The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum
The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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4.5
92 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
29
Average
7
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2
Terrible
1
SFDANR
San Francisco, CA88 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We went with Stanford Travel/Study Japan trip. This is an awesome place- created by an amazing scultor. Viewing all of the stones is an emotional experience, which everyone in our group of 30+ people enjoyed.
Each stone is special and even better when placed as assembled by the sculptor.
This is a place not to be missed.
It is a sculpture garden- filled with stones collected from around the world that have been cut and polished and placed by Noguchi.
Each stone is special and even better when placed as assembled by the sculptor.
This is a place not to be missed.
It is a sculpture garden- filled with stones collected from around the world that have been cut and polished and placed by Noguchi.
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
timotao
Vancouver93 contributions
Dec 2010 • Solo
When I first had an exhibition in Japan in 1998, and was there for a month, I had to spend most of my time in Tokyo, and didn't get further south than Kyoto, but very much wanted to make a pilgrimage to the island of pilgrimages, Shikoku, to visit the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum and pay homage to this great master. Fortunately I had the opportunity to go back to Japan for another month in 2003, and made it to Shikoku, to Takamatsu, and to Noguchi's sculpture garden. You need to go on-line to the Noguchi website and book a timed tour in advance, and I recommend booking at least two one hour tours, if not three, as one hour at the site is not enough, especially when you have to travel so far to see it. I stayed most of an afternoon, and only left when they kicked me out. You can get a wealth of information from the Noguchi website, so no need to repeat that here. For an artist, the richness is in seeing so many of Noguchi's major completed and monumental sculptures, but best of all, to see the dozens of sculptures in process left unfinished when he died. To see the chalk marks on stone where a cut was planned, to see the shaping of the work, to see unpolished surfaces next to polished, is to have access to Noguchi's creative process itself. Wonderful. Of course you also get to see his studios and workshops, the ancient and traditional house he had moved from the south of the island. I was also lucky to have a Japanese guide while in Takamatsu who took me to see the monumental landscape and stone sculptures Noguchi has sited around the city, especially near the airport, all stunning. Would very much like to go back again.
Written 27 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thewestxyz
the west26 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
This is a very interesting museum and includes many Noguchi sculptures and also his part time home for the last about 20 years of his life. Most of the buildings that he incorporated into his compound are from another era and he had them disassembled and moved from elsewhere on Shikoku. The main display building was a sake brewery, there is a traditional storage building (Kura), and his own home that had formerly been a merchant’s home, in addition to other structures. You can not enter his house, but it is small and you can see it through the doors and windows from the outside. Clearly he was a very meticulous housekeeper.
We tried to make a day of it by taking the train and then walking to both the Stone museum and the Noguchi Museum. We got hopelessly lost attempting to walk to the Stone Museum and a local woman eventually guided us there. We then tried to go from the stone museum to the Noguchi museum following directions supplied by a person at the Stone Museum and got hopelessly lost again. We fortunately ended up back at the train station and took a taxi that took about 5 min and somehow we arrived on time for our scheduled visit.
Almost as interesting as the museum was the walk back to the train station past many stone carving businesses producing all manner of lanterns, animals and grave markers. You can understand why Noguchi chose to locate in this region, not only for the quality of the stone, but also probably for the availability many skilled workers who could assist him.
We tried to make a day of it by taking the train and then walking to both the Stone museum and the Noguchi Museum. We got hopelessly lost attempting to walk to the Stone Museum and a local woman eventually guided us there. We then tried to go from the stone museum to the Noguchi museum following directions supplied by a person at the Stone Museum and got hopelessly lost again. We fortunately ended up back at the train station and took a taxi that took about 5 min and somehow we arrived on time for our scheduled visit.
Almost as interesting as the museum was the walk back to the train station past many stone carving businesses producing all manner of lanterns, animals and grave markers. You can understand why Noguchi chose to locate in this region, not only for the quality of the stone, but also probably for the availability many skilled workers who could assist him.
Written 18 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PVtalker
Rolling Hills Estates, CA45 contributions
Oct 2010 • Solo
For travelers familiar with Isamu Noguchi from Western museums, gardens and his Martha Graham stage settings, this museum will be a revelation. The Noguchi Foundation has preserved his workshop and his home and provides scheduled hour long 'tours' which cover the two sites. (Reservations required). Most tours are in Japanese, but those non-speakers of Japanese familiar with Noguchi-san's work will not need the language to appreciate the tour. The tour includes a close look at the studio, the tools and many works-in-progress as well as a brief look at his home (no entry here - grounds only). Mure is a small town about 30 minutes east of Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku. Stone work is a principal industry here. For 20 years, Noguchi-san made this his home and studio for half-year stays when away from New York (Long Island City). His work site is surrounded by small commercial stone workers producing 'trade' stonework (headstone blanks, paving, cladding, etc.) . Mure is a place for workers, not ordinary gallery goers. The source of their material is at their backs. Mt. Gokenzan (Five Sword Mountain) provides an extremely hard, uniquely workable form of granite that characterizes most of Noguchi-san's stone work.
