Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture

The Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture consists of two buildings called Steel Hut and Silver Hut, positioned on a promontory on Omishima Island. Both structures offer views across the Seto Inland Sea and demonstrate the architect's design philosophy through their physical form and setting.

The museum opened in July 2011 as Japan's first dedicated contemporary architecture museum. This founding marked an important moment in recognizing modern architecture as its own distinct field of artistic expression.

The exhibition displays architectural models arranged on dark blue carpets with white round cushions that represent the connection to water. The layout tells visitors how nature influences the design thinking shown throughout the space.

Plan for a pleasant walk from the ferry terminal on Omishima to reach the museum buildings. Daily visiting hours are set during standard daytime periods, allowing visitors to arrive in the morning and spend several hours exploring.

The Silver Hut building was originally the personal residence of architect Toyo Ito and was later relocated to its current location. This arrangement lets visitors understand the designer's working methods by experiencing his former living space.

Location: Imabari

Inception: 2011

Architects: Itō Toyoo

Official opening: July 30, 2011

Address: 〒794-1308 愛媛県今治市大三島町浦戸2418

Website: http://tima-imabari.jp

GPS coordinates: 34.21392,132.95039

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:59