Sannō Art Museum

　Although Osaka has the lowest number of art museums per capita—partly due to its role as a centre of commerce and industry—there are still several museums well worth a visit.

　One of these is the Sannō Art Museum. It exhibits the art collection of Masao Kinoshita, founder of Acom and Hotel Monterey, with the exhibits changing every few months. The Renoir exhibition runs until the end of this month. This collection is never loaned out to other museums, and 12 works, including *Bather by the Fountain*, are being exhibited to the public for the first time. Personally, the work that left the strongest impression on me was Yuzo Saeki’s *Near the Observatoire*. At first glance, it appears to be shrouded in deep darkness, yet I sensed something powerful within it.

　It is a real bonus that the museum is connected to Kyobashi Station (served by both JR and Keihan lines) via the Osaka Castle Kyobashi Promenade, allowing visitors to reach it without getting wet in the rain.