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Chichu Art Museum

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Chichu Art Museum is a very special place. Its name means "art museum in the earth." It sits on Naoshima island in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.

地中の庭 2025
地中の庭 2025

This museum was built to help people rethink how they connect with nature. It is part of a big plan to bring art to the area. Many people travel there to see the unique sights. It is a place where art and the world meet.

Most museums sit above the ground. This one is built directly into the earth.

Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear Courtyard 2025
Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear Courtyard 2025

Even though it is underground, it is not dark. The design uses natural light to show the art. This light comes from the sun above. Because the sun moves, the art looks different all day. The light changes the way you see every piece.

Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear access 2025
Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear access 2025

A famous architect named Tadao Ando designed the museum. He worked to make the building fit the land. The museum opened to the public on July 18, 2004.

Chichu Art Museum Cafe 2025
Chichu Art Museum Cafe 2025

The Fukutake Foundation looks after the site. Soichiro Fukutake is the president of the Benesse Corporation. He also acts as the director for the museum. This group helps keep the art safe for everyone.

You can see many amazing works of art inside. Claude Monet has a series of paintings called "Water Lilies." These are oil paintings on canvas.

Monet Waterlilypond 1926
Monet Waterlilypond 1926

You can also see art by James Turrell. He uses light, like neon tubes and LED lamps, for his work. Another artist is Walter De Maria. His piece is called "Time/Timeless/No Time." It uses granite, mahogany, gold leaf, and concrete.

Outside, there is a large space called the Chichu Garden. This garden is about 400 square meters in size.

地中の庭 2025
地中の庭 2025

It has 150 types of plants and 40 kinds of trees. There are almost 200 kinds of flowers there too. Many of these plants are the same ones Monet used in his paintings. Some are even the same water lilies he loved. Walking here helps you feel closer to his art.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear Courtyard 2025.jpg
Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear Courtyard 2025.jpg
File:Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear access 2025.jpg
Chichu Art Museum Space of Fear access 2025.jpg
File:Chichu Art Museum Cafe 2025.jpg
Chichu Art Museum Cafe 2025.jpg
File:Monet Waterlilypond 1926.jpg
Monet Waterlilypond 1926.jpg
File:地中の庭 2025.jpg
地中の庭 2025.jpg
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