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In a city with no shortage of glamorous art museums, the Ryushi Memorial Museum paints a far more personal portrait. The building itself was designed by Ryushi Kawabata, one of the most acclaimed Japanese artists of the 20th century, to showcase his life’s work. Viewed from above, it is cast in the shape of a long, curling dragon.
Dragons preoccupied Kawabata throughout his life, appearing in many of his paintings, including one particularly fine example on the ceiling of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa (currently undergoing restoration). His dragons appear in many forms, from fully realised scaly beasts to shadows in a waterfall or a wisp of rising smoke.
Along with viewing selections of Kawabata’s works in the museum, you can take a guided tour of his self-designed home and garden across the street. You can also visit the 60-tatami mat studio built to accommodate his huge paintings and aligned to favour sunlight from the south. Afterwards, visit nearby Honmonji Temple and view his last dragon staring down at you, hauntingly unfinished.