Nakanoshima: Three Museums

This walking course begins at Watanabe-bashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line and takes you in sequence to the entirely underground The National Museum of Art, Osaka; the Osaka Science Museum with its planetarium; and the black-exterior Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka. These three facilities are clustered within a few minutes' walk of each other on the west side of Nakanoshima.

History and Local Appeal

In the heart of Osaka, on the west side of Nakanoshima, museums of science and art stand side by side in close proximity.

The one with the longest history is the Osaka Science Museum. Its predecessor was the Osaka City Electric Science Museum, which opened in 1937 as Japan's first science museum and astonished many visitors with its "Theater of the Stars," where stars could be seen even during the day. The current science museum opened in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Osaka municipal system.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka opened in 1977 within Expo '70 Commemorative Park, utilizing facilities from the Osaka Expo. In 2004, it moved to a newly constructed building in Nakanoshima. Then, in 2022, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka opened on Nakanoshima, the symbol of the "Aqua Metropolis." Conceived in 1983 as one of the projects commemorating the 100th anniversary of Osaka's municipal system, it is an art museum realized after many years. A major appeal of this area is being able to enjoy contemporary art, science, and modern art and design—the distinct character of each institution—all in one place.

Key Highlights

• ​The National Museum of Art, Osaka​​: This museum houses a collection of approximately 8,300 pieces, focusing on domestic and international contemporary art from 1945 onward. Designed by architect César Pelli, it is a globally rare completely underground building, where natural light streams down through an open atrium that extends from above ground to the third basement level. On the first basement level, visitors can view permanent works such as Joan Miró's ceramic mural Innocent Laughter.
• ​Osaka Science Museum​​: A science museum themed around "Space and Energy." Inside the 26.5-meter diameter planetarium dome, specialized astronomy staff guide visitors through the starry sky and the universe with live commentary. The exhibition halls, completely renovated in 2024, feature a moving replica of Gakutensoku, considered the first robot in the East, and daily science experiment shows are held on the 3rd-floor Science Stage.
• ​Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka​​: Specializing in art and design from the late 19th century to the present, its collection of approximately 7,000 items includes works by Saeki Yuzo, Modigliani, and Yoshihara Jiro. Soft light filters into the "Passage," an open atrium extending from the 1st to the 5th floor, and visitors are greeted at the plaza in front of the 2nd-floor entrance by Yanobe Kenji's artwork SHIP'S CAT (Muse).

Suggested Itinerary & Time Required

The estimated time required is about 5 hours. From Exit 2 of Watanabe-bashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line, walk southwest for about 5 minutes to reach The National Museum of Art, Osaka. The museum has no dedicated parking lot, so please visit by train. Descend from the above-ground entrance into the basement and tour the galleries while feeling the light filtering through the atrium.

Walking about 80 meters southwest from The National Museum of Art, Osaka brings you to the Osaka Science Museum. Entry is not permitted once planetarium screenings have begun, so plan ahead with ample time if you wish to see a show. Taking in both the planetarium and the science show will extend your stay. If visiting as a family, setting aside plenty of time for the science museum is recommended.

Walking about 130 meters north from the science museum brings you to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka. On the 4th and 5th floors, where exhibition galleries are located, you can also enjoy views of Nakanoshima through the large glass windows at both ends of the Passage. For the return journey, walk east for about 10 minutes to Higobashi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line.

Summary of the Experience

An underground contemporary art space, hands-on exhibits of space and science, and an art museum filled with light streaming into its atrium. Within a walk of just a few minutes on the west side of Nakanoshima, you can move between three completely different worlds. As this course can be enjoyed even on rainy days, take your time exploring at your own pace to match exhibition schedules and planetarium showtimes.