🗺️ Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Artアサヒビール大山崎山荘美術館

The Asahi Beer Ohyamazaki Museum of Art was originally a villa built by Kaga Shotaro, an Osaka businessman who, along with Taketsuru Masataka, developed the whiskey industry. It is located at the foot of Mount Tenno, which marks the boundary between Kyoto and Osaka, and is the site of the "Battle of Yamazaki." Kaga, who had studied in Europe, completed this Tudor-style villa in Showa 7 (1932), making it a beloved architectural gem in the area. Yamamoto Waisaburo, the first president of Asahi Beer, had a close relationship with Kaga, and as a result, he later became the owner of this villa, renovating it into a museum to showcase his collection related to the Mingei movement. In addition to the main building constructed by Kaga, a new wing designed by Ando Tadao was added, named "Chichu Gem Box" and "Dream Box." The museum houses numerous works primarily focused on ceramic art from the Mingei movement, including pieces by artists such as Kawai Kanjiro, Hamada Shoji, and Bernard Howell Leach, as well as Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" series, with a total collection of around a thousand pieces.

The decoration of the main building reflects the refined taste of Kaga Shōtarō. In the summer, visitors can enjoy the "Water Lily" series of artworks while overlooking the garden's lotus pond. From the terrace of the main building, one can gaze upon the views of the Katsura River, Kizu River, and Uji River. The "Hideyoshi Path" leading from the villa to the summit of Mount Tenno, where the ruins of Yamazaki Castle are located, is perfect for hiking.