The National Museum of Art, Osaka was opened in 1977 with the primary aim of collecting, storing and displaying both Japanese and foreign contemporary art as well as conducting related research activities. By making use of the Expo Museum of Fine Arts, which had been built for Expo '70, the museum facility continued to encourage development in Japanese contemporary art.

Some thirty years after its construction, as a result of aging and other problems, it was decided to relocate the museum and build a new structure in the form of a completely underground facility in the western section of Osaka's Nakanoshima district.

The new museum, while continuing to pursue its original goal of presenting contemporary art, will introduce an even wider range of foreign and domestic art trends in addition to engaging in activities that correspond to a variety of public needs and expectations.

With an exterior design inspired by the life force of bamboo and the development and cultivation of contemporary art, the new facility will serve as a public space that creates interaction between people and art, and provides an even more comfortable environment to appreciate art. As Nakanoshima has become a new hub of culture, a site of special historical and cultural significance, it is our hope that the museum will become a familiar destination for everyone.

Opening hours:
Tue - Sun 10 am - 5 pm  Fri 10 am - 7 pm (last admission 30 minutes before closing)  Closed on Mon (or Tue when Mon falls on a national holiday except May 5 (Tue./Holiday), May 6 (Wed./Holiday), Sep 22(Tue/Holiday), Sep 23 (Wed./Holiday))
* The Museum may also be temporarily closed on other days. Please call for details.