Otsuka Museum of Art [大塚国際美術館]
Otsuka Museum of Art ("Ôtsuka Kokusai Bijutsukan" in Japanese) is a private art museum, and is located near Naruto Strait where Naruto Whirlpoos appear.
This museum has "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, "Last Judgment" by Michelangelo, "Guernica" by Picasso, and many other famous paintings.
Of course, they are not real.
But they aren't just imitations.
This museum was founded by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 1998 as a part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.
And a porcelain company in Otsuka group made the works in this museum.
A painting is printed on a porcelain panel with the original size using the company's specialized technique.
The paintings of porcelain panels are semipermanent.
They are waterproof and fireproof.
The company says that these will keep the original images for 2,000 years.
In this museum, there are more than 1,000 Western paintings made by such technique.
To open this museum, it is said that this company first received the permission from the governments of Italy and Vatican.
And when the works were checked, the museum invited the son of Picasso, descendants of Miro, and directors of overseas art museums, and got approval and acclaim.
This unique and advanced art museum has the Japan's largest scale as a private museum.
The museum has two stories above ground and three below, and the works are exhibited in each floor in chronological order.
In addition, Cappella Sistina in Vatican is reproduced as a hall and the ceiling is covered with original colorful frescoes.
A few cathedrals and halls with famous wall paintings are also reproduced.
Monet's "Water Lilies" in Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris is displayed out of doors.
And a pond with water lilies is set up around the painting.
How to get here
By local train of JR Naruto Line, about 45 minutes from Tokushima to Naruto.
Then, by route bus for Naruto-koen, from Naruto station, 16 minutes to Otsuka-kokusai-bijutsukan-mae.
