Miho Museum

Miho Museum was built in a forested area west of Koka. The architect that designed the complex was I.M. Pei. He named the design of the building Shangri-La and got inspiration from the Chinese tale “Peach Blossom Valley.” The founder, Mihoko Koyama, wanted the structure to be integrated with its’ surrounding nature. Mihoko is one of the wealthiest women in Japan and founded the Shinji Shumeikai spiritual movement back in 1970. Miho Museum was named after her and it had taken 6 years of planning to gain permission to build in the national park. It was finally completed in 1996 on a scenic mountainside.

The highlight of the building is that it blends into its natural surroundings. In one section you will be in the man-made construction and then suddenly you are exposed to the natural environment. You have panoramic views of the outside due to the use of steel and glass framing it as such. The collection at the museum features works from the Egyptians, Romans, and Asian cultures. They are largely from Mihoko Koyama’s private collection. The main exhibit changes every year, while the special exhibits change every few months. There is even an underground tunnel that leads to a road lined with cherry blossom trees for visitors to enjoy when in season.