Miho Museum - A Shangri-la based on the Peach Valley

Day 4 in kyoto - sunny 33C
I was woke up by the nature alarm again and decided to make a side trip to Miho Museum which is located at the mountain range in Shiga Perfecture, a little out of Kyoto. It took me all in all 20 min by JR train to Ishiyama station and then transfer to a bus. The bus ride last for 50 min, going through mountain, winding small road, stream, waterfall, paddy fields and finally arrived at the "Shangri-La" Miho museum.

Miho museum is well known for its architecture and the fact that 95% of the building is actually buried under the mountain with 5% of main of its roof and entrance expose. I am sold by the architecture along, love the way the glass is used as the roof and fully utilizing the sunlight and every change of cloud, sunlight etc change the entire interior atmosphere....

The main reception is at the foot of the hill, the museum is on top of the hill about 10 min walk. The entire concept is based on "the peach valley". where a fisherman in his boat, going through a winding river, tunnel and finally arrive at the "Shangri-la".

Approaching the main entrance of the museum

In the museum, this photo is taken by looking back out to the tunnel

The view in front of me after the entrance

A natural wood chair

The superb view from the glass window - a bell tower on the far left, a Fuji mountain like building in the center and a 150 year old transplanted tree welcoming the guests to the museum.

An exhibition about the match bowl - a rather intensive collection back dated to thousand years ago...

A reflection of myself - the whole design of the building is to utilize natural sunlight to the fullest...

Love this Shangri-la and the Peach valley so much... worth a long trip all the way from Kyoto.... Hope you are impressed too....

For more information check out the official website Miho Museum