Private Curator-Guided Tour of Fukuda Art Museum at Arashiyama, Kyoto

An Art Museum with the Season's Natural Colors as its Backdrop

Located at the western part of Kyoto City, scenic Arashiyama is one of Kyoto's leading tourist destinations today, but it has been beloved since ancient times. During the Heian period (approximately 400 years from 794 until the late 12th century), when Kyoto was the imperial capital, Arashiyama was a favorite location for aristocrats to build vacation homes at.

Its timeless beauty no matter what the season has also served as inspiration for countless artists and other people with refined sensibilities, leading to the creation of a number of Arashiyama-themed masterpieces.

Nestled in the heart of Arashiyama's stunning natural scenery is the Fukuda Art Museum, which opened in October 2019. This museum features a collection of approximately 2,000 artworks, ranging from traditional paintings from the Edo period (1603–1867) to contemporary art. Focusing on creations by artists who were active in Kyoto, the museum's collection includes highly valued rarities that can only be seen here and have seldom been displayed in public.

With its modern Japanese design and blend of traditional and contemporary aesthetics, Fukuda Art Museum's architecture is one of its highlights

Designed by award-winning architect Koichi Yasuda of Yasuda Atelier, Fukuda Art Museum was built with harmony between nature and Japanese art as its concept. As such, the museum's architecture incorporates a fusion of traditional and modern Japanese design elements, and the building blends in with Arashiyama's natural landscape while maintaining a distinct identity of its own.

Though Fukuda Art Museum only opened in 2019, it has established itself as an up-and-coming presence in Kyoto, earning attention and acclaim both in Japan and overseas. In 2020, Fukuda Art Museum received an Excellence in Architecture Award from the Japan Institute of Architects (JIA) for the museum's outstanding design. Then, the world-renowned TIME Magazine featured it in its World's Greatest Places list for 2023.

This hallway that lets in plenty of natural light is one of the museum's popular photo spots

Notable examples of the museum interior's masterful use of Japanese aesthetics include an exhibition gallery inspired by kura warehouses and a glass wall covered with ajiro, a traditional wickerwork pattern seen on some kimonos. Photography is allowed in the museum, so don't hesitate to capture memories of your time at Fukuda Art Museum!

The exterior, too, is a work of art in itself. In the courtyard garden is a basin reminiscent of a water mirror, as it reflects the nearby scenery. If you gaze at the reflection of the Oigawa River — the portion of the Katsura River that flows through Arashiyama — mirrored on the water basin, it will look as if the basin flows into the river.

Broaden Your Knowledge of Japanese Art on a Curator-Led Museum Tour

Led by a museum curator, this private tour of Fukuda Art Museum is offered either before it opens or after it closes. As you'll have exclusive access to the museum during this time, this experience is a valuable opportunity to appreciate a collection of 17th- to early 20th-century Japanese paintings, including some that have never or rarely been seen in public elsewhere, in privacy and peaceful silence.

Immerse yourself in the world of Japanese art on this approximately hour-long tour

Instead of having a permanent exhibition, Fukuda Art Museum holds special exhibitions four times a year. In other words, the works on display vary at any given time, so each visit to the museum is an opportunity for a momentous, once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a work of art. If there's a particular piece that you want to see, we recommend checking the museum's official website beforehand for its exhibition schedule and information on its key artworks. 

As befitting of a place for storing and protecting a precious collection, the gallery is designed to resemble a traditional warehouse called kura

The museum's collection spans across diverse time periods. Depending on what's on display at the time, you might, for example, see paintings by Kyoto-based artists who flourished during the Edo period, such as Ito Jakuchu, Maruyama Okyo, and Nagasawa Rosetsu. 

Fukuda Art Museum is also in possession of ukiyo-e woodblock prints by Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, Nihonga masterpieces by Uemura Shoen and Yokoyama Taikan, and one of the largest collections of Takehisa Yumeji artworks in Japan.

Truly, Fukuda Art Museum's impressive collection is rich and comprehensive, ranging from masterpieces by significant names in the world of Japanese art, to works that will instantly touch your heart. Take your time browsing through the gallery's many paintings, and see which ones catch your fancy.

