Reorient

Set at the foot of Mount Asama,the museum garden is a place where nature and art coexist as a single living landscape.

Shaped by volcanic activity driven by the Earth’s internal forces, this land bears witness to an ongoing natural history. The wind moving through the forest, the murmur of the stream, and the ever-changing light and seasonal vegetation are all part of the continuous rhythms of the Earth, unfolding from the distant past into the present.

Sculptures throughout the garden, including Oscillating Scale, stand quietly within this landscape, inviting visitors to reflect on the immeasurable relationship between humanity and the world around us.

The museum building, designed by renowned Japanese architect Kiyonori Kikutake, is characterized by its low, understated form inspired by the principles of sukiya architecture, blending harmoniously into the natural surroundings of Karuizawa.

The overall vision for the garden was conceived by sculptor Isamu Wakabayashi, creating an environment in which architecture and landscape are experienced as an integrated whole.

As you walk through the greenery and listen to the gentle sound of the flowing water, take a moment to attune yourself to the landscape unfolding between yourself and the world.

Learn more about the history of the museum garden and Isamu Wakabayashi’s vision for its creation in the HISTORY－GARDEN section.

Garden map