The Mure area is easily reachable from Takamatsu, but getting from the train stop to the site can be a problem. (On my first visit, my taxi driver from Takamatsu dropped me at a closed "Rock Art" museum). Use local Mure taxis when available. Website <>. Be aware of 'bad' street address listed as on this site as 'Museum Entrance' (bottom of page). The 'Contact' address is correct. The 'Entrance' information refers to the Long Island City site.
The Mure area is easily reachable from Takamatsu, but getting from the train stop to the site can be a problem. (On my first visit, my taxi driver from Takamatsu dropped me at a closed "Rock Art" museum). Use local Mure taxis when available. Website <
Written 6 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
louisairelle
Paris50 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
Noguchi museum (see website) is open on appointment some days in the week. Staff is helpfull and efficient, the answer came throuh e mail quite quickly.
The travel on the Kotoden line is already an immersion in the Japanese world The Museum is easy to find going on foot for about 1 km on the main road from the station. The other way is a taxi and probably the safest, not to get lost as far as all informations are in Japanese.
Going on foot helps to understand why Noguchi decided to settle there : stone works and sculptures are scattered along the road not far from the granitic mountains surronding the place.
The houses and the garden are a pure delight, out of time in peaceful settings. The barn (an old sake factory) is well maintained and protects some majors works. The guided visit (no photo) is an enlightment and helps to understand some of the works, mostly unfinished and left in the garden.
When you leave, the gardeners just broom your trace and the place remains immaculate...
The travel on the Kotoden line is already an immersion in the Japanese world The Museum is easy to find going on foot for about 1 km on the main road from the station. The other way is a taxi and probably the safest, not to get lost as far as all informations are in Japanese.
Going on foot helps to understand why Noguchi decided to settle there : stone works and sculptures are scattered along the road not far from the granitic mountains surronding the place.
The houses and the garden are a pure delight, out of time in peaceful settings. The barn (an old sake factory) is well maintained and protects some majors works. The guided visit (no photo) is an enlightment and helps to understand some of the works, mostly unfinished and left in the garden.
When you leave, the gardeners just broom your trace and the place remains immaculate...
Written 7 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelmomVancouver
Vancouver194 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
As a fan of Noguchi, I learned about this museum when I visited the Moerenuma Park in Sapporo. reservation is needed and this guaranteed good attention for visitors. The guide was kind enough to explain everything in English for us. Abundant time was allowed in all the spot. We were inspired and learned a lot about landscaping sculpture and thought we were able to make connection with the artist. Excellent collection of books about Noguchi is available at the shop.
Written 25 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mommadoc1
NYC182 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
I am a fan of Isamu Noguchi and found his studio, garden and home fascinating!!! His creativity permeates the place. You have to make arrangements for the one hour tour and it is well worth it . If you are going to Naoshima, this is on the way. The Ritsurin Garden is also nearby, so doing both and going on to Naoshima makes for a great day out of Kyoto.
Written 26 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nashinashi
Boston, MA9 contributions
Aug 2012 • Business
This museum takes considerable time, effort, and money to reach in order to have a one-hour window of observation amidst a large group of talkative tourists arriving by bus, etc. 2100 yen admission fee, a 480 yen bus ride from Takamatsu station, and the time and cost of reaching Takamatsu itself. Photos are not allowed, and the catalog on sale with photos of the space is 4700 yen. There were a few comments made by the guide (in Japanese only) but it was not really a tour. The house cannot be entered. The stone "museums" (shops, in actuality) in proximity to the Isamu Noguchi Museum are best avoided.
Written 11 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JDgoesGlobal
London, UK80 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
This was a great afternoon which we managed to arrange the day before so a bit last minute.
The group was broken up into two, Japanese and non Japanese which gave us hope that it was going to be in English. Unfortunately not, despite the guide answering individual questions in English, all information was provided in Japanese.
I did my best to translate for everyone what I could but it did not detract from the amazing work on display and the beautiful setting. Just to see inside his house and the incredible wood he lived around was worth it.
The group was broken up into two, Japanese and non Japanese which gave us hope that it was going to be in English. Unfortunately not, despite the guide answering individual questions in English, all information was provided in Japanese.
I did my best to translate for everyone what I could but it did not detract from the amazing work on display and the beautiful setting. Just to see inside his house and the incredible wood he lived around was worth it.
Written 9 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joan H
39 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This museum is a little of the beaten track, about 30 minute taxi ride from downtown Takamatsu but well worth the effort. The Museum has many Noguchi exhibits to see and the garden site is also very interesting.
Written 29 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long should I allow to visit? I love Noguchi work and visited his NY studio so need enough time to take it slowly
Written 11 August 2019
Hi Lindy,
Two hours would give you plenty of time to take it all in.
Written 16 September 2019
How can we make reservatoins, and what are the hours, and what is the price?
Written 11 June 2016
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