Atami attractions
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Mokichi Okada
Mokichi Okada (???? Okada Mokichi, 1882-1955) was a multimillionaire and the founder of the Church of World Messianity. According to his official biography, Okada made his fortune in the jewelry business. Okada claimed to have received a special revelation from God in 1926, leading him to found a new religion in 1935 to spread the teachings, aiming for nothing less than a new civilization based the transmission of the diving spirit, natural farming and appreciation for beauty and art.
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MOA Museum of Art (MOA美術館). . Opened in 1982 to house some of the collection of spiritual leader Mokichi Okada (see box), the displays here run the gamut from Japanese calligraphy to Tang-dynasty pottery, with a roomful of Matisse, a tea room covered in gold leaf and Socialist-realist bronze sculptures thrown in for flavor. But there's a uniting thread to it all, as according to Okada, "Art must meet three conditions: it must be true, it must be good, and it must be beautiful." No falsehood, evil, or ugliness; no death, no old age, no sickness; no sorrow, no hate, no pain, no lust. The overall effect is a little eerie, but beautiful just the same and well worth a visit. The entrance to the museum is particularly striking. Open 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily except Thursday, adult admission is a steep but worthwhile �1600 yen. The museum is accessible by bus from JR Atami station (8 minutes).
Atami Hihokan (熱海秘宝館), . If lolling about in hot water has gotten you all hot and bothered, this overpriced erotic museum will fan the flames a bit. Over 18 years only. �1800, including return transfer on the Atami Ropeway.
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