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Japan Trip: Ikuo Hirayama's Art World at the Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art, Onomici, Hiroshima 12

Japan Trip: Ikuo Hirayama's Art World at the Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art, Onomici, Hiroshima 12 Moochan

Art lovers in the Onomichi area in Hiroshima are strongly recommended to visit the Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art (平山郁夫美術館), located on Ikuchijima Island, one of the islands in the Seto Inland Sea accessible from Onomichi. Hirayama is one of Japan’s most famous Nihonga painters. He is well known for his dreamy paintings of the desert landscapes along the Silk Road in countries such Iraq, Iran and China.

Hirayama was born in Setoda on Ikuchijima Island in1930. He went on to study at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and graduated the Nihonga course in 1952. He later served as the President of this school in 1989 to 1995 as well as again in 2001 and 2005.

Hirayama received his first award from the Japan Fine Art Institute at their exhibit in 1953 for his work “Ieji” (Route Home). In addition to the awards, Hirayama has undertaken important projects such as the restoration of the art on the walls of the Golden Pavilion’s Horyuji Temple in 1967. He was also involved in the restoration paintings at the ancient tombs of Takamatsu-zuka in 1973.

Hirayama is known to have said: My favorite scenery is always mountains, the sea and a set of islands. I was greatly influenced by my home town. So it is no surprise that Ikuchijima Island is the home of the Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art. In addition to his famous Silk Road paintings, visitors can see sketches Hirayama made as a child. There are Hirayama paintings of the introduction of Buddhism into Asia as well as art depicting the effects from the atomic bomb.

Within the museum, there are three exhibition halls, a tea lounge, and a souvenir shop. There is a display of Hirayama’s works as part of the museum's permanent collection as well as special exhibitions.

Visitors will become lost in the art world of Ikuo Hirayama, examining, experiencing art through the eyes of this Nihonga painting master.

Facility Information
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry until 16:30)
Closed: Irregular (in between exhibitions, the museum is closed)
Admission: Depends on exhibition (typically 800 or 900 yen)

Access Information:
By bicycle
30 kilometers from Onomichi City, the museum is located along the Shimanami Kaido cycling route.

By ferry
From Onomichi Ekimae Port (located in front of Onomichi Train Station) take the ferry to Sawa Port or Setoda Port on Ikuchijima Island. The journey will take 40 minutes with a cost of 820 yen one way per person and 160 yen for a bicycle. There are 9 ferries per day. From either port, the museum is 15 minutes by foot.

By bus
From Onomichi Station board the local bus bound for Setoda Port. On the way to the port, the bus will stop in front of the museum. The journey will take 1 hour with a cost of 1030 yen one way. There is one bus every two hours.