紀州博物館, Art museum in Shirahama, Japan

Kishu Museum is an art museum on the Hirabaru plain in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, overlooking the Shirahama spa district. Its collection of over 1,300 works, donated by the businessman Odake Rinji, centres on ukiyo-e prints, hanging scrolls, inro and tea utensils. A new wing completed in 2000 evokes a traditional townhouse.

The museum opened in 1973, built on a donation of over 1,300 objects from Kobayashi Takeji, a Kishu businessman: ukiyo-e prints, hanging scrolls, inro and tea utensils including ceramics. A new wing designed by Hirata Kensetsu, modelled on a traditional townhouse, was completed in 2000. The museum's current operating status is unknown.

The collection comes from Kotake Rinji, a local businessman who donated over 1,300 ukiyo-e prints, hanging scrolls, inro and tea utensils. Prints by Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai and Hiroshige are represented, and the old Karatsu ware is rated among Japan's best. A bronze statue of Miyagi Michio, a friend of Kotake, stands in front of the building.

The museum stands on Hirabarano in Shirahama, above the Shirahama hot spring resort, about 10 minutes by taxi from JR Shirahama Station and 7 minutes from Nanki-Shirahama Airport. The whole building is barrier-free and registered as a FreeSpot facility. Its current operating status, including whether it is open, is unknown, so confirm before travelling.

The bronze statue in front of the museum depicts Miyagi Michio, a koto composer and player who was a close friend of Kobayashi Takeji, the businessman whose donation of ukiyo-e, hanging scrolls, inro and tea utensils formed the museum's founding collection of over 1,300 pieces.