Commentary that Enhances Your Appreciation of the Art on Display

During your tour, you'll gain deeper insight into the art on display and their artists, thanks to knowledgable curators. Whether it's about Edo-period paintings or Showa-era (1926–1989) Nihonga, Fukuda Art Museum's curators have much to say about Japanese art; they’ll gladly answer your questions in detail.

Hear stories and bits of trivia that you won't get from the text explanations at the gallery, in pamphlets, or online. As your curator sheds more light on the exhibited paintings, you’ll develop a heightened appreciation for these outstanding works of art and understand why they're so enticing and appealing.

This hour-long guided tour can be flexibly tailored according to your preferences, so feel free to let your guide know how you'd like the tour to unfold. Of course, if you'd like to quietly admire the art on your own, you can also tell your guide that you'd like some alone time.

Easy-to-understand but informative commentary by the museum’s well-versed curators will surely spark enhanced interest in the art on display and the artists who created them

If you're not too well-versed in art, not to worry — at Fukuda Art Museum, there's plenty to marvel at and appreciate, even for casual enjoyers of art. For example, when you look around the exhibition room, you may be surprised at the glass casings that are so clear that they're easy to miss.

With over 90% transparency, these cases were custom-made by German glass expert GLASBAU HAHN to give visitors an enhanced view of the paintings. What's more, the cases have minimal seams so that guests can view large artworks without distractions.

The practically invisible glass casings make it feel as if there's less distance between the art and the viewer. You can examine the art more closely and better observe details such as the artist's delicate brush strokes or certain painting techniques.

Ito Jakuchu’s “Folding Screens with Roosters and Hens” (1797), from Fukuda Art Museum’s collection

In most cases, taking photos of the art is allowed, so go ahead and take photos of artworks that captivated and moved you. That way, you can preserve and share the memories of your experience, as well as look back on them later on.

This experience takes art appreciation to another level, as you won't just be admiring the paintings. The curator's fascinating in-depth commentary situates the artworks in their socio-historical context, enabling you to picture the time period when these masterpieces were created. Not to mention, by learning about the lives of the artists behind these paintings, you might feel a closer connection with the art and the artists alike.

Unwind as You Process the Museum Tour

After browsing the gallery, relax and take a breathe as you let the emotions from your tour course through you. If you book the pre-opening tour, you'll receive a drink voucher for the museum cafe, which treats guests to spectacular 180-degree panoramic views of some of Arashiyama's most iconic sights: Togetsukyo Bridge over the Oigawa River. While enjoying your drink, take in the fantastic views and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Visitors have said that the museum’s cafe offers the best and most scenic views of Togetsukyo Bridge

Meanwhile, those who book the after-hours tour have the option of availing a glass of champagne, or a champagne-and-appetizers set (additional charges apply). Bask happily in the memories of the tour as you end the experience with a little bit of luxurious indulgence.

You can also enjoy other views from the cafe, such as birds taking a dip in the water

If time permits, you can return to the gallery to view the exhibits once more. Spend some quiet time revisiting the art and appreciating it with as many of your senses as possible.
 

An Encounter with Emotion-Stirring Art Amidst Arashiyama's Scenery

This experience was created with the intention to leave guests — even those not very familiar with Japanese art — with an unforgettable experience that will stir their emotions. Through this tour, you can enjoy beauty in various forms all at once: breathtaking views of Arashiyama, Fukuda Art Museum's architecture, and, of course, the art.

The view from Togetsukyo Bridge of Fukuda Art Museum and the surrounding scenery conveys a sense of harmony between nature and urbanity

Viewing Japanese art with a curator's commentary to complement the experience will stimulate your imagination and awaken certain emotions in you. Although some would say that Japanese paintings are more ambiguous than Western ones when it comes to conveying emotion, it can be argued that they encourage viewers to immerse themselves in the world of the artwork.

Although there's no single right or wrong answer, try figuring out the emotions that the artists behind these paintings hoped to convey. Are these the same emotions you felt? What emotions and impressions did the paintings leave you feeling? What are your takeaways from the experience? If you have the time to spare, we encourage you to do some processing and reflecting after this tour.

Come to the Fukuda Art Museum for an encounter with paintings that will move you to the core!