Kubota Itchiku Art Museum

The Kubota Itchiku Art Museum is housed in an eclectic building located just off the Kōhoku View Line, which runs along the shore of Lake Kawaguchi. This museum showcases the work of the textile artist Itchiku Kubota, who revived the nearly lost art of "Tsujigahana" dyeing, a technique that flourished from the late Muromachi period to the early Edo period and is often referred to as the "phantom dye."

Step inside the main building to find a hall constructed with 16 main pillars of 1,000-year-old cypress trees and walls brandished with Kubota's life work series "Symphony of Light," as well as various pieces themed around Mount Fuji and other notable works. The annex, made with Ryukyu limestone and Okinawan plaster, displays Kubota's collection of glass beads. The exterior, marked by eight distinctive columns, and the interior, adorned with Asian and African antique furniture and artifacts, create a unique and innovative architectural style and atmosphere that is truly one-of-a-kind.

The striking main gate, made from various doors from ancient Indian castles, the gardens with waterfalls and caves, and the numerous art installations scattered throughout are all highlights not to be missed. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the pathways, relax at the museum café with its open terrace, or take in the serene view from the teahouse by the waterfall.