3,000 Metric Tons (≈ 3,306 US Tons) of Italian Marble Sculptures

Miraishin no Oka: Rain and the Living White of Marble (April 2025)

I visited Miraishin no Oka (Hill of Hope) inside the Kōsanji Museum on Ikuchijima, Hiroshima, in April 2025. A steady rain quieted the island and turned the Carrara marble into a soft, absorbent white that drew in light rather than reflecting it. Walking here is not just sightseeing—it is joining a sculptural environment shaped by wind, water, and time.

Walking a Sculptural Landscape

The terraces, steps, and monoliths invite you to move. Each step shifts the composition; each pause redraws the horizon. Even in rain, the marble surfaces remain legible—edges soften, grain stands out, and the whole hill feels like a single piece of stone breathing with the weather.

Background & Materials

Created by sculptor Itto Kuetani, Miraishin no Oka is a marble garden spreading across approximately 5,000 m² within the Kōsanji Museum grounds. Built over twelve years and completed in 2000, it uses about 3,000 tons of Bianco Carrara marble from Tuscany, Italy—widely known as the same marble used by Michelangelo. The site unites Mediterranean material with the quiet, humid air of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea.

Why Rain Changes the Color

Marble is a crystalline, slightly porous stone (calcium carbonate). In rain, microscopic pores take in water and alter how light scatters within the surface, so the white can appear deeper and grayer. After drying, the tone lightens again. However, dark streaks caused by airborne particles, biofilm, or acidic deposits may remain unless cleaned—this is a natural outdoor patina, not a structural defect.

Care & Maintenance: Keeping Marble Bright Outdoors

1. Rinse with clean water and wash gently using a neutral pH stone soap and a soft sponge.
2. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth to reduce residue rings.
3. After full drying, apply a thin coat of a breathable, silicone-based water repellent made for marble to reduce water uptake and staining.
4. Once or twice per year, consider a low-pressure rinse (never abrasive tips), then dry and re-seal where needed.

Avoid: acidic cleaners (vinegar, citric or hydrochloric acid), bleach, wire brushes, and harsh pads—these can etch or scratch marble.

Specifications

Reference Video

This video is included as a reference.

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