Hamamatsu City Museum of Art

Overview

The Hamamatsu City Museum of Art, located in Hamamatsu City's central ward, Shizuoka Prefecture, sits within Hamamatsu Castle Park. It boasts a rich collection, including traditional glass paintings and folk art from the 18th and 19th centuries, ukiyo-e woodblock prints, and East Asian ceramics. Its folk art collection is especially comprehensive, systematically tracing the history of this art form from its Western, Chinese, and Japanese origins to the modern era. The glass paintings represent a significant collection of this popular art form, also showcasing the historical progression through Western, Chinese, and Japanese styles. Other notable folk art includes fine examples of *doro-e* and *Otsu-e*. Furthermore, ukiyo-e woodblock prints with ties to Enshu (the region), including works by Utagawa Hiroshige I, Katsushika Hokusai, and other Utagawa school artists, along with East Asian ceramics spanning China, Goryeo, and Joseon, and East Asian stone and gilt bronze Buddhas form the core of the collection alongside the folk art. The museum building itself is a beautiful structure with a historical feel, making a stroll through the adjacent Hamamatsu Castle Park highly recommended. The surrounding area is naturally abundant, offering a tranquil escape.