In this article, we will introduce recommended art museums in Osaka. We have gathered information on museums that can be enjoyed by individuals, couples, or even families with children. When you come to Osaka for sightseeing, be sure to use this article as reference!
Osaka's museums are full of unique facilities. Not only the permanent exhibitions, but also the planned exhibitions are often attractive, and it is recommended to always check the latest information.
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Osaka Nakanoshima Museum
The Nakanoshima area in Osaka is a long and narrow sandbank with an area of about 50ha. Located here is the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, a new museum that opened on February 2, 2022. It houses a collection of over 6000 pieces, mainly representative art works from Japan and overseas from the late 19th century to the present day.
Among them, the collections related to the local area, Osaka, are particularly noteworthy. You can experience a wide range of works, including modern and contemporary art, and poster designs by Hayakawa Yoshio, a graphic designer from Osaka. At the entrance, you will be greeted by "SHIP'S CAT (Muse)" by Yanobe Kenji, a contemporary artist from Osaka.
👉Recommended leisure activities, experiences, games, and tourist information in Osaka
National Museum of Art
The National Museum of Art, located in Nakanoshima, is similar to the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art. It houses about 8,000 contemporary art pieces from both domestic and international artists after the war, making it a hub for contemporary art.
Originally opened in 1977 in the Expo Commemoration Park in Suita City, it was relocated and reopened in Nakanoshima in 2004. Its most distinctive feature is that it is a 'fully underground' museum, which is rare even globally. The exterior design, which symbolizes the 'vitality of bamboo' and the 'development and growth of contemporary art', is impactful and is itself a piece of contemporary art.
In the museum shop on the basement floor, they offer a variety of items including original goods, exhibition-related products, and art-related books.
👉Recommended leisure activities, experiences, games, and tourist information in Osaka
Abeno Harukas Art Museum
The Abeno Harukas Art Museum is located on the 16th floor of Abeno Harukas. It was established with the aim of becoming a place where people and art can interact casually and deeply. Taking advantage of its location within a complex building that houses department stores, offices, and hotels, it connects people with a wide range of lifestyles and sensibilities with art from a wide range of eras and genres.
The observation deck of Abeno Harukas is also attractive, offering a view of the entire city of Osaka from 330m above ground. Be sure to visit it as well.
👉Osaka Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory Tickets ｜ Japan
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, which opened in April 2001, is Japan's first museum themed on the "history and culture of housing". It offers a nostalgic experience of life and townscapes in old Osaka, enjoyable for both children and adults.
In the museum, there are exhibits of buildings faithfully reproducing the homes of Osaka during the Edo period, and spots where you can appreciate dioramas depicting the lifestyle of the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras. In addition, it features a variety of workshops such as maiden Bunraku performed in townhouses, Kyogen and Kamigata dance, tsumami craft, and origami, based on seasonal events of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Let's learn about Osaka's housing and lifestyle on the Edo period floor and the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa era floors.
👉Osaka Museum of Housing and Living Admission Ticket | Japan
👉The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living Ticket
Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum
"Umeda Sky Building" is a high-rise building located in the heart of Umeda. It is known as one of the landmarks of Umeda due to its unique shape, where two 40-story buildings are connected at the top.
The Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum is a state-of-the-art museum located on the 27th floor of the Umeda Sky Building Tower West. It offers the world's first experience of jumping into 3D images in paintings. From inside the museum, you can overlook Osaka Bay and Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, and the romantic sunset is also a charm.
👉 Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum & Umeda Sky Building/Kuchu Teien Observatory Admission Tickets | Osaka
👉 Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum Admission Ticket (Osaka)
Osaka City Oriental Ceramics Museum
The Osaka Municipal Oriental Ceramics Museum houses about 4,000 pieces of Oriental ceramics, mainly Chinese and Korean ceramics.
The museum's collection of about 6,000 items, including two national treasures, an oil-drop Temmoku tea bowl and a flying celadon vase, as well as a blue-and-white lotus pond fish algae patterned jar and a celadon maiden-shaped water droplet, among 13 important cultural properties, is world-class as a collection of Oriental ceramics.
In the exhibition room using natural light, you can see beautiful ceramics bathed in soft sunlight. There is also a detailed explanation by video, and in addition to the permanent exhibition, various special exhibitions are also held.
Since it is located in a corner of Nakanoshima Park, it is also recommended to visit museums in conjunction with the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art.
👉Recommended leisure activities, experiences, games, and sightseeing information in Osaka
Osaka City Museum of Art
The Osaka City Museum of Art, which opened in May 1936, is the third oldest public art museum in Japan. The collection mainly consists of ancient Japanese and Oriental art. It's surprising that most of the collection, which amounts to 8,500 pieces, are donations from citizens.
Special exhibitions from overseas museums are also held, so it's a pleasure to have the opportunity to see valuable works from abroad during your trip to Japan.
The museum building is a blend of Japanese and Western styles, and you can still feel the atmosphere of Japan in the 1930s. This building was registered as a tangible cultural property in 2015.
※Closed until spring 2025
Enjoy art museums in Osaka!
We have introduced art museums in Osaka, from the standard to the hidden gems. There are many art museums with unique characteristics, and in addition to the permanent exhibitions, event exhibitions also have interesting themes. If there is an art museum you want to visit, please go and see it.
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