What is the true identity of that huge statue standing at the mouth of Sakakibara Onsen? I went to the Louvre Sculpture Museum!

Do you know the large sculpture near Sakakibara Onsenguchi Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line?
Many people may have looked out the car window and wondered about its true identity due to its overwhelming presence.
These statues are modeled after the Nike of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, and the Statue of Liberty. It is an outdoor exhibit at the Louvre Sculpture Museum in Hakusan-TsuCity City, Mie Prefecture.

Located 5 minutes walk from Sakakibara Onsenguchi Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line.
From the station, follow the signs to the north and go around to the other side of the building to find the main entrance. On this side too, the Nike of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo welcome you.

By car: About 20 minutes from the Hisai IC on the Ise Expressway. There is also a free parking lot for 80 cars.

Many people may have the impression that the location and the exterior of the building are strange, but it is a historic museum that is operated with official permission from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris.
The only sister museum in the world!

The previous director, the late Yujiro Takekawa, was impressed by the Louvre's works and traveled to France many times to negotiate and make the project a reality.
The photo was taken when the director of the Louvre visited the museum when it opened in 1987.

You can enjoy the sculptures while staying in Japan, and you are allowed to take photos of the works inside the museum.
In addition to the Louvre, the permanent exhibits include works from famous museums such as the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inside the museum, there are exhibits on the first floor and the first basement floor.
The first thing that greets you at the entrance is the mask of King Tutankhamun!
Although it is a replica, it is realistically reproduced and shines!

The Victory of Samothrace, which was also located outside the building, has been faithfully recreated.
Since you can see it up close, you can feel the realistic beauty of the sculpture.

The Venus de Milo was also outside the building.
With a few exceptions, the works on display are made by molding directly from the actual objects.
It is very impressive because it is a replica of the real thing, down to the size and even a single scratch!

In addition to the Louvre, there are also exhibits from the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Rosetta Stone is engraved with three types of characters: hieroglyphs (sacred characters) in the upper row, demotic (people's characters) in the middle, and Greek characters in the lower row, and they are reproduced just like the real thing.

Although it is a replica, you can clearly see even the letters written in more detail than in the original British Museum.

Many murals are also on display.
The three-dimensional feel is beautiful.
A unique way to enjoy the Louvre Sculpture Museum is that you can take your time to appreciate it.

A bright green paintbrush tower that stands out.
It is engraved with illustrations of kappa drawn by many famous manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka and Fujiko F. Fujio.

A character you know may be dressed as a kappa.
Please look for it.

The Louvre Sculpture Museum is operated and managed by Daikannon-ji, the special head temple of the Shingon sect located on the same premises.
Therefore, not only Western sculptures but also Buddhist sculptures are exhibited on the basement floor.

What stands out in the center is a seated statue of the eleven-faced, thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Kanzeon Bodhisattva.
There are actually 1,000 hands, so be sure to count them.
It is also a very valuable Buddha statue that boasts the largest size in the world as a thousand-armed Kannon seated statue.

Enjoying the fusion of Western sculpture and Buddhist sculpture is a sight unique to the Louvre Sculpture Museum.
I took some collaboration (?) photos.

Part 1: Ancient Westerners supporting the seated statue of Eleven-faced, thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Kanzeon Bodhisattva

Part 2: Buddha on a horse

I think there are still spots where you can enjoy fusion from various angles.
Be sure to take some photos unique to the Louvre Sculpture Museum.

Souvenir corner on the first floor.
We handle everything from Western-style sculptures to Japanese-style products.

One of the featured products is a replica statue of a coveted mania that was purchased at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Venus de Milo on the left costs a whopping 235,000 yen!
Be sure to purchase one to commemorate your visit.

From the parking lot, you can see the world's tallest pure gold Kannon "Namu Kaiun Hoju Dai Kanzeon Bodhisattva" from a distance.
Admission fees are discounted when combined with the Louvre Museum of Sculpture.
Please drop by as well.

*Information as of October 2019.

[Related recommended information]

・ Museum & Art Museum Tour Learn and enjoy Mie Prefecture

・ Special feature on tourist spots in TsuCity Enjoy your trip in the prefectural capital of Mie Prefecture!