Museum · Hiroo

Yamatane Museum of Art 山種美術館

Tokyo's specialist museum of nihonga (modern Japanese-style painting), home to Hayami Gyoshu's moths circling a flame and Takeuchi Seiho's tabby cat, with a cafe serving wagashi inspired by the paintings.

Hours10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)

ClosedMondays (Tue if Mon is a holiday), exhibition changeovers, New Year

PriceAdult: ¥1,500
High school / university student: ¥1,200
Junior high and under: Free

Getting thereEbisu Station (JR, West Exit), 10 min

Time needed1 hour

Best timeWeekday afternoons, then tea at Cafe Tsubaki

Address3-12-36 Hiroo, Shibuya City, Tokyo

Websiteyamatane-museum.jp

About

Founded in 1966 by stockbroker Taneji Yamazaki, the Yamatane holds around 1,800 works and is the best place in Tokyo to understand nihonga, the 20th-century school that used mineral pigments and silk to paint in a Japanese idiom. Its stars are Hayami Gyoshu's Dance in the Flames, moths swirling around a bonfire, and Takeuchi Seiho's Spotted Cat, both Important Cultural Properties, along with works by Yokoyama Taikan, Uemura Shoen and Okumura Togyu. The single basement gallery is softly lit and never overwhelming. For its 60th anniversary, The Best of Yamatane Collection I (Oct 10 to Dec 6, 2026) brings out the very top works. Upstairs, Cafe Tsubaki serves seasonal wagashi designed by a Ginza confectioner to echo paintings in the current show.

Highlights

Hayami Gyoshu's Dance in the Flames (Important Cultural Property)
Takeuchi Seiho's Spotted Cat, an Important Cultural Property beloved by cat lovers
The Best of Yamatane Collection I for the 60th anniversary (Oct 10 – Dec 6, 2026)
Cafe Tsubaki's wagashi sweets inspired by the paintings on show

Tips

Masterpieces only appear for some exhibitions; check that your favourites are on the list before visiting.
From Ebisu, take the West Exit and walk up Komazawa-dori, about 10 minutes; buses also run toward Hiroo.
Online advance tickets are available, and repeat visitors with a previous ticket stub often get a discount.
Junior high school students and younger enter free.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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Yamatane Museum of Art 山種美術館

About

Highlights

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