Toyama Memorial Museum is located at Kawashima-machi, 30 minutes by bus from Kawagoe station. It was originally built by Mr. Gen-ichi Toyama, founder of the Nikko Securities, as a residence for his mother.
The building was completed in 1936 after about 3 years of construction. This traditional Japanese-style house consists of a "Nagaya-mon", a gate of large landowner's style, and three separate buildings of different styles joined by corridors. And each building faces the garden of a different style.
(Above: Nagaya-mon)
After the death of his mother, the residence was used as a guest house. Later, in order to preserve the house and to open his art collection to the public, it became Toyama Memorial Museum in 1970
(Above: The building of Museum with modern "Kurazukuri-style"
The museum has a large collection: Paintings, calligraphies, ceramics of Japan and China. Ceramics, clay figures, glassware and textiles from the Middle and Near East. Ceramics, clay figures from Central and South Africa. Textiles from India, Indonesia, Central Asia, Europe, etc,.
(Above: The east part of the house with a thached roof and the Japanese-stye garden in front of it)
(Above: The central part of the house which is Shoin-style)
(Above: Spacious turfed area with Japanese-style planting in the rear facing the central house)
The west part of the house is a Sukiya-style. The stone lantern and stone well curb are the central focus of its garden.
For inquiries: www.e-kinenkan.com