The National Museum of Art, Osaka

In short

An art museum housing one of the largest collections in Japan, with approximately 8,300 works focusing primarily on post-1945 contemporary art from Japan and abroad. It opened in 1977 in the former Expo Museum of Fine Arts building inside Expo '70 Commemorative Park, and in 2004, it was newly built and relocated to Nakanoshima, Osaka. The current building, designed by architect César Pelli, is a completely underground art museum, a rarity on a global scale.

• ​Sunlit Underground Atrium​​: Natural light pours into the atrium that extends from the glass-walled ground level down to the 3rd basement floor, creating an open atmosphere that hardly feels like being underground
• ​Permanent Exhibits on the 1st Basement Floor​​: Visitors can view permanently displayed works such as Miró's Innocent Laughter, Alexander Calder's sculpture London, and Takamatsu Jiro's painting Shadow
• ​Exhibition Rooms on the 2nd and 3rd Basement Floors​​: Uniquely curated exhibitions are held for each show, and the museum's holdings are displayed mainly in the collection exhibitions on the 2nd basement floor. In recent years, the museum has also been collecting works in newer genres such as video and performance art

History and Highlights

​The National Museum of Art, Osaka​ is an art museum housing one of the largest collections in Japan, with approximately 8,300 works focusing primarily on post-1945 contemporary art from Japan and abroad. When it opened in 1977, it utilized a facility from the 1970 Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo)—specifically the former Expo Museum of Fine Arts building located inside Expo '70 Commemorative Park. Later, in 2004, it was newly built and relocated to Nakanoshima, Osaka.

The current structure is a completely underground art museum, a rarity on a global scale. Designed by architect César Pelli, its visible exterior above ground expresses the supple vitality of bamboo and the aspiration for the development and growth of contemporary art. The main functions of the museum, including the exhibition rooms and museum shop, are all located entirely underground.

When the museum opened in 1977, the collection started with just 14 items, including Joan Miró's ceramic mural Innocent Laughter. The following year, 828 works were donated from the collection of Ohashi Kaichi, who was known as a collector of contemporary art, forming the core of the collection that captures the trends of post-war art centered in the Kansai region.

Viewing and Experiencing Points

• ​Sunlit Underground Atrium​​: Enter through the above-ground entrance gate and head downward via escalators or stairs. Natural light pours into the atrium that extends from the glass-walled ground level down to the 3rd basement floor, creating an open atmosphere that hardly feels like being underground.
• ​Permanent Exhibits on the 1st Basement Floor​​: On the 1st basement floor, visitors can view permanently displayed works such as Miró's Innocent Laughter, Alexander Calder's sculpture London, and Takamatsu Jiro's painting Shadow. There is also a kids' room and an information corner featuring a collection of art books.
• ​Exhibition Rooms on the 2nd and 3rd Basement Floors​​: The exhibition rooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd basement floors, where uniquely curated exhibitions are held for each show. The museum's holdings are displayed mainly in the collection exhibitions on the 2nd basement floor. While paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs make up the majority, in recent years the museum has also been collecting works in newer genres such as video and performance art.

Walking Tips

It is about a 5-minute walk southwest from Exit 2 of Watanabebashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line. You can also reach it in about 10 minutes walking west from Exit 3 of Higobashi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line, or about 20 minutes walking southwest from JR Osaka Station. Because the museum has no dedicated parking lot, it is best to visit by train or bus. The Osaka Science Museum is located about 80 meters to the southwest, and the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka is about 100 meters to the northwest, allowing you to tour them consecutively in western Nakanoshima.