Yamatane Museum of Art

The Yamatane Museum of Art is a museum in Hiroo, a district of Tokyo in Japan, dedicated to modern and contemporary Japanese painting. The collection holds more than 1800 works, including ancient calligraphy and traditional woodblock prints, displayed through rotating thematic exhibitions.

The museum opened in July 1966 in Nihonbashi Kabutocho as the first institution in Japan devoted solely to Japanese painting. Taneji Yamazaki, a securities executive, founded it with his private collection and later relocated to Hiroo.

The name combines founder Taneji Yamazaki's given name with 'tane' meaning seed, reflecting his wish to nurture appreciation for Japanese painting. Visitors today see rotating displays from the permanent collection in quiet, carpeted galleries designed to encourage close study of delicate brushwork and pigment.

The location sits a 10-minute walk from Ebisu Station and features wheelchair-accessible elevators. The building opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry half an hour before closing.

The collection includes 120 works by Gyoshu Hayami, a painter who died at 40 yet shaped the modern nihonga movement. Another 135 pieces come from Togyū Okumura, known for his precise renderings of birds and plants.

Location: Hiroo

Inception: 1966

Founders: Taneji Yamazaki

Architects: Nihon Sekkei

Official opening: July 1966

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00

Phone: +81357778600

Website: https://yamatane-museum.jp

GPS coordinates: 35.65317,139.71364

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26