Ten-ichi Museum

The Ten-ichi Museum is housed in a contemporary building designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura and displays modern Japanese paintings alongside international artworks. The collection includes pieces by Japanese masters such as Saeki Yuzo and Yasui Sotaro, European painters including Picasso and Renoir, and Asian pottery objects.

The museum opened in 1997 with roots in a connection to Ten-ichi, a famous tempura restaurant that operated in Tokyo's Ginza district since 1930. This culinary heritage inspired the creation of an art collection that would serve the Minakami region.

The name comes from a famous tempura restaurant in Tokyo's Ginza district, which inspired the founders to create this space. Visitors encounter Japanese masters displayed alongside European painters, creating a conversation between different artistic traditions.

The museum is located near Tanigawa Onsen and visitors should plan to spend at least a couple of hours viewing the displays. Comfortable shoes and unhurried pace work best for exploring the different gallery spaces.

The collection includes scrolls and artifacts from the 8th century, offering visitors a surprising depth of historical material. These ancient pieces contrast with the modern works on display, revealing how deep Japanese artistic traditions run.