The National Museum of Western Art (NMWA) is the only museum that was designed by the famed Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect, in the Far East. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. The museum was first established in 1959 and was centered on the art collection of Matsukata Kojiro, an avid western art collecting businessman. It is the only national institute that is dedicated to western art. The museum not only exhibits the works, but has done research, conservation and restoration on the art. Most of the collection was painted by European artists from the Renaissance. Some of the exhibits in the museum rotate through the collection. They also have temporary special exhibitions every year with collections on loan from private collectors and other museums.
