Hirai Art Museum in Naka Ward Area

About the Museum

The Hirai Art Museum is located in the Naka Ward area of Okayama, Okayama, Japan. It was founded in 1962 by the businessman and art collector, Kozo Hirai, as a way to share his collection of Japanese and Asian art with the public. The museum is housed in a beautiful traditional Japanese-style building with a garden, which was designed by the architect, Togo Murano.

Collections

The museum's collection includes over 5,000 pieces of art, including paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, lacquerware, metalwork, textiles, and sculptures. The focus is on Japanese and Asian art, with an emphasis on the Edo period (1603-1868) and the Meiji period (1868-1912). Some of the highlights of the collection include works by Ogata Korin, Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Visiting the Museum

The Hirai Art Museum is open from 9am to 5pm every day except Mondays and holidays. Admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for students. Audio guides are available in English, Chinese, and Korean. The museum is located about a 15-minute walk from Okayama Station, or you can take the tram to Shiroshita Station and walk from there. The approximate latitude and longitude of the museum is 34.6724° N, 133.9195° E.