Kahitsukan · Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Opened in 1981, this private art museum is located in the vibrant Gion area near Yasaka Shrine, offering a space to appreciate modern and contemporary art. The name "Kahitsukan" derives from the desire to maintain a free spirit that questions established theories in art and scholarship, asking "Why necessarily?"

The collection centers around 20th-century artists, featuring pieces from Rosanjin Kitaoji, a renowned artist; Kazan Murakami, a Japanese painter; and Kaoru Yamaguchi, a Western-style painter, along with a variety of modern and contemporary paintings, crafts, and photographs from Japan and abroad. Notably, the Murakami Kazan collection, which triggered the museum's establishment, is one of the finest in Japan in both quality and quantity.

On the top floor, the museum has a tea room overlooking a small garden called "Sun Garden," changing its expression with natural light and contrasting with the greenery, creating breathtaking beauty. The building, designed by museum director Yoshiyuki Kajikawa, fosters a serene atmosphere for a deep engagement with the artworks.