Blessed with a mild climate, Chigasaki has long been a beloved resort and vacation spot for many artists and cultural figures. They thrived in this favorable environment, leaving behind numerous outstanding works. The Chigasaki City Museum of Art opened in April 1998 to widely introduce these local artists and their works through exhibitions and other means, as well as to support the creative activities of the citizens. The Takasago Green Park on which the museum stands was once the residence of Otojiro and Sadayakko Kawakami, a Meiji-era Shinpa actor known for the Oppekepe song, and the villa of businessman Yasusaburo Hara, but it still retains much of its original scenery. The park, which is lush with greenery throughout the seasons, also features an authentic Japanese garden and is a popular spot for viewing plum blossoms, making it a place of relaxation for citizens.
