The National Museum of Art, Osaka

This literally-underground art gallery will introduce you to a variety of vibrant, vital works of art. The silver gates at the entrance, modeled after bamboo, leave a powerful impression.

Originally used as the Expo Art Museum during Expo 1970, it collected, preserved, and exhibits works of art both domestic and international for three decades. However, increasing wear on the facilities prompted construction of its current incarnation. A new style of "underground" art museum with three stories underground (a portion of the top floor extends aboveground), the museum collects not only works by artists like Cezanne, Picasso, Ernst, Tsuguharu Foujita, and Yasuo Kuniyoshi, but a great number of post-war pieces of contemporary art, as well. In addition to a variety of monthly exhibitions, it also hosts lectures, symposia, and gallery talks regularly. The structure visible above ground was inspired by the vitality of bamboo and the development and growth of contemporary art. The museum's design comes from Argentinean-born César Pelli, who designed Brookfield Place and the Winter Garden Atrium in Manhattan's Battery Park. The first floor below ground is a lively, bustling free space without an admission fee.

• Location

  〒 530-0005 4-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka

• Child Friendly

  1

• Fax

  06-6447-4699

• Tel

  06-6447-4680

• Closed

  Mondays (the following day when holidays fall on Monday)
  *The museum may close for exhibit rotation in some cases

• Open

  10:00 - 17:00 (admissions close 16:30)
  *Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 - 20:00 (admissions close 19:30)
  *During July to September, Fridays and Saturdays: 10:00 - 21:00 (last admission 20:30).
  *In special circumstances, the hours are subject to change.

• Price

  Collection exhibits:
  Adults 430yen, university students 130yen, high school and under, 65 and over free
  *Night discount (applicable after 17:00 on Fri. and Sat.) Adults 250 yen , University students 70 yen
  *Admission fees for non-collection exhibits vary by exhibit

• Directions

  10-minute walk from Higobashi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line, Fukushima Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line, Shin-Fukushima Station on the JR Tozai Line, and Fukushima Station on the Hanshin Railway
  5-minute walk from Watanabebashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line

• URL

  http://www.nmao.go.jp/en/index.html