A New Cultural Landmark by Shigeru Ban
Perched on a 4.6-hectare seaside site near Ōtake in Hiroshima Prefecture, SIMOSE is a visionary complex comprising an art museum, ten architect-designed villa suites, and a French restaurant—all conceived by Pritzker Prize laureate Shigeru Ban. It opened in 2023 and was soon honored as the world’s most beautiful museum by the 2024 Prix Versailles
A Spectacle of Reflections & Floating Galleries
At the heart of SIMOSE lies a 180–190 m mirrored glass wall that runs parallel to the coastline, reflecting sea, sky, and hills—visually doubling the landscape and dissolving architectural boundaries. In front of this glass façade floats a series of eight pastel‑coloured cube galleries set on a shallow water basin—each a movable exhibition room that floats and glows like lanterns at dusk. These modules can be repositioned easily to adapt the exhibition’s narrative—an inventive nod to traditional Japanese shoji screens.
Museum x Nature: Art Within Art
Visitors step into an oval entrance hall where sculptural timber columns fan out like tree canopies—symbolizing the harmony between architecture and environment. The museum’s collection, curated over 50 years by Yumiko Shimose, includes over 500 artworks—from Japanese hina dolls and Émile Gallé glassworks to paintings by Matisse, Chagall, Foujita, and Pissarro. Outside the mirrored wall lies the Emile Gallé Garden, a living art piece planted with flora featured in Gallé’s creations.
Unique Architectonic Villas
Just beyond the museum, nestled among trees and along the waterfront, stand ten all-suite villas, each a testament to Ban’s playful intelligence. The Forest Villas—such as the “Wall‑Less House,” “Paper House,” and “Cross Wall House”—use sliding glass walls, recycled paper tubes, and innovative structural elements to blur indoor-outdoor boundaries. The Waterfront Villas open to panoramic sea views, combining glass, timber, and serene seclusion. Staying here is akin to dwelling within living art.
Culinary Complement: French Dining by the Sea
Between the forested and waterfront clusters sits a refined French restaurant, serving dishes crafted from locally sourced Hiroshima ingredients—meat, fish, and seasonal herbs from the villa’s garden. Guests may also enjoy museum-exclusive access and peaceful art immersion outside regular hours.
What Makes SIMOSE So Unique
SIMOSE is more than a museum or hotel—it is an artistic worldview manifested. It harmoniously integrates reflective architecture, movable gallery spaces, sculptural villas, an immersive art collection, and haute cuisine into a single cohesive experience. The ballet of water, light, glass, and timber evokes the Seto Inland Sea’s natural drama while providing a sanctuary for reflection and inspiration
Plan Your Visit
- Location: 2‑10‑50 Harumi, Ōtake, Hiroshima, Japan
- Access: Just a 10‑minute shuttle from Ōtake Station
- Hours: Museum 9:30–17:00, closed Mondays; villas and restaurant by reservation
SIMOSE offers a transcendent blend of museum, architecture, accommodation, and fine dining—an immersive haven for art lovers and mindful travelers who seek depth, beauty, and innovation in one enchanting coastal destination.