Kōno Museum of Art, Imabari

The Kōno Museum of Art is an art museum in Imabari housing roughly 10,000 items including folding screens, hanging scrolls, ancient documents, and books located in the Asahi-machi district. The galleries display a range of works spanning different periods and artistic styles from Japanese tradition.

The museum was founded in 1968 following the donation of land, building, and collection by Shinichi Kono, a legal publisher with ties to the former ruling Kono clan. This generous gift established the foundation for the institution and its extensive holdings.

The museum displays traditional Japanese artworks featuring dragons, nobles, and battle scenes rendered through ink painting, calligraphy, and colored scrolls that reflect historical artistic preferences. These pieces offer insight into the aesthetic values and techniques that shaped Japanese artistic traditions.

The location is easily visible from outside and offers free parking for visitors with cars. The building provides wheelchair accessibility and a comfortable environment for exploring the collections.

The museum houses a tea room relocated from Kono's residence that mirrors the design of Tai-an, a National Treasure tea house. This space represents a historically important architectural reference within a contemporary art institution.

Location: Imabari

Inception: 1988

Official opening: April 1968

Address: 〒794-0042 愛媛県今治市旭町1-4-8

Website: https://city.imabari.ehime.jp/museum/kono

GPS coordinates: 34.06277,132.99893

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21