Karuizawa Ando Museum is a private museum in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, dedicated exclusively to the works of Tsuguharu Foujita (Léonard Foujita). Opened in October 2022, the museum presents works spanning Foujita’s career from his early years through his final period.
With a collection devoted entirely to one artist, the museum offers an unusually focused opportunity to follow the development of Foujita’s artistic expression. It is a rare destination for anyone interested in Japanese and European modern art.
The works displayed and preserved at the museum come from the extensive collection of Taishi Ando, who spent many years collecting works by Foujita. The collection comprises approximately 180 works, ranging from early drawings and oil paintings to religious paintings and Madonna and Child images from the artist’s later years.
Ando’s interest in Foujita began with the artist’s recurring depictions of cats and young girls. His collection gradually expanded to encompass Foujita’s famous milky-white nudes and serene religious works, allowing visitors to follow the transformation of his artistic world in roughly chronological order.
This journey through the different stages of Foujita’s career is one of the museum’s greatest attractions. Rather than focusing on a single period or style, the collection reveals how his artistic expression evolved throughout his life.
Karuizawa has a special connection to both Foujita and the museum’s founder. It was in Karuizawa that Taishi Ando first encountered Foujita’s work, while Foujita himself also stayed in the area and created art here.
The museum stands in a lush, peaceful setting near Karuizawa Ohga Hall. Its tranquil surroundings provide an ideal atmosphere for spending time with Foujita’s art away from the busier sightseeing areas.
The museum building is arranged around a central courtyard in a U-shaped layout. Its exterior incorporates red bricks made in England that were once used at the home of the Ando family.
The design was inspired in part by Maison-Atelier Foujita, where the artist spent his later years, and the Foujita Chapel, whose design was also influenced by Foujita himself. The result is an intimate atmosphere that can feel more like being invited into a private residence than visiting a conventional museum.
The exhibition rooms on the second floor follow a counterclockwise route. This carefully considered circulation allows visitors to move quietly through the galleries while naturally following the changes in Foujita’s life and artistic development.
The first floor includes a museum shop as well as Salon Le Damier, a comfortable lounge offering complimentary drinks and Wi-Fi. Cultural events such as concerts are also held here, adding another dimension to the museum’s role as a cultural space.
The museum also houses a café operated directly by HARIO, the Japanese company known for its heat-resistant glass products and founded in 1921.
It provides a relaxing place to sit down after viewing the collection and enjoy a quiet moment reflecting on Foujita’s works and the atmosphere of the museum.
Tsuguharu Foujita (1886–1968) was a Japanese-born painter and sculptor who later became a French citizen. Based primarily in Paris, he developed a distinctive style that combined the precise line work associated with Japanese painting with Western oil painting techniques.
He became internationally famous for his paintings of women with exceptionally smooth, pale skin, often described as his characteristic “milky-white” style. Cats and female figures were among his favorite subjects, and Foujita established himself as one of the prominent artists associated with the École de Paris, or School of Paris.
One of the highlights of a visit is the opportunity to observe the distinctive surface of Foujita’s paintings at close range. His characteristic smooth, semi-translucent milky-white ground creates a luminous quality that is closely associated with his mature style.
Foujita developed his own preparation techniques using materials including barium sulfate and calcium carbonate. Combined with his exceptionally delicate lines, this unusual surface treatment produced paintings with a quiet, refined, almost translucent appearance.
Seeing these subtle textures and lines in person offers a different experience from viewing reproductions, allowing visitors to appreciate the technical qualities that made Foujita’s paintings so distinctive.
Karuizawa Ando Museum is more than a place to view paintings. It offers a focused cultural experience in which visitors can immerse themselves in the artistic world of one internationally recognized artist.
In the peaceful atmosphere of Karuizawa, surrounded by greenery and carefully designed architecture, visitors can take their time exploring Foujita’s artistic journey. The concentrated nature of the collection makes it possible to see connections between works from different periods and gain a deeper appreciation of his changing interests and techniques.
With its quiet environment, intimate architecture, and collection devoted entirely to Tsuguharu Foujita, Karuizawa Ando Museum offers a distinctive experience for both dedicated art lovers and those encountering Foujita’s work for the first time.
The combination of Foujita’s art, Karuizawa’s natural surroundings, and thoughtfully designed spaces creates an atmosphere in which visitors can slow down and enjoy art at their own pace. For travelers exploring Karuizawa’s cultural attractions, the museum provides a memorable opportunity to encounter the work of a remarkable artist through an unusually focused collection.