The Rias Ark Museum of Art is a cultural and art museum in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to introducing the area’s art, history, culture, and way of life. The museum is also notable for its distinctive architecture and has received recognition within Japan’s architectural community.
The building was designed by Osamu Ishiyama, an architect and professor at Waseda University, and received the Architectural Institute of Japan Award for Outstanding Architecture in 1995. Its unusual design incorporates imagery inspired by the dramatic ria coastline of the Sanriku region, while also evoking the symbolic form of an ark as described in the Old Testament.
The museum is a three-story building with a rooftop garden and a total floor area of approximately 4,601.22 square meters. More than simply an art museum, it serves as an important place for preserving and communicating the history and culture of the Kesennuma region, including records of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. A visit offers opportunities not only to appreciate art and architecture, but also to gain a deeper understanding of the region and its people.
On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake caused devastating damage along the Sanriku coast, including Kesennuma City and Minamisanriku Town. To preserve and communicate the memory of the disaster for future generations, the Rias Ark Museum of Art opened a permanent exhibition titled “Records of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the History of Tsunami Disasters” in April 2013.
The exhibition includes 203 photographs taken by museum curators in areas affected by the disaster, 155 objects collected from the disaster area, and 137 historical materials related to tsunamis.
It also presents historical materials relating to major tsunami disasters that affected the Sanriku coast, including the 1896 Meiji Sanriku Tsunami, the 1933 Showa Sanriku Tsunami, and the 1960 Chilean Earthquake Tsunami. By placing the 2011 disaster within this longer history, the exhibition provides visitors with an opportunity to examine tsunami disasters from a broader perspective.
The exhibition does more than document the devastation caused by natural disasters. It also introduces the knowledge, resilience, and resourcefulness of communities that have lived alongside the sea for generations. Visitors can learn how people in the Sanriku region have faced the threat of tsunamis while continuing to build their lives around the ocean.
Another attraction is the museum’s collection exhibition, featuring approximately 40 works by artists connected with the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions, as well as Kesennuma and neighboring areas.
The collection includes a wide range of artistic forms, such as paintings, sculptures, crafts, prints, and contemporary art. Through these works, visitors can discover the diversity and richness of artistic expression that has developed in northern Japan.
The exhibition also provides insight into the artists who have contributed to the cultural life of the region, making it an interesting destination for visitors who want to explore Japanese art beyond the major museums of Tokyo and Kyoto.
The museum’s history and folklore exhibition is titled “Ark Diary – A Rias Lifestyle of Living with the Sea and Mountains.” It explores the everyday life and culture of communities along the ria coastline from the Jomon period to the present day.
The exhibition focuses particularly on the knowledge, customs, and food culture that developed in a region where mountains and the sea exist in close proximity. Fishing has long played an important role in the local economy and lifestyle, and the exhibition introduces the ingenuity people have used to make the most of their natural surroundings.
Hand-drawn illustrations and photographs help explain the exhibits in an accessible way, making the display enjoyable for visitors who may be unfamiliar with Japanese regional history.
Food is one of the key themes of the exhibition. The relationship between the sea, mountains, and local cuisine provides an especially vivid way to understand everyday life in the Sanriku region.
Rather than presenting food simply as something to eat, the exhibition shows how ingredients, cooking traditions, and local knowledge have been shaped by the surrounding environment. It offers visitors a closer look at the depth and character of the culture that developed along the ria coast.
The museum itself is one of its major attractions. Its striking exterior incorporates curved forms reminiscent of the rugged ria coastline, while the interior creates an open and spacious environment for visitors.
The architecture reflects the museum’s role as a place where nature, culture, history, and art come together. For travelers interested in Japanese architecture, the building offers a distinctive experience quite different from a conventional museum.
The rooftop garden provides views across the surrounding landscape of Kesennuma. Depending on the season, visitors can enjoy different expressions of the scenery, from fresh spring and summer greenery to autumn colors and winter landscapes.
The combination of architecture and scenery makes the museum an appealing stop even for visitors who are not specifically interested in art exhibitions.
The permanent exhibition on the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami history has attracted interest from visitors in Japan and abroad. The museum is also used for educational trips, study programs, and training, providing an opportunity to learn about the impact of the disaster and the experiences of communities along the Sanriku coast.
For travelers visiting Kesennuma, the museum provides an important opportunity to understand the region not only through its artworks and historical materials, but also through the experiences of people who have lived with the sea and recovered from a devastating natural disaster.
138-5 Akaiwa Makizawa, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and the day following a national holiday, except when that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
The museum is approximately 8 minutes by car from Kesennuma Chuo Interchange on the Sanriku Coastal Expressway. A parking lot with space for approximately 50 vehicles is available, making the museum convenient to visit by car.
The Rias Ark Museum of Art is a distinctive cultural destination where art, architecture, regional history, folklore, and the memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake come together.
Visitors can admire works of art and an award-winning architectural design while also learning about the long history of communities living between the mountains and the sea. The museum’s exhibitions offer a particularly valuable introduction to the culture of the Sanriku coast, where fishing, food, natural disasters, and everyday life have been closely connected for centuries.
For travelers interested in Japanese art, architecture, regional culture, history, or disaster education, the museum provides a memorable and thought-provoking experience. When exploring Kesennuma, consider including the Rias Ark Museum of Art in your itinerary to gain a deeper understanding of both the area’s cultural heritage and its modern history.