Understated is the order of the day at this small Wild Flower Gallery. I’ve driven past the refurbished gallery a bunch of times without realising what lies inside and was amazed when I walked through the door. Yasuo Toyama paints delicate watercolors of wild plants and flowers that he collects from the surrounding mountains. Each picture is displayed alongside a specimen of the plant which makes for a really eye-catching show.
The day we went, there was an older man on his hands and knees tending the car park. It was only when he served us our coffee and introduced himself that I realised that it was the artist himself.
It’s 300 yen to go into the gallery which is great value as you get to choose a souvenir bookmark made from one of Toyama-san’s pictures, and also get a free tea or coffee after you have finished browsing.
The refurbished farmhouse is beautiful. It’s all whitewash and dark wood which is the perfect backdrop, letting the works and their inspiration stand out. There is one main room and a small annexe with maybe 30 or so works on display at any one time. The pictures are constantly rotating as he gathers new subjects throughout the changing seasons. Not all of the flowers alongside the paintings served as the models – they have a limited shelf life and have to be changed from time to time, but Toyama-san showed us the latest additions with the actual model alongside.
One section of the main room is given over to the souvenir shop which is almost as much of a joy as the gallery. There is a huge selection of his works for sale as postcards, business cards and prints so you can see the best of the flora throughout the year.
Once you’ve taken it all in you can sit back and relax with a drink and small snack, more often than not served by the artist himself.
It’s a stunning little gallery and what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty.
