National Museum of Art, Osaka, Modern art museum in Nakanoshima, Japan
The National Museum of Art is an underground art museum in the Kita-ku district of Osaka, standing on the island of Nakanoshima between two river channels. Above the entrance, curved steel tubes rise from the ground, while the exhibition floors extend several levels below street level.
The museum originated in Suita as part of the 1970 World Exposition and later moved due to building limitations. The new structure at its current site opened in 2004 and provided more room for growing holdings.
The collection focuses on works created after World War II, bringing together Japanese artists alongside European and American names from the same period. Visitors walk through galleries where painting, sculpture and installation share space in rotating arrangements.
The entrance sits roughly ten minutes on foot from Higobashi Station and offers barrier-free access. Opening hours run until 19:00 on weekdays from Tuesday to Friday, closing at 17:00 on weekends.
The curved steel tubes at the entrance are meant to evoke reeds swaying in wind and create a contrast with the hidden architecture below. The exhibition rooms lie entirely underground, excluding natural light and allowing controlled conditions.
Location: Kita-ku
Inception: October 15, 1977
Architects: César Pelli
Official opening: November 20, 1977
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Operator: 独立行政法人国立美術館
Address: 4 Chome-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0005
Opening Hours: Saturday-Sunday 10:00-17:00,Tuesday-Thursday 10:00-19:00,Friday 10:00-19:00
Phone: +81664474680
Website: https://nmao.go.jp
GPS coordinates: 34.69179,135.49202
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26
Osaka is Japan of contrasts. A city where 6th-century temples stand beside futuristic skyscrapers, where fish markets meet giant Dotonbori signs, and where the nights turn streets into a continuous show. More lively and spontaneous than Tokyo, Osaka maintains its accent, humor, and warmth. People come here to eat, stroll, and listen to the hum of a metropolis that never truly sleeps. Between medieval castles, Shinto shrines, avant-garde museums, and multi-level hot spring baths, the city presents both ancient and ultra-modern faces. Exploring Namba, Shinsekai, or Umeda reveals a unique energy, vibrant urban culture, and an attention to detail that makes Japan unforgettable.
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