Collectors are a special breed, often acquiring things according to a logic all their own. This is how the world gained institutions as eclectic and varied as the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum and the Dog Collar Museum. So as guiding principles for acquisition go, a decision to focus on artists recognized by their own government as preservers of the nation's cultural heritage seems remarkably well considered. The results can be seen in a small but nevertheless impressive museum in the seaside resort of Yugawara, less than two hours by train from Tokyo. more...

Viewing art on the walls of museums and galleries is different from being completely surrounded by a work of art, much less drifting off to sleep inside it. At the newly completed BnA Hotel Koenji, visitors can do exactly that. To view the art, you cannot just go inside, you have to spend the night. BnA, which stands for "Bed and Art" (a play on Airbnb), offers rooms for the artistically inclined and culturally interested visitor to Tokyo, or for anyone who wants to be cocooned inside unique artwork overnight. more...