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National Museum of Art, Osaka

, Osaka, Osaka

Description

The National Museum of Art in Osaka holds the country's largest collection of contemporary art with a mix of works by Japanese and international artists. The building, with three floors underground, was designed by architect César Pelli and is characterised by his favoured use of stainless steel and glass, here suggestive of bamboo groves. Cezanne, Picasso, Ernst, Tsuguharu Foujita, Leiko Ikemura, and Yasuo Kuniyoshi are among the artists featured.

Access & Transport

The museum is located on the island of Nakanoshima, between the Dōjima and Tosabori rivers, in the Kita ward of Osaka. The Watanabebashi train station is just a 2mins walk away and the Higobashi metro station (Yosubashi line) is 8mins away.

Instructions & Recommendations

If you do not mind another museum on a very different theme, the Osaka Science Museum is next door.

Meta review

This is one of the regularly listed museums in travel guides and though most visitors do find it impressive from the outside, there is consistent feedback in online reviews that the inside makes for an underwhelming, even hollow experience. The rooms are indeed sparsely populated with artwork that is hit and miss and, overall, people had much higher expectation considering the "National Museum" in the name. Also, some recurring complaints about the strictly enforced no-photography policy and the lack of English translation at the item level (there is some generic info at the room level).

Environmental & Social

No environmental data available about the building that was purposely constructed, which is resources intensive. Helps spread the arts

Conclusion

We would hesitate to recommend the museum other than to architecture or contemporary art buffs. Indeed, the permanent collection will be too shallow for most visitors.

Key positive

Striking building architecture

Key negative

The artwork won't interest everybody

Suitability

Best for adults and children aged 15 and above. Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Closed for NY break 28 Dec - 04 Jan

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:1h 15m

Regulated hours

Monday -

Tuesday10:00 - 17:00

Wednesday10:00 - 17:00

Thursday10:00 - 17:00

Friday10:00 - 20:00

Saturday10:00 - 20:00

Sunday10:00 - 17:00

Pricing
Price with special exhibition can be 1,200/700 yen
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
JP¥0
Adult
18 - 64
JP¥430
Child
3 - 17
JP¥0
Infant
0 - 2
JP¥0
Price for permanent collection, excl. temporary exhibitions. Students 130 yen

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