The Showa Museum of Art Nagoya
The Showa Museum of Art in Irinaka, Nagoya houses the tea ceremony related collection of Kozo Goto (1881-1977) and includes the garden of his former residence.
Showa Museum of Art 昭和美術館
The Showa Museum of Art is located in Irinaka close to Yagoto in eastern Nagoya.
The Showa Museum of Art showcases the once private collection of local Gifu-born business man Kozo Goto (1881-1977) and is housed in his former residence and garden in an upmarket, residential area of Nagoya near Nanzan University.
Showa Museum of Art in Irinaka, Nagoya city
Showa Museum of Art Exhibits
The Showa Museum of Art was founded in 1978 and houses around 800 exhibits collected by local businessman Kozo Goto and his wife.
Goto had a particular interest in ceramics and the tea ceremony, not just from Japan but also including China, Korea and parts of south east Asia including Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The art collection at the Showa Museum of Art includes three works designated as Important Cultural Properties and four works designated as Important Art Objects.
The eclectic collection is made up of some exquisite ceramic tea bowls and utensils, ancient calligraphy scrolls, household items such as tobacco bowls, vases and trays as well as Japanese crafts such as fine lacquerware.
The garden includes a small, somewhat stagnant, pond, three tea houses (chashitsu), one of them an Edo Period structure dating from 1832, that once stood near Atsuta Shrine and a small area of bamboo.
Showa Museum of Art Garden
Showa Museum of Art, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken
Unfortunately photography is not allowed within the museum, though is permitted in the garden. The second floor of the museum has a pleasant seating area for relaxation with comfy sofas and armchairs.
Showa Museum of Art Garden
Showa Museum of Art (www.spice.or.jp/~shouwa-museum)
4-1 Shiomicho, Showa-ku, Nagoya
Aichi Prefecture 466-0837
Tel: 052 832 5851
Admission: 600 yen for adults; 500 yen for university; free for elementary, junior high school and high school aged children
Hours: 10 am-4.30 pm; closed Monday & Tuesday or the next day if Monday or Tuesday is a public holiday.
Access To Irinaka - how to get to The Showa Museum of Art
From Nagoya Station take the Higashiyama Line of the Nagoya subway and change at Fushimi for the Tsurumai Line for Irinaka. Alternatively take the Sakura-dori Line to Gokiso and then change to the Tsurumai Line for Irinaka.
From Irinaka Station it is about a quarter of an hour south from exit 2. Nagoya City Buses #11 and #12 from Kanayama Station pass close by alighting at 藤成通5丁目 or 上山町 bus stops. From both it is a short walk to the museum.
