MOA Museum of Art

MOA Museum of Art is a landmark museum perched on a hillside in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture. With its superb location overlooking Sagami Bay, visitors can enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Hatsushima, Izu Oshima, and the stretch from the Boso Peninsula to the Izu Peninsula from the main lobby and the Mua Plaza (Mua Square). It is cherished by many not only for its art, but also as a place where the scenery and natural surroundings soothe the soul.

The museum houses approximately 3,500 works, focusing on masterpieces of East Asian art including paintings, calligraphy, crafts, and sculpture. Its scale and exceptional quality are renowned nationwide. Among its holdings are 3 National Treasures, 67 Important Cultural Properties, and 46 Important Art Objects.

Especially famous among its National Treasure works is “Red and White Plum Blossoms,” regarded as the masterpiece of Ogata Korin. This work is often displayed only for a limited period, and many visitors come specifically to see it during the plum blossom season. The museum also owns the National Treasure tea jar “Color-painted Wisteria Flower Design Tea Jar” by Nonomura Ninsei and the calligraphy album “Kanmakujō,” offering opportunities to experience a wide range of cultural traditions, from Rinpa art and ceramics to calligraphy.

MOA Museum of Art opened in 1982 and was renewed in 2017. The lobby and exhibition spaces were designed by New Material Research Laboratory, led by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto and architect Toshiyuki Sakakida. Their spatial design is characterized by a modern reinterpretation of traditional Japanese materials and techniques. The exhibition rooms are designed to bring out the full appeal of the works, allowing visitors to enjoy not only the art itself but also the beauty of the space.

The museum also features the “Golden Tea Room,” a faithful recreation of a tea room associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as a full-scale Noh theater with a cypress-bark roof, making it a place to experience the depth of Japanese culture beyond art alone.

The museum grounds cover about 70,000 tsubo, and the garden, Zuikyu, offers seasonal natural beauty throughout the year. From cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring to fresh greenery in early summer and colorful foliage in autumn, the garden reveals a different charm each season, making even a simple stroll a special experience.

One of the museum’s distinctive features is its stepped layout from the entrance to the interior, where visitors travel by moving between escalators due to the elevation changes. Along the way, the circular hall features a giant kaleidoscope installation about 20 meters in diameter and 10 meters high, creating a fantastical atmosphere.

In addition, the cafe and restaurant overlooking the sea offer a chance to relax while enjoying spectacular views and seasonal Japanese cuisine, making the entire stay feel like a resort experience. Blending art, architecture, nature, views, and food into one unified setting, MOA Museum of Art is one of Atami’s most popular attractions, offering a rich and memorable experience just beyond the everyday.