Completed in 1982, this was the first museum building designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa, who was also responsible for the Nakagin Capsule Tower and the National Art Center, Tokyo. A lattice-like structure frames the outer perimeter of the entrance area, playing off the curvilinear lines of the actual building facade.

The indoor exhibition space for the museum's permanent collection is very small, and arguably not worth the 200-yen admission price. Much more interesting is the extensive collection of sculptures in the park surrounding the building, which is almost like an outdoor museum in its own right.

One unusual feature here is the collection of designer chairs scattered throughout the museum, which visitors are permitted to sit on. The museum shop, in addition to the usual postcards and artsy bric-a-brac also sells scale models of several of these famous designer chairs, priced from Y15,000-30,000.

The museum's temporary exhibitions cover a wide range - contemporary artists, European and Japanese art from the 19th and 20th centuries, and even manga artists - so check their website to see what's on.

[The Grutto Pass provides free admission to the museum's temporary exhibitions, but does not cover the permanent collection.]