The Keizo Koyama Museum of Art is located in the scenic grounds of Kaikoen in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture. The museum is dedicated to Keizo Koyama, one of the leading Japanese Western-style painters of the Showa era, and preserves his artistic legacy for future generations.
The museum building was designed by renowned Japanese architect Togo Murano and completed in 1975. It was donated to Komoro City together with works from Koyama’s personal collection, creating a cultural space where visitors can experience both his paintings and the story of his life.
One of the museum’s most distinctive features is its original architectural design. Curved forms are used throughout the building, from the exterior to the interior, creating a soft and flowing atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding natural landscape.
The curved walls of the exhibition galleries are particularly striking. Rather than treating architecture as merely a container for artworks, the design creates a close relationship between the paintings and the space in which they are displayed.
Next to the main museum building, Koyama’s former home and studio was relocated and opened to the public as the Keizo Koyama Memorial Hall. Visitors can see the environment in which the artist lived and worked, offering a more intimate perspective on his personality and artistic philosophy.
The museum houses numerous works created throughout Koyama’s long artistic career. His paintings reveal his mastery of oil painting, sophisticated use of color, and enduring fascination with landscapes.
“The Red Bridge” was painted during Koyama’s early years in France. The work reflects the experience of a young Japanese artist encountering European art and culture while developing his own approach to Western-style painting.
“Blouse de Bulgari” is an oil painting particularly notable for its rich and expressive use of color, demonstrating Koyama’s refined sense of composition and technique.
“First Snow on Mt. Asama” is part of Koyama’s celebrated series depicting Mt. Asama, the imposing volcano that dominates the landscape around Komoro.
Mt. Asama became one of the recurring subjects of Koyama’s work. Through changing seasons, weather, light, and colors, he repeatedly explored the mountain and its surrounding landscape.
The “White Egret Castle” series takes Himeji Castle as its subject. Koyama’s work in this series earned him the Japan Art Academy Prize, an important recognition of his contribution to Japanese painting.
Other works in the collection include “Midsummer Forest,” “Mt. Asama,” and other paintings that demonstrate the breadth of his artistic interests.
Keizo Koyama (1897–1987) was born in Aramachi, Komoro, in 1897. His family was a prominent local family that had been accorded samurai status by the Komoro domain.
His older brother, Kunitaro Koyama, also became a prominent public figure, serving as the first mayor of Komoro and later as a member of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
After graduating from the former Ueda Middle School in 1915, Koyama entered Keio University. However, his passion for art remained strong, and he left the university after only one year.
He subsequently entered Kawabata Painting School, where he studied under the renowned painter Takeji Fujishima.
In 1920, encouraged by the novelist Toson Shimazaki, Koyama traveled to France. In Paris, he studied at the Académie Colarossi under Charles Guérin, deepening his knowledge of European art and developing his skills in oil painting.
His experience in Europe became an important foundation for his later career, as he sought to develop a distinctive form of Japanese Western-style painting while drawing on the techniques and ideas he encountered abroad.
After returning to Japan in 1928, Koyama established a studio in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. In 1936, he left the Nika-kai artists’ association and participated in the establishment of the Issui-kai, an important organization for Japanese Western-style painters.
His career continued to receive major recognition:
1959: Received the Japan Art Academy Prize for the “White Egret Castle” series.
1960: Became a member of the Japan Art Academy.
1970: Selected as a Person of Cultural Merit in recognition of his contribution to Japanese culture.
1975: Awarded the Order of Culture, one of Japan’s highest honors for contributions to culture and the arts.
1985: Established the Keizo Koyama Art Promotion Foundation to support the development of younger artists and the international study of art-related techniques.
Koyama’s contribution to Japanese art extended beyond his own paintings. He devoted part of his personal resources to supporting other artists through the Keizo Koyama Art Promotion Foundation.
The foundation provided recognition for mid-career Western-style painters and offered scholarships for overseas study to people involved in artistic and technical fields. Through these efforts, Koyama continued to contribute to the development of Japanese art even beyond his own creative work.
The foundation was dissolved in 2006, but its activities remain part of Koyama’s broader legacy as an artist and patron of the arts.
Koyama’s paintings are known for their precise technique, distinctive compositions, and sophisticated use of color. His “Mt. Asama” series and “White Egret Castle” works are particularly associated with his artistic reputation.
His paintings can also be found in major museums throughout Japan, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Kanagawa Museum of Modern Art, the Saku Municipal Museum of Modern Art, and the Chigasaki City Museum of Art.
The relocated home and studio provide a different experience from viewing paintings in a conventional gallery. Here, visitors can imagine the everyday environment in which Koyama developed his ideas and created his works.
Seeing the studio together with his paintings helps reveal the connection between the artist, his working environment, and the landscapes that inspired him. For visitors interested in the creative process, this is one of the most distinctive aspects of the museum.
The museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with final admission at 4:30 p.m.
It is generally closed on Wednesdays and during the New Year holiday from December 29 to January 3. Temporary closures may also occur.
Admission is 500 yen when using the combined admission that includes Kaikoen and other facilities. Admission to the Keizo Koyama Museum of Art alone is 300 yen.
The museum is approximately 10 minutes on foot from Komoro Station, making it convenient to visit by train.
The museum’s location within Kaikoen makes it easy to combine art appreciation with a broader exploration of Komoro’s history. The park occupies the former site of Komoro Castle and is home to several cultural attractions.
Visitors can also explore the Komoro City Fujimura Memorial Museum, dedicated to the writer Toson Shimazaki, as well as the Komoro City Museum of Local History, Kaiko Shrine, and Komoro City Zoo.
A visit to the Keizo Koyama Museum of Art can therefore become part of a cultural walk through Komoro, connecting the city’s history, literature, architecture, and visual arts.
The Keizo Koyama Museum of Art offers much more than a collection of paintings. Its distinctive architecture, the artist’s former home and studio, and the surrounding scenery create an immersive introduction to one of Japan’s important Western-style painters.
Koyama’s lifelong connection with Komoro is also central to the museum’s appeal. From the landscapes of Mt. Asama to his experiences in Paris and his later contributions to Japanese art, his career reflects a fascinating meeting of local identity and international artistic influence.
For travelers exploring Komoro, the museum is a rewarding cultural destination where Japanese art, European artistic influence, architecture, and the natural beauty of Shinshu come together in one memorable setting.