ChibaLeisure

Matsuyama Garden Art Museum (松山庭園美術館)

Flow of the course

About 60 min here

About 20 min to the next stop

Next stop: Pick up lunch with local vegetables and fruit

About this spot

A private museum in Matsuyama (松山) in Sosa City (匝瑳市), where the garden and the building themselves feel like works of art. The grounds, surrounded by bamboo groves and trees, are beautifully tended, and simply walking through them calms the mind. It is also known for the cats that live here, and when you come across one relaxing in the garden or on the veranda, children light up at once. The interior is a quiet space, so treat it as time for looking and feeling rather than running around, which makes it just right as a first stop of the day. Balancing a quiet morning against an afternoon of vigorous activity works especially well on a hot day.

Tips

Opening days and hours are limited, so always check the official information before you go. Admission fees can change too, so give priority to the information on the day. Do not touch the cats without care, and follow the guidance of the museum staff. The garden has gravel and dirt paths, so easy walking shoes are reassuring.