Private Night at the Art Museum! Dinner in Front of “The Last Supper”

First-Ever Private Dinner in Front of "The Last Supper"

Pictured above is the artwork displayed at the Otsuka Museum of Art.

The Otsuka Museum of Art in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture is an art museum that showcases toban (*) masterpieces, reproductions of world-renowned artworks on ceramic boards.

The museum exhibits over 1,000 famous Western masterpieces, from ancient murals to modern paintings. This is where you can view masterpieces from around the world while still being in Japan.

This time, the Otsuka Museum of Art is offering a first-ever dinner experience in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper." The premium experience will involve renting out the entire museum to provide a dinner course made with an abundance of local ingredients.

Enjoy an extravagant experience in the extraordinary atmosphere of an art museum at night, fully immersed in the world of art. This is the perfect opportunity for art lovers as well as those looking to create a special evening.

Next, we will introduce the experience and its highlights in detail.

* Toban: a reproduction of a painting or artwork on a ceramic board.

A Dinner Experience Immersed in the World of "The Last Supper"

Pictured above are the paintings displayed at the Otsuka Museum of Art.

The dinner experience will be exclusively held on two days: December 13, 2024 (Friday) and January 31, 2025 (Friday).

On both days, the experience will begin at 17:45, with the Otsuka Museum of Art fully rented out at night for dinner. Let’s take a look at the schedule and details of the experience.

1. Museum Tour

First, the experience will begin with a private museum tour at 17:45.

A curator, well-versed in the artwork at the Otsuka Museum of Art, will guide you through the museum. Interpretation services in English, Korean, Chinese, and Thai will be available, allowing you to relax and enjoy the explanations of each piece even if you're not familiar with Japanese.

You will be guided by a curator for about an hour, taking your time to explore the highlights of each piece, learn about the museum’s history, and the founder’s vision as you walk through the museum. Touring the museum with a guide offers a unique experience, and by delving into the deeper charms and backgrounds of each piece, you will be drawn even further into the world of art.

Once you’ve grasped the key points while viewing the artworks and are fully immersed, you will finally be guided to "The Last Supper" area, the main stage of this experience. It’s a moment filled with anticipation.

2. A Dinner Experience in "The Last Supper" Area

Picture courtesy of Otsuka Museum of Art
"The Last Supper" is displayed in a corner of the Renaissance gallery on the basement level (B2F).

The original "The Last Supper" in Italy underwent restoration work for about 20 years starting in 1979. The painting can only be viewed in its post-restoration form.

However, at the Otsuka Museum of Art, both pre-restoration and post-restoration versions of the painting have been reproduced in full scale on ceramic boards and are on display. The replicas are displayed on both walls of the gallery, making it possible for visitors to carefully compare the differences.

The dinner served in front of "The Last Supper" will feature a locally sourced meal made with abundant ingredients from Tokushima Prefecture for local consumption.

During the meal, local producers will provide explanations about the menu and the crafts used. You’ll be able to further enjoy the fresh flavors that are unique to the region.

Additionally, the dinner venue will be adorned with traditional crafts that are the pride of Tokushima. Aizome (indigo-dyeing) products, made using traditional techniques from Tokushima Prefecture, and Otani ware, with a history spanning 230 years, will enhance your special evening. Not only will you enjoy a meal, but you'll also have the chance to engage with the traditional crafts that have supported Tokushima.

This event—viewing world-renowned masterpieces, savoring seasonal local flavors, and experiencing traditional handicrafts—is an immersive, premium experience that engages all five senses. Enjoy this special, immersive evening that transcends time and cultural boundaries to the fullest.

3. Dinner Menu

The dinner menu is as follows. While enjoying your meal, you will have the opportunity to hear explanations about the menu from the producers of the ingredients.

"The Last Supper": Dinner

Carpaccio made with local Naruto sea bream

French potage made with local Naruto sweet potato

Oven-baked local Naruto sea bream and Awa Japanese Black wagyu sirloin steak

Red wine (Mommessin Merlot) or grape juice

Tiramisu with mascarpone cheese

Bread and coffee or black tea

Dinner Experience Highlights

It is a rare and unprecedented endeavor to rent out an art museum exclusively to enjoy dinner in such a special space. Furthermore, by being held at the Otsuka Museum of Art, a unique, one-of-a-kind collaboration comes to life, merging Tokushima's cuisine, crafts, and "The Last Supper"—an experience you can only have here.

