Treasure Tatsuzo Shimaoka were collected over a 30-year period by the director, who was charmed by the artist's work. A lobby on the third floor offers an exquisite, sweeping view of the hills of Biei and the Tokachi Mountain Range. A not insignificant number of people say they would like to take in this view all day."