Yokohama Museum of Art is a major art museum located in the Minato Mirai district that was first opened in 1989. The museum has seven galleries, three of which are used for special exhibitions and four of which are used for the permanent exhibition. The museum’s collection is extensive and features modern and contemporary art ranging from the late 19th century to the present day. Among the big-name modern artists on show are Cézanne, Dali, Magritte, and Picasso, but there are also works by important Japanese artists such as Shimomura Kanzan, Kishida Ryusei, Hishida Shunso, and Yokoyama Taikan.
Yokohama Museum of Art
Architecture enthusiasts will be interested in the museum building as it was designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kenzo Tange. The façade, with its central tower, imposing columns and symmetrical form has a dignified and graceful appearance. The interior of the building is light and airy with attractive, spacious galleries that are easy to walk through.
The Grand Gallery
The central Grand Gallery is 20 meters high and extends to the 2nd and 3rd floors with a glass ceiling letting in natural light. This expansive space includes the museum entrance and a terraced gallery area which is used to exhibit a variety of 20th century sculptures. Visitors can wander up the terrace steps or take an escalator to reach the exhibition galleries on the floor above.
The terrace area with Salvador Dali’s “Femme a la tete de rose” in the foreground
A repeated theme of the permanent collection is the interplay of Western and Japanese influences in modern and contemporary art. This is demonstrated in galleries devoted to western paintings, western-style “Yoga” paintings by Japanese artists, Japanese-style “Nihonga” paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures.
A gallery of wood block prints
Shimomura Kanzan’s Nihonga masterpiece “Mount Ogura”
A gallery of Japanese-style paintings
Facilities
In addition to the exhibition areas this museum has an Art Information and Media Center with a reading room and over 110,000 art-related books, and also a number of ateliers which are used for courses and workshops.
The museum shop
There is a shop on the 2nd floor which sells exhibition-related goods, catalogues, art books for adults and children, postcards and other stationery. There is also a café which is a relaxing space for sandwiches, light meals, desserts, and drinks.
Café Ogurayama is named after Shimomura Kanzan’s painting “Mount Ogura”
Open: 10.00-18.00 (Last entry at 17.30)
Closed: Thursdays, year-end and New Year holidays.
Yokohama Museum of Art entrance
Admission
Admission fees differ for the special exhibitions. Fees for the permanent collection are given below.
Adults: 500 yen
Senior high school & university students: 300 yen
Junior high school students: 100 yen
Children under 12: Free admission
