Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa of Art

The Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art is a museum in Oyamazaki Town, Kyoto Prefecture. The main building is an English-style villa originally built as the retreat of Masataro Kaga, a Kansai entrepreneur who also participated in the founding of Nikka Whisky. Set on a spacious site of about 5,500 tsubo, visitors can enjoy art appreciation in a relaxed atmosphere. The museum also includes underground galleries designed by Tadao Ando—nicknamed the “Jewel Box in the Earth” and the “Dream Box”—and a newer wing. The architecture is designed to harmonize with the surrounding landscape: while the exterior is covered in greenery, the galleries incorporate natural light into the exhibition approach. The collection includes around 1,000 works, such as mingei (folk craft) pieces by artists like Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji collected by Asahi Beer’s first president Tamesaburo Yamamoto, works by Bernard Leach, and Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies.” The gardens are also beautiful: various cherry blossoms in spring, water lilies in the pond in summer (echoing Monet’s theme), autumn colors, and winter stillness. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Hankyu Oyamazaki Station or JR Oyamazaki Station, though the slope is steep; a free shuttle bus is available (priority for elderly visitors).