Masterpieces of Japanese Art and a World Famous Japanese Garden

The Adachi Museum of Art in Shimane Prefecture should be on every art lover’s itinerary

The Adachi Museum of Art hosts one of the premiere collections of Japanese art. It was founded by a local businessman who was passionate about art and equally interested in Japanese gardens. The museum collection has a total of 2,000 artworks, including contemporary paintings, ceramic works, and a permanent exhibition of paintings by Yokoyama Taikan—known for his paintings of Mt. Fuji. A separate hall is dedicated to the artwork by the epicure and artist known as Rosanjin.

The museum’s garden is simply spectacular, and has been named the best in Japan in the annual ranking by the Journal of Japanese Gardening. Its 41 acres consist of fine examples of various garden types, from dry landscape and moss gardens to ponds and waterfalls. The variety means the garden areas’ seasonal splendor can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Access: Take the Shinkansen bullet train from Shin-Osaka Station to Okayama Station (about 45 minutes). Take the local train from Okayama Station to Yasugi Station (about 2 hours 20 minutes), then take the free shuttle bus to the museum (about 20 minutes).

ADACHI MUSEUM OF ART