[Omishima Museum] (Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, former province name: Iyo)

The Shimanami Kaido, which connects Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, is a major tourist course that attracts many people from all over the world, backed by the serene scenery and landscapes of the Seto Inland Sea, and the resources that show the individuality of each island. Omishima, at the center of the route, is home to Oyamazumi Shrine, which is revered as the "general guardian deity of Japan," and has had a great influence on the society and culture of the entire Setouchi region since ancient times. The approach to the shrine leads from Miyanoura Port, and beautifully designed renovated shops and restaurants blend in with the atmosphere of an old temple town. It also plays a major role as a tourist base and gourmet spot. On the other hand, the largest island in the Geiyo Islands, boasting an area of ​​about 64 km², has many attractions scattered around the island other than the central area where Oyamazumi Shrine is located, each of which has its own charm that skillfully utilizes the island's climate. ① Tokoro Museum Omishima (photos 1-5) This contemporary art museum is located on the southwest cape of the island, which juts out into the Seto Inland Sea. It was founded by Tokoro Atsuo, a businessman who lived in Yokohama, who fell in love with the scenery of Omishima and donated his own collection of contemporary art. It exhibits works by world-famous artists such as Giacomo Manzu (1908-1991, Italian sculptor, famous for spending 14 years creating the sculptures on the doors of St. Peter's Basilica) and Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004, a representative American pop art artist), as well as flagship Japanese contemporary artists such as Norichika Hayashi (1948-). One of its features is its structure that makes use of the slope of the hills that slope down to the sea. When you enter the museum, invited by the "kissing door" designed by Noe Katz, the arched roof creates a sense of depth and an exquisite "twist" in the space, and art is scattered throughout this mysterious impression. The roof, supported by diamond-shaped wooden framework, takes in the brilliant sunlight of the Seto Inland Sea, and the museum is filled with the soft brightness that only natural light can provide. The exhibition room is divided into several levels along the natural slope, and once you go outside to go down each level, you can see the deep blue Seto Inland Sea in the distance. When you look at it together with the outdoor staircase that is simply built like a log cabin, you can imagine the tranquil climate of the island itself. When you land on the lowest level, there is an open terrace on the oceanfront. The terrace has a sharp design that looks like a cut-out of the seascape, and when you lean against the railing and take a deep breath, the warm sea breeze flows through your chest and blows through the museum behind you. The extremely pleasant "circulation of energy" seemed to speak softly of the necessity of the climate and the feelings of the people that this island, this place, had to be. ② Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture (photos 6-10) Toyo Ito (1941-) is a world-renowned architect who pursues stylish design, excellent functionality, and above all, architecture that is convenient for users and socially relevant. Ito, who had no connection to Omishima, decided to establish a museum on the island after meeting businessman Atsuo Tokoro, founder of Tokoro Museum Omishima. Tokoro, who met Ito through a mutual acquaintance, asked him to design an annex for the Tokoro Museum. Ito visited Omishima by sea for the first time with Tokoro's guidance, and fell in love with its tranquil scenery and beautiful landscape, promising to cooperate. However, when Ito shared his idea for an architect training institute with Tokoro, Tokoro encouraged Ito to build his own museum on the land where he had intended to build the annex, and this eventually came to fruition as the "Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture." Like the Tokoro Museum, the museum was built on a slope approaching the Seto Inland Sea, and embodies the architect's thoughts and ideals. Its compact yet imaginative design and content stimulate the intellectual curiosity of visitors. Of course, it also plays a role as a training institute, displaying a huge amount of architectural materials and frequently holding workshops. Furthermore, through teaching students at the island's only high school, "Imabari Kita High School Omishima Branch," the museum is involved in the regional development of Omishima, and its presence has a huge impact on the revitalization of the island. The world-class architect's single-minded focus on the island's future and the creation of a base for disseminating its charm have become the driving force behind the "circulation of thoughts" around Omishima. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★★ (You can explore to your heart's content. It's practically a private venue!) Visit date: 3rd Sunday in May around 4pm Access: 25 minutes by car from Omishima IC (to Tokoro Museum Omishima) #TokoroMuseumOmishima #TokoroMuseum #ToyoItoMuseumofArchitecture #Imabari #ImabariCity #ShimanamiKaido #ShimanamiJAPAN #EhimeTrip #EhimeTourism #EhimeWalk #EhimeSouvenirs