What certainly sets Japanese museums apart is their blend of the fundamentals of contemporary architecture with elements of nature. Many decorative elements for which Japanese architecture is famous are particularly evident in these three Japanese museums.

With its glass and steel facade evoking a great wave, the Tokyo National Art Center is undoubtedly the largest and best-known of the three. Set in the middle of a verdant landscape, this contemporary structure offers a tranquil haven from the noise of the city.

MIHO MUSEUM in Shiga Prefecture is famous for its entrance hall that uses a lot of glass. It is built halfway up a mountain and is unique in that 80% of the building is buried underground.

The Osaka National Museum of Art was constructed entirely underground, using the space of the pre-existing Osaka Science Museum. The design inspiration for the freely curving three-dimensional entrance came from the vitality of the bamboo plant, which symbolizes evolution.