The Triangle-Shaped Building with a Gentle Sloping Path Leading to the "SAKA NO UE NO KUMO MUSEUM"

After visiting Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s 100 Famous Castles, and the French-style architecture of Bansuisou, the SAKA NO UE NO KUMO MUSEUM is located right next to it. Here, you can not only admire the triangular-shaped building designed by Tadao Ando, both its exterior and internal structure, but also immerse yourself in the novel Sakanoe no Kumo written by Ryotaro Shiba. The novel depicts the lives of three main characters who grew up in Matsuyama, set against the backdrop of the turmoil and cultural shocks caused by the wars during Japan’s Meiji period.

The white walls also reflect the architectural features of the SAKA NO UE NO KUMO MUSEUM. As you slowly walk up the slope to the second floor, you’ll pass hanging wind chimes. The second floor serves as the ticketing area and entrance space.

The museum has four floors in total. The entrance is on the left side of the triangular building, while the right side adjoins the neighboring building’s wall. Currently, the central area is under construction.

After purchasing tickets on the second floor, we took the slope up to the third floor. The triangular building is truly unique. In addition to the exhibits, there is a lecture hall. From the third floor, you can look down onto the second-floor lobby, which also has cultural publications for sale.

The building feels very comfortable, and through natural light and shape, you can explore different exhibit halls. The second and third floors are connected by a meandering garden that gradually leads you upwards to highlight the cultural features of the area.

There are some areas where photography is not allowed, and signs indicate where you can take photos. We photographed models of warships, including several miniatures from the Sino-Japanese War (First Sino-Japanese War) and the Russo-Japanese War, displayed in the gallery that also showcases the aesthetics of the triangular space.

Additionally, the museum displays models of the conference table used during the Russo-Japanese War negotiations, a battle map of the Russian Baltic Fleet’s hurried journey from Europe to engage the Japanese forces, and historical publications from that era—well-preserved materials.

There are also stamped copies of newspapers from that time, neatly stamped. Another feature is the commemorative photography of Shiki Masaoka, which is available for photos.

We continued to explore leisurely, and when we reached the second-floor lobby, we discovered a comprehensive guide map. Each floor has a different introduction. By the time we finished our visit, it had grown dark, and the triangular building was empty, allowing us to take a beautiful shot of its exterior. The visit here was great, offering a lot of new knowledge and an appreciation for architectural beauty.