Exploring Kurashiki’s Hidden Ukiyo-e Museum: A Quirky Art Spot Devoted to Kuniyoshi
If you're strolling through the traditional white-walled streets of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter, keep your eyes open for something quietly magical:
a traditional Japanese house with a small wooden sign that reads “UKIYO-E KURASHIKI / Kuniyoshi Museum.”
I popped in with zero expectations... and came out absolutely mind-blown.
100+ Works of Pure Kuniyoshi Chaos (In the Best Way)
This isn’t your typical museum with glass cases and hushed voices. Every single room in this converted ryokan (traditional inn) is packed with over 100 works by Utagawa Kuniyoshi—from warriors and monsters to cats and skeletons.
My jaw dropped at “Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Specter”—a giant skeleton bursting through a ruined palace wall.
It’s bold, bizarre, and frankly… it gave off major Studio Ghibli x punk rock energy.
Kuniyoshi was the type of artist who would've been your weirdest (and most fun) friend.
Ryokan Vibes & Tatami Floors = Peak Japan
Unlike sterile museum galleries, here you take your shoes off and walk on tatami floors.
Each room feels like a slice of Edo-period Japan, filled with quirky, colorful prints.
There’s something magical about sitting on a cushion and staring at a centuries-old artwork, while sunlight filters through shoji screens.
It’s peaceful, immersive, and beautifully off the beaten path.
Art That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously
Kuniyoshi’s art is wild—in the best way.
- Cats having tea parties
- Samurai with oversized swords
- Ghosts with humor and drama
It’s bold. It’s messy. And it made me laugh out loud more than once.
You don’t need an art degree to enjoy this—just curiosity and a love for the unexpected.
Bonus: There’s a Café & Gift Shop, Too
After the exhibit, I relaxed in the museum café “Chaya Kuniyoshi” with matcha and Japanese sweets, looking out over a serene garden.
There’s also a gift shop with super cool Kuniyoshi merch:
- Postcards
- Tenugui towels
- Graphic T-shirts
Yes, I bought the skeleton tenugui. Of course.
Visitor Info
- Name: UKIYO-E KURASHIKI / Kuniyoshi Museum
- Location: 1-24 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama
- Hours: 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30)
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Admission: ¥1,300 (adults), ¥1,000 (students), ¥500 (kids), free for preschoolers
- Access: 15-min walk from JR Kurashiki Station
- Note: No parking available; use nearby public lots
Final Thoughts: An Underrated Gem for Art & Culture Lovers
I came for the pretty streets of Kurashiki—but it was Kuniyoshi’s playful, chaotic world that truly stuck with me.
If you're tired of the same old temples and shrines, and want a dose of Japanese creativity with edge, this museum is a must.
Beautiful, bizarre, and totally unforgettable.
