Summer at Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum and the Temptation of Chocolate

🎨 Summer at Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum and the Temptation of Chocolate

A Cool Afternoon of Art and Sweets in Marunouchi

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum Latest Exhibition Guide

** Currently Open (until September 7)**
• "Renoir × Cézanne — Two Masters Who Pioneered Modern Art" Exhibition
About 50 portraits, still lifes, and landscapes that pioneered "modern art" through the collaboration of Renoir and Cézanne are on display. A precious collection of works from the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris is gathered here.

• Small Exhibition "French Modern Art Landscape Paintings — From Corot to Matisse"
Also open until September 7, this exhibition focuses on landscape paintings. Experience the changes in nature and expression.

⸻

** Next Exhibition (October 11, 2024 – January 25, 2026)**
• "Art Deco and Fashion — Kyoto Costume Institute Collection" Exhibition
About 310 dresses and fashion-related materials representing the decorative style "Art Deco" of 1920s Paris will be exhibited. This major exhibition celebrates 100 years of geometric and sophisticated fashion culture.

⸻

Facility Information Supplement
• Building: Restored from a bank built in 1894, designed by Josiah Conder, now a beautiful red brick structure.

• Access: 5-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station, also easily accessible from Nijubashi-mae Subway Station and Yurakucho Station.

• Basic Information: Open from 10:00 to 18:00 (until 20:00 on certain Fridays and Wednesdays). Closed on Mondays (except holidays).

⸻

🖼 Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum Summer Exhibition

The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is impressive with its solid brick exterior.
This summer’s exhibition features a project where tranquility and vivid colors coexist, and the cool air inside the gallery makes you forget the heat outside.
Viewing paintings in a space with high ceilings and natural light streaming in gives a feeling as if time flows slowly.

⸻

🍦 After Viewing, Head to Cacao Sampaka

After leaving the museum, walk a few minutes along Marunouchi Nakadori Street to the Cacao Sampaka store.
Tempted by the chocolates displayed in the showcase, on this day I ordered the summer-limited cacao soft serve.
As it melts in your mouth, the rich aroma of cacao and moderate bitterness spread, instantly refreshing a body slightly tired from the heat.
The balance of coldness and richness is exquisite, making it impossible to stop eating.

⸻

☀️ Small Tips to Enjoy Summer in Marunouchi
• Spend a relaxing morning at the museum and move before the afternoon heat peaks
• The inside of Cacao Sampaka is cool, with the scent of chocolate providing excellent relaxation
• After the exhibition, take a stroll through Marunouchi’s arcades and the shaded Nakadori street, where the summer light and shadows are beautiful

⸻

✨ Visit Report

Filling the heart at the museum and satisfying the taste buds with soft serve — such a summer afternoon felt like an urban oasis.
The greenery of Nakadori seen through the glass and the chocolate-colored soft serve in hand harmonize like a painting, creating a moment you want to capture in a photo.
When the next exhibition starts, you’ll definitely want to visit this route again.

At Marunouchi’s Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, I enjoyed the world-touring **exhibition "Renoir × Cézanne — Two Masters Who Pioneered Modern Art." Surrounded by the serene red brick building and art that evokes the late 19th century, time gently seemed to stop.
Afterwards, I took my time visiting again on a night opening day available with the exhibition ticket. The upcoming "Art Deco and Fashion"** exhibition starting in October is highly anticipated. It’s the perfect place for an urban art stroll.
#MarunouchiArt #RenoirAndCézanne #TripcomMoments