Nizou Yamamoto Museum

The Nizo Yamamoto Art Museum opened in July 2018 on Fukue Island in the Goto Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture. The museum honors Nizo Yamamoto (1953-2023), a renowned animation art director who created the visual landscapes for many legendary Studio Ghibli films including Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. Born on the Goto Islands, Yamamoto became an art director at just 24 years old for the television anime Future Boy Conan directed by Hayao Miyazaki. His signature style featured grand vistas with realistic yet fantastical clouds, earning him the fan nickname "Nizo-gumo" (Nizo Clouds). A nationwide touring exhibition of his works drew over 900,000 visitors before the museum opened in his hometown.

The museum occupies Matsuzono-tei, a renovated samurai residence originally constructed in 1863 during the late Edo period. This historic building provides an atmospheric setting where visitors encounter the contrast between traditional Japanese architecture and modern animation art. The museum displays a mix of replica and original animation backgrounds from Yamamoto's career, along with his personal art project "Goto Hyakkei" (100 Sceneries of Goto), a collection depicting the landscapes of his birthplace. The exhibition spans four rooms plus a workshop space and a dedicated gallery for the Goto views.

Visitors can explore several distinctive spaces within the museum. The Room of a Sky with Clouds features cloud-shaped sofas where guests can watch short animations surrounded by Yamamoto's painted skies. A recreated artist's studio displays his actual workspace with paints and art supplies, accompanied by video footage of him working. The exhibits are presented on traditional folding screens that harmonize with the samurai residence architecture. Photography is prohibited in most areas but permitted in select spaces including the cloud room.

The museum is located on Fukue Island, the largest island in the Goto archipelago. Fukue Island is accessible by ferry from Fukuoka or by plane from Nagasaki and Fukuoka airports. Visitors should reserve a rental car in advance, as this is the recommended transportation method for exploring the island. The museum sits on Bukeyashiki Street near other historic sites including the Fukue Samurai Mansion Street and Fukue Castle ruins. Admission costs 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children, though entry is free with a ticket to the Goto Tourism and Historical Materials Museum.