Tokiwa Museum Midoritohanatochokokuno Museum

In the picturesque city of Ube lies one of the country's most unusual cultural spaces — the Tokiwa Museum (Museum of Greenery, Flowers, and Sculpture). This is a unique location in Japan, where world-class contemporary art meets a rich botanical collection. The museum is the heart of a vast park and is famous for hosting the UBE Biennale — the world's oldest outdoor sculpture competition, listed in the Guinness World Records.

Tokiwa Museum (Museum of Greenery, Flowers and Sculpture). Иллюстрация. Источник: Kupi.com AI

The museum's collection includes outstanding works by post-war Japanese masters and contemporary artists from around the world. One of the central exhibits is the massive steel "Ant Castle", created from materials from local factories, as well as a concrete replica of the sculpture "Bathing Girl," which once became a symbol of the cultural rebirth of the city. The museum's installations are harmoniously integrated into the landscape, creating a unique aesthetic ensemble.

In addition to the sculpture section, the complex includes an impressive botanical garden. Here you can see rare tropical plants, unique species of cacti, and orchids. Thanks to the combination of art and nature, the museum attracts not only art connoisseurs but also families with children, for whom interactive zones and creative corners for drawing are provided.

To plan your visit to this unique cultural center, it is helpful to have current contact information on hand. You can contact the administration by phone to clarify the exhibition schedule or seasonal events. Detailed information about current displays and special projects at the Tokiwa Museum is also available on the park's official website.

The main experience at the Tokiwa Museum is the opportunity to literally touch masterpieces of contemporary art. You can take a stroll along the park alleys, where about 100 unique sculptures, laureates of international competitions, are installed. Be sure to find the "Ant Castle" and admire its complex steel structure, and use the interactive maps so you don't miss any hidden art objects.

Inside the museum building, visitors will find halls featuring works by prominent masters such as Sato Churyo and Funakoshi Yasutaka. For nature lovers, the botanical garden doors are open, where greenhouses house exotic plants, orchids, and carnivorous flowers. If you are traveling with children, stop by the creative corner where they can color or draw, inspired by the shapes they've seen.

Since the museum is located within the vast Tokiwa Park, you can easily combine your art tour with a visit to the zoo, amusement rides, or a walk around the picturesque lake. During the Biennale (held every two years), guided tours are available, providing detailed stories about each installation and how Ube became the sculpture capital of the world.

You can reach this landmark site in Japan fairly quickly from the center of Ube. The main landmark is Tokiwa Station, from which you can walk to the park entrance in about 15 minutes. It is also convenient to travel from the Ube-Shinkawa transport hub using a taxi or local bus routes.

Public transport in the region is well-organized: buses run regularly from the main station to the "Tokiwa Park" stop. If you prefer traveling by car, the drive from the city's industrial areas to the museum will take about 10–15 minutes. Spacious parking is provided on-site for motorists, making visits comfortable at any time of day.

The museum's history is inextricably linked to the environmental and cultural transformation of Ube. In the mid-20th century, this industrial center faced serious air pollution, leading local residents to initiate a project to "fill the city with flowers." Over time, this movement evolved into the idea of integrating contemporary art into the urban environment, which became a symbol of post-war Japan's rebirth.

A pivotal event in the site's history was the first outdoor sculpture exhibition in 1961, which later became the famous UBE Biennale. The biennale's founder, sculptor Mukai Ryokichi, created his legendary "Ant Castle" from steel produced at local factories, highlighting the link between heavy industry and fine arts. The project's philosophy was built on the principle of Kyodo Gikai — the joint efforts of citizens and authorities for the common good.

Over the decades of the competition, a unique collection of hundreds of works has been gathered in the park and museum. Tokiwa Museum has become the guardian of this history, demonstrating how art can change the face of an industrial region. The success of this project inspired the creation of similar sculpture parks elsewhere in the country, including the well-known open-air museum in Hakone.

A full exploration of the Tokiwa Museum exhibits and the sculptures in the surrounding park usually takes 2 to 4 hours. This allows enough time to study the main art objects at your own pace, visit the botanical greenhouses, and enjoy the harmony between art and nature.

If you plan to visit all the entertainment zones in the park, including the zoo and amusement park, you should set aside a full day for the trip. The complex's grounds are quite extensive, and it's better to have extra time for comfortable movement between sites and relaxing by the shores of Lake Tokiwa.

The Tokiwa Museum welcomes visitors from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, though keep in mind that entry to the halls closes 30 minutes before closing time. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. However, if a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, the museum remains open, and the closing day is moved to the next business day.

The park itself, where the outdoor sculptures are located, is open 24 hours a day, allowing you to admire the art even at sunset. The amusement rides and zoo typically operate on a schedule similar to the museum—from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Before planning your trip, it is recommended to check the official website for any potential changes during holiday periods.

Exploring the surroundings of the Tokiwa Museum will allow you to delve deeper into the historical heritage of Ube. Combining a visit to the park with nearby historical sites will help you better understand how this region has developed over the centuries.

Within a few kilometers of the museum, there are interesting ruins of old manors, archaeological sites, and iconic locations related to the industrial past: