[Image: Yasunari Murakami, from Yokoso Mori e (Welcome to the Forest), Tokuma Shoten, 1988]

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Chihiro Art Museum Azumino opened in 1997 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo.

Chihiro Iwasaki's parents were born in Shinshu, and Azumino has been her spiritual home since she was a child. Matsukawa Village, where the museum is located, is where Iwasaki's parents lived as pioneer farmers after World War II, and Chihiro visited the area frequently and left many sketches. The building, which seems to blend in with the nature of Azumino, was designed by Hiroshi Naito. Surrounding the park is the 53,500 m2 Azumino Chihiro Park (operated by Matsukawa Village) with a view of the Northern Alps and the clear Chigawa River flowing alongside. Within the park, there is a hands-on exchange center where visitors can experience agriculture and make local food, and "Totto-chan Square" was created in connection with "Totto-chan at the Window" (written by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, director of Chihiro Art Museum), a beloved picture by Chihiro Iwasaki, and a reproduction of a "train classroom" has been installed.

Chihiro Art Museum Azumino is a place where visitors can encounter Chihiro Iwasaki's work and life, as well as the work of picture book artists from around the world. Children and adults alike can spend a relaxing day here, forgetting about everyday life.

[Image: 安曇野ちひろ美術館　外観]

Chihiro Art Museum Collection: What a Wonderful World