[Special Exhibition]
“Celebrating Higashiyama Kaii Gallery’s 35th Anniversary”
Higashiyama Kaii, The Eternal Sea — I Am Listening Now to the Sound of the Waves

Overview

The Higashiyama Kaii Gallery opened in 1990 and shows works by Higashiyama Kaii, a leading nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist of postwar Japan. In this exhibition commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Gallery’s opening, we will show the full-size underdrawing for Dawn Tide, a monumental  mural Higashiyama created for the Imperial Palace.

     Dawn Tide was produced for the new Imperial Palace completed in 1968. Measuring approx. 4 by 15 m,it is among one of the largest works Higashiyama ever produced and is based on the scenery in Ōmishima, an island in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Due to its state of preservation, we were hitherto unable to exhibit the full-size underdrawing for this mural in our collection. However, it has now been framed and become possible to exhibit in public.

     As Dawn Tide triggered the return of the artist’s interest to Japanese landscapes, other views of Japan depicted by Higashiyama Kaii are introduced alongside the main feature.

Artist’s Biography

HIGASHIYAMA Kaii (1908–1999)

Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist, born in Yokohama. Real name Shinkichi. Moved to Kobe when he was three years old and grew up there. Entered Tokyo Fine Arts School (present-day Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1926. He then proceeded to the graduate course and assumed the gō (art name) “Kaii.” He later went to study in Germany for two years and traveled energetically around Europe to see art. He painted nature and landscapes of not only Japan but also Northern Europe, Germany, and Austria. He also created monumental murals such as those for the Imperial Palace and Toshodaiji Mieido.

Information

Period｜ 2025.10.4 sat – 11.16 sun
Open｜9:00-17:00
*Open until 8pm on October 11.(Last admission 30min. before closing.)
Closed｜Wednesday
Venue｜Exhibition Galleries 1, 2, 3 of the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum

Admission Fees

“Celebrating Higashiyama Kaii Gallery’s 35th Anniversary” exhibition:
General: 1,700 (1,600) yen
University students: 1,300 (1,200) yen
High school students & children under 18: Free

Combined ticket with the Collection Exhibition [Main Building & Higashiyama Kaii Gallery]:
General: 2,200 yen
Visitors aged 75 and over: 2,000 yen
University students: 1,600 yen

※ Fees in brackets are for groups of 20 visitors and more as well as discounted services.
※ Discounts may not be combined.
※ Visitors with a Physical Disability Certificate, Medical Rehabilitation Handbook, or Mental Disability Certificate, as well as one companion, are admitted for free.
※ University students and visitors 75 years old and over are required to show IDs.

Accessibility

▶by Car
There is no general visitor parking available at the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum. Please use public transportation or nearby toll parking lots. *The parking space located at the north of the annex, Higashiyama Kaii Gallery, is a dedicated parking lot for the Shinshu Parking Permit Program. 

▶by Bus
From the No.1 bus stop of the Zenkoji Exit bus station at the JR Nagano Station,
① take the Alpico buses Route aro11, Route 16, or Route 17, and get off at the Zenkoji-kita bus stop. The museum is a 3-minute walk east from the stop.
② take Binzuru-go buses, and get off at the Zenkoji Daimon bus stop. Walk along the omotesando approach up to the main hall of the Zenkoji Temple, then turn right toward Joyama Park; approximately a 10-minute walk.
On weekends and holidays, get off at the Joyama Koen-mae bus stop.

▶by Train (The Nagano Dentetsu Line)
Get off at the Zenkoji-shita Station. The museum is a 15-minute walk northwest from the station.