Hirase

The Hirase Conchological Museum held its opening ceremony on March 22nd 1913. They had the great honor of receiving a party of Royal Guests, The Imperial Crown Prince, and his two brothers, Prince Atsunomiya and Prince Takamatsunomia. The museum was situated next door south of the Kyoto Zoo in Okazaki Park, across the clear, calm waters of the canal that comes from Lake Biwa, the largest lake in the Empire.

Despite the power wires seen in the picture below, the museum had a very picturesque view. From the north windows upstairs, you could see the Kyoto Zoo and the Kyoto Commercial Museum. Looking up, your eyes would meet beautiful Mt. Hiei, the spire of Kurodani Temple, and the red colored gates of "Otemmon", the principal gates of Taikyoko temple. The south windows opened to a beautiful garden attached to the museum. In the distance were the Higashi-Yama hills and Miyako Hotel with the roofs of the Chionin Temple peeking over the branches of the hillside.