Yugawara has long been known as a hot spring resort that was mentioned in the Manyoshu, and many cultural figures visited here from the Meiji to Showa periods for a relaxing retreat.
Japanese painter Takeuchi Seiho, known as ``Taikan of the East, Seiho of the West,'' and Western painter Sotaro Yasui lived and worked in this area in their later years.
The Yugawara Municipal Museum of Art was opened in 1998 by renovating a long-established inn where Natsume Soseki and Takeuchi Seiho stayed. Currently, in addition to the ``Hiramatsu Reiji Museum,'' which exhibits the works of contemporary Japanese painter Reiji Hiramatsu, and the ``Permanent Exhibition,'' which features collected items, we also hold exhibitions such as special exhibitions and contemporary artist exhibitions.
Contemporary artist exhibitions are usually held two to three times a year, featuring works and artists connected to Yugawara. Inside the museum, Reiji Hiramatsu's atelier is open to the public, and you can see works in progress and the Japanese painting materials he actually uses.
<Access> Approximately 12 minutes by bus bound for "Fudo Falls/Okuyugawara" from JR Yugawara Station
