The original villa, known as Sanso, was constructed in phases starting in 1912 and features early 20th-century stained glass and original woodwork.
The underground gallery was built into the hillside specifically to preserve the villa’s panoramic view of the river valley.
Shotaro Kaga, the villa's original owner, was an avid climber who helped popularize mountaineering in Japan.
The garden contains a collection of stone lanterns and water basins selected by Kaga during his lifetime.
The museum holds a significant collection of Koji Wada’s works, a Kyoto-based ceramicist who focused on refined everyday objects.
The site is located at the foot of Mount Tenno, which is historically significant for the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582.
The architecture intentionally uses shadow and natural light to transition visitors from the villa's historical interior to the modern annex.
The Asahi Group Ōyamazaki Villa Museum of Art is housed in a Taisho-era villa originally built for businessman Shotaro Kaga. The site consists of the historic Honkan villa and the underground 'Dream Box' (Yume-no-hako) gallery designed by architect Tadao Ando. The collection centers on Mingei (folk craft) movement works, including ceramics by Bernard Leach, Shoji Hamada, and Kanjiro Kawai. Claude Monet’s 'Water Lilies' series is permanently displayed in a dedicated circular gallery. The property is situated on the slopes of Mount Tenno, offering views of the confluence of the Katsura, Uji, and Kamo rivers. Visitors can wander through expansive gardens that incorporate the natural topography of the hillside. The museum serves as a bridge between traditional Japanese residential architecture and contemporary concrete minimalism.
The interior of the circular 'Dream Box' gallery looking toward the Monet Water Lilies.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes, as the path from the entrance to the main building involves a significant incline.
Bring a small umbrella for the walk between the villa and the gallery if rain is forecast, as parts of the path are uncovered.
Check the official website for temporary exhibition changes, as the museum frequently rotates its Japanese folk craft collections.
Do not attempt to walk up the steep hillside road without preparation, especially in high summer heat.
Closed on Mondays. If a public holiday falls on a Monday, the museum remains open and closes the following Tuesday instead.
Remove shoes when entering the historic villa portion; refrain from using flash photography inside galleries.