The dinner generously incorporates local specialties, allowing you to experience the history and tradition of Naruto.

Aizome products, a traditional craft of Naruto, are one such example. Additionally, Otani ware—originally developed as jars to hold indigo dye during the dyeing process—is also used, creating a carefully crafted experience where you can enjoy the culture of Naruto alongside your meal.

During this special dinner, the producers themselves will appear to share the charms of their traditional crafts, along with the history behind their development that has been passed down through the generations. This can truly be considered a valuable experience.

You can also enjoy your meal paired with HEAVEN, a local Tokushima sake from Honke Matsuura Brewery. Additionally, special sake not available on the market will be served, offering an extravagant experience that can only be enjoyed here.

Picture courtesy of Honke Matsuura Brewery

Japanese sake, carefully selected from Tokushima producers, will be served to complement the flavors and tastes of your meal.

You can even take home the Otani ware in which your full-course meal is presented as a souvenir to conclude the experience. This allows you to savor the lingering memory of that special moment even after returning home.

World-Famous Masterpieces! Otsuka Museum of Art’s Unique Charm

The Otsuka Museum of Art, the venue for this experience, is an art museum where masterpieces are reproduced on ceramic boards, providing a rare opportunity, even around the world, to interact with the exhibits.

What’s more, thanks to specialized technology, the masterpieces are faithfully reproduced in the same colors and size as the original works on large ceramic boards. Unlike paper or textured canvas, the colors and condition of the artwork will remain intact for approximately 2,000 years without any degradation over time.

At the Otsuka Museum of Art, be sure to also check out Monet’s "Water Lilies," displayed outdoors to fully take advantage of the properties of a toban masterpiece, which do not fade or deteriorate in color.

During your private night experience, you can view Monet’s "Water Lilies" lit up, a sight not visible during the daytime.

Pictured above are the paintings displayed at the Otsuka Museum of Art.

Don’t miss the rare opportunity to view Vincent van Gogh’s seven "Sunflowers" in vases, scattered around the world, all in one place. This experience is made possible because they have been reproduced on ceramic boards.

Being able to take pictures with masterpieces in the background is another unique privilege of this museum. You can fully enjoy a special experience that can only be had here.

Pictured above is the exhibition piece at the Otsuka Museum of Art.

The three-dimensional exhibit, a reproduction of the wall murals along with the surrounding environment of on-site ruins and chapels, is a particularly popular area of the museum.

It will feel as if you’ve embarked on an international journey, visiting places like the Scrovegni Chapel in Italy and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.

Reservations Via the Online Website

This premium experience, where you can immerse yourself in the world of "The Last Supper," will be held for two days on December 13, 2024 (Friday) and January 31, 2025 (Friday).

Both dates have a maximum capacity of 20 guests. Explanations by curators and producers will be simultaneously interpreted in English, Korean, Chinese, and Thai, so you don’t need to worry if you’re not fluent in Japanese.

The participation fee per person is 150,000 yen, which includes both dinner and the museum’s entrance fee. With a maximum capacity of 20 guests, you can have the museum exclusively to yourself at night and enjoy a special dinner in front of the artwork, making this an experience that may only come once in a lifetime.

After the experience has concluded, you also have the option to stay at a hotel. You can check the details and availability on the official website. Be sure to take a look!

A One-of-a-Kind Japanese Cultural Experience in Naruto

A premium experience where you can enjoy an immersive dinner in a space that exhibits both the pre-restoration and post-restoration versions of "The Last Supper" on ceramic boards. On December 13 and January 31, the Otsuka Museum of Art, local breweries, and producers will come together to present a special collaboration between Naruto and world-renowned masterpieces.

Take a moment to ponder on the long history and stories behind these masterpieces, all while enjoying a carefully crafted full-course dinner and heartfelt hospitality over these two days. It will surely become a memory of a lifetime.

Otsuka Museum of Art

772-0053 65-1 Fukuike, Tosa-tomariura , Naruto, Naruto City , Tokushim...

With a permanent exhibition area of approximately 30,000 square meters and a viewing route of approximately 4 kilometers, this is the larges...