Matsumoto City Museum of Art | Review by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

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Matsumoto City Museum of Art

A museum exhibiting various artworks with local connections, including the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama.

2 Sep 2026 See More

The Matsumoto City Museum of Art is a sacred place where visitors can enter the inner world of contemporary art master Yayoi Kusama. As it is located in her hometown, her signature polka dots and vivid colors can be seen throughout the museum, inside and out. The colorful giant flower sculpture “The Visionary Flowers” in the outdoor plaza alone is enough to make you stop and admire it.

Since Yayoi Kusama recently passed away and went to heaven, this place has become an irreplaceable pilgrimage site for art lovers worldwide. Through each of the classic works into which she poured her life, you can deeply feel her artistic spirit transcending time and space. Although the exhibition area is not very large, it is worth taking your time to appreciate.

After viewing the exhibition, you can order a cup of coffee or some ice cream in the courtyard behind the museum and take in its unique charm in the gentle breeze, creating a special memory of this pilgrimage.

Other Reviews by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

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Stepping onto the Nakasendo in Magome, you’ll find an uphill stone-paved road lined neatly on both sides with old houses featuring dark wooden lattice windows, fully preserving the atmosphere of an Edo-period post town. Teahouses, rice cake shops, and various small stores are scattered along the way. Even in steady rain, there is still a constant stream of foreign backpackers wearing raincoats and making their way through the mist, all wanting to personally experience what Edo-period travelers felt as they journeyed between post towns.

Hiking from Magome to Tsumago, there are many hilly stretches and quiet old trails along the way. The stone paths can be slippery in the rain, so you need to watch your step carefully. This hike along the historic trail is not only a simple exploration of nature, but also an exceptionally rare, deeply immersive historical and cultural journey that refreshes both body and mind.
Kamikochi

Kamikochi offers one of Japan's most spectacular mountain sceneries. Its magnificent landscape is designated as a Special Natural Monuments along with Special Places of Scenic Beauty. Walter Weston, a British Anglican missionary praised Kamikochi in his writing “Mountaineering and Exploration in the Japan Alps” in 1896 which made Kamikochi an internationally well-known mountain area.
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Only when I personally stepped into the embrace of Japan's Northern Alps did I understand what paradise on earth means. This is truly a pristine journey everyone should experience once in a lifetime.

In the early morning, Taisho Pond is ethereal and mirror-like, reflecting the majesty of Mount Yake and the lingering snow. As the morning mist clears, it feels like stepping into a painting. Strolling to the iconic Kappa Bridge, you see the emerald waters of the Azusa River rushing by, clear as a mirror, with the magnificent Hotaka mountain range rising behind you. Enjoying desserts and dairy products in nature's embrace is the ultimate pleasure.

Venturing deeper into the forest to reach Myojin Pond, I felt the serene, solemn, and sacred atmosphere in front of the inner shrine of Hotaka Shrine, washing away all the noise of everyday life. If your schedule allows, you can also take the Shinhotaka Ropeway's double-decker cable car up into the clouds for a 360-degree view of the sea of clouds and endless snowcapped peaks. The view is absolutely breathtaking.

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Myojin Pond

Nestled quietly among coniferous forests in Kamikochi, Myojin Pond consists of "First Pond" and "Second Pond." There are two routes to the ponds, one on the left bank and the other on the right bank of the Azusa River, both of which are moderate walking courses from Kappa Bridge, taking about an hour.
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The walk from Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond is fairly long. The forest is dense along the way, and bears are occasionally spotted, so be sure to carry a bear bell or bear spray before setting out. Myojin Pond lies deep within Kamikochi. Its tranquil, mirror-like waters, deadwood, massive rocks, and the reflection of Mount Myojin come together to create a sacred, otherworldly beauty.

Once you arrive, find a quiet corner and take your time soaking in the pure atmosphere of this natural energy spot. Hotaka Shrine Okumiya by the pond is the guardian shrine of Japan's Northern Alps, and even members of the Imperial Family have visited. After praying for blessings, you can get a small, elegantly designed chimaki-shaped amulet to take home and pray for your family's safety and physical and mental well-being.