Embark on a cultural journey through Japan’s most fascinating museums. From art to technology, discover the top seven venues that showcase innovation and creativity in captivating ways.
- 1 Towada Art Center(Aomori Prefecture)
- 2 MOA Museum of Art(Shizuoka Prefecture)
- 3 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa(Ishikawa Prefecture)
- 4 Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum(Fukui Prefecture)
- 5 Otsuka Museum of Art(Tokushima Prefecture)
- 6 Adachi Museum(Shimane Prefecture)
- 7 Kyushu National Museum
1 Towada Art Center(Aomori Prefecture)
Towada City, where the Art Center is located, is committed to urban development through art, and the entire city is an art museum. The museum exhibits the works of domestic and international artists, including Yayoi Kusama. Visitors can enjoy public art not only inside the museum but also along the streets. Many of the high-impact works can be photographed. This is a facility where you can enjoy art in your own way.
Access
Approximately 40 minutes by bus from Shichinohe-Towada Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line. Approximately 1 hour by bus from Hachinohe Station.
2 MOA Museum of Art(Shizuoka Prefecture)
The museum stands in the hills of Atami in a vast garden. The museum has a large collection of works of art, including three national treasures, as well as ceramics, sculptures, and paintings from Japan and the Orient. Located overlooking the Izu Sea, visitors can enjoy the scenery as a form of art. It also has a Noh theater where performances are sometimes held. This is a facility that should be enjoyed in combination with Izu’s hot spring resorts.
Access
About 10 minutes by bus from Atami Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Tokaido lines.
3 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa(Ishikawa Prefecture)
Close to Kenrokuen Garden, famous for its garden, there is a museum of contemporary art. It is divided into two areas: one for free viewing and the other for paid exhibitions. A particularly famous work here is the “Swimming Pool”. You will see something different depending on whether you look into it from above or from below. Enjoy the art along with the cityscape that is typical of the ancient capital of Kanazawa.
Access
10 minutes by bus from Kanazawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
4 Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum(Fukui Prefecture)
In Fukui Prefecture, a dinosaur fossil research project has been conducted since 1989. The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum opened in 2000 as one of the largest geology and paleontology museums in Japan, focusing on dinosaurs, based on the results of the research. Visitors can see dinosaurs up close and personal, and the museum is fun for both children and adults. Tickets are available by appointment only.
Access
From JR Fukui Station, take the Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eihei Line and get off at Katsuyama Station. It takes about 15 minutes by bus.
5 Otsuka Museum of Art(Tokushima Prefecture)
What makes this museum unique is that all of the exhibits are made of ceramic board paintings. The museum reproduces world-famous art in full-size ceramic boards. What is surprising is that not only the paintings, but even the murals are reproduced in full size! You can see the Sistine Chapel and Monet’s “Waterlilies” all at once here. The museum is not only technologically advanced, but also very large (30,000 square meters), and a full day is definitely worthwhile.
Access
A 15-minute bus ride from Naruto Station. Express buses also run directly from Kyoto and Osaka Stations
6 Adachi Museum(Shimane Prefecture)
The museum is known for its constant display of more than 20 works by Yokoyama Taikan, a representative of the modern Japanese painting world. The garden is a magnificent place, meticulously maintained in accordance with the belief that “a garden is also a painting”. This Japanese garden is said to be the most beautiful in Japan. Visitors are encouraged to take the time to enjoy the garden, which changes its expression with the seasons, as well as the rich collection of Japanese paintings.
Access
A free shuttle bus from JR Yasugi Station takes about 20 minutes
7 Kyushu National Museum
It was built in 2005 as the fourth national museum in Japan (the other three are located in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara). （It is the largest of the four and presents unique exhibits as “a museum that captures the origins of Japanese culture from an Asian perspective. The museum’s huge, glass-enclosed building with its curvilinear roof resembling a mountain range is also impressive. Located near Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, it is recommended to visit the museum in conjunction with the shrine.
Access
A 10-minute walk from Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station