Hara Museum I

I found this tiny modern art museum in Tokyo recently. Surprisingly, it is walking distance from the mega-train station Shinagawa. At the far southern end is an office park development, Gotenyama Hills, that mirrors my current one, Shiroyama Hills. (Scarily, the logo is written the same font on the outside of the complex.)

Hidden behind this development -- you can see it in the background -- is a private modern museum of art called the Hara Museum. Housed in a former private home designed by the same architect who later developed the National Art Museum in Ueno, Tokyo.

The work was thrillingly abstract, but limited. The space only allows for about eight full installations. (Everything featured was installation art.) Much of the lower floor is dedicated to a museum cafe and shop. Take note: Where many other museums lack in Tokyo, this one takes the cake for quality of goods in the shop. Compared to the organised efforts of museums in the West to pawn off hipster goods to patrons, most Tokyo museums miss the mark. Why are they missing everything you really wanted to buy? Finally, a private one gets it right.

Behind the building is a small park that features golf course-like grass and a spacious sculpture garden. Nothing out of this world, but the grounds are impressively sized for central Tokyo. Also, because this museum is off the beaten track, the crowds are kept to a minimum.