Miho Museum

The Miho Museum is a side trip from Kyoto, located deep in the forested hill west of urban Koka. It was designed by renowned architect I. M. Pei and named after Koyama Mihoko, one of Japan's wealthiest ladies and the museum's founder. The design of the museum's structures, as well as how they are blended into their natural surroundings, is perhaps the most fascinating feature of the museum. This is emphasized by the museum's approach, which takes visitors through a combination of man-made and natural settings. Inside the museum, steel and glass are contrasted with warm stone and panoramic vistas of the neighboring valleys, continuing the concept.

The museum's collection includes works from ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Romans, and other Asian cultures, with the majority of the artifacts originating from Koyama's personal collection. Every year or so, the primary exhibit changes, while special exhibits change every few months.

Address: 300 Momodani, Tashiro Shigaraki Koka, Shiga 529-1814

Website: miho.jp