eGlobal Education: The world's most beautiful museum--the Miho Museum

cherry trees along path to Miho Museum building

Just outside Kyoto is the Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei for the Shumei Christian sect to house their exquisite collection of ancient artifacts and Japanese art.

tunnel leading to museum

The museum is set on a mountainside with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and the valley below, in a nature preserve with strict building requirements. In keeping with the beauty of the location and the rules of the preserve, only 20% of the building is above ground. To actually construct the museum, the top of the mountain was removed while the structure was built--a 4 year project--and then carefully (and, they say, lovingly, which I would agree with) replaced, complete with a new forest, each tree and bush planted by a caring hand. Looking at the site today, you would never know that only 15 years ago, this was an open construction site.

mountain azaleas on reconstructed and replanted mountain

Pei wanted a serene building and a peaceful entry to the museum, so you walk up a path lined with weeping cherry trees (in gorgeous bloom right now), then pass through a silvery tunnel until you walk out the other end with a perfect view of the museum's entrance. Once inside the main lobby, you see a 150 year old pine tree that Pei carefully placed (it was moved from elsewhere) to welcome the visitor and blend the space into the natural environment outside. The interior is a soft, warm limestone. The lighting is natural in the lobby area, but very muted in the exhibition areas.

museum entrance from tunnel

I've photographed some of the artifacts from the museum's book just so you can see the quality of the collection. Unlike so many museums which crowd their collections together so they are a bit overwhelming, Miho places its pieces in their own lovely spaces, making it a wonderful and peaceful experience to view them. Everything is calm here, which is what the leader of the Shumei and Pei both wanted. He clearly took great pride in designing this incredible building to fit perfectly into its surroundings and to display the beautiful collection.

view from lobby with I.M. Pei's pine tree

I think it is the world's most beautiful museum because of the gorgeous location, elegant and peaceful building and remarkable collection so perfectly displayed. The feeling I have while in the museum (this is my second visit and I'll be back again) is hard to describe--it's not just calm and timeless inside, but also slowly-paced so that you feel like you can completely enjoy each piece and each space on its own. There are museum staffers in most rooms, but they sit in a quiet, dark alcove so, unlike every other museum I've visited, do not intrude on your contemplation of the art. If you go to Japan, don't miss this exquisite museum just outside Kyoto.