Experience
Embark on an Art Pilgrimage at a Ceramic Museum in Shikoku Where the World's
Masterpieces Gather
Overview
Located in Naruto Park in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, the Otsuka Museum of Art is one of Japan's largest museums of masterpieces faithfully reproduced at their original size on ceramic boards. Across a vast interior extending from three basement levels to two floors above ground, more than 1,000 works span antiquity to the present. Visitors can experience highlights of art history in one place, including a recreation of the Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh's Sunflowers. The works are fired onto ceramic boards using technology developed by the Otsuka Group. Because the material is highly resistant to deterioration, visitors can appreciate the colors and compositions of masterpieces that would otherwise be impossible to encounter so closely. A stop on the way to the temples of the Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage adds a grand cultural experience to the journey: surveying the history of world art between temple visits.
Highlights
A museum where you can “journey through” the world's masterpieces in a single day also offers pilgrims an inspiring place to refresh the mind and senses.
・An extraordinary immersive experience in the Sistine Hall, surrounded by
Michelangelo's The Last Judgment.
・The chance to step into the full-scale world of masterpieces seen in textbooks,
including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Picasso's Guernica.
・Daily scheduled guided tours provide an efficient way to explore the expansive
museum while hearing the stories behind the works in Japanese.
The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a journey made with Kobo Daishi in the spirit of dogyo ninin, or “two traveling together.” Here, you may also feel accompanied by the perspectives of artists from around the world. As you restore body and mind, the museum offers time to reflect on your own journey before setting out for the next temple.
Information
Please note that prices, services, and booking procedures were current at the time of writing and are subject to change.
- Nearest Temple：
- The Tokushima temples of the Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage—from Temple 1, Ryozenji, through Temple 11, Fujiidera, among others—and the Naruto area are in the same prefecture. The museum is about 40 minutes from Tokushima Station by train and bus (Tokushima Station–Naruto Station–Naruto Park bus route).
- Duration：
- Allow half a day to a full day for the museum. Daily scheduled tours offer several routes lasting approximately 20–120 minutes; joining one that matches your arrival time is an efficient way to explore.
- Price：
- Same-day admission is ¥3,300 for adults. Prices vary by age and differ between same-day and advance tickets, so please refer to “Same-Day and Advance Ticket Information” on the official website.
- Language ：
-
The official website provides detailed information in Japanese, while English pages
and external guides for international visitors offer supplementary information for
some content. Please confirm the latest availability of multilingual brochures and
audio guides.
English video for international visitors
- Booking：
- Reservations are not required for general admission. During busy periods such as long weekends and summer holidays, however, a travel-agency tour or package including highway-bus transport may provide a more predictable admission time. Groups are advised to contact the museum in advance.