Art & Design
The National Museum of Art, Osaka 国立国際美術館
Japan's only national art museum that focuses on collecting contemporary artworks
An arrangement of metallic arches stretches into the sky, marking the location of this subterranean museum. The museum, which consists of three basement floors, has a collection of about 8,000 pieces of contemporary art from around the world, mainly from 1945 onward, and displays collections and holds special exhibitions several times a year.
Don't Miss
- A completely underground art museum designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli
- Collection exhibitions and thematic exhibitions are held several times a year, featuring a broad range of Japanese and overseas contemporary artworks
- Audio guides are available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean
How to Get There
You can reach the museum by train.
From Osaka/Umeda Station, walk to neighboring Nishi-Umeda Station and take the Yotsubashi subway line south to Higobashi Station. From there, walk northwest, crossing the bridge into Nakanoshima 
. You will find the National Museum of Art adjacent to the Osaka Science Museum, and one block away from the Mitsui Garden Hotel. The strange steel beams shooting out of the ground provide the best visual landmark.
Famed architect César Pelli, originally from Argentina, designed the building, which was inspired by the life force of bamboo, and the growth and development of contemporary art.
Planning your schedule
Exploring the works at the National Museum of Art, Osaka will take one to two hours. Consider taking a look inside the adjacent Osaka Science Museum, or heading east up Nakanoshima to find a pleasant promenade and park area stretching across the narrow island.
Closed on Mondays (open on holiday Mondays and closed on the following days), during installation periods and New Year holidays.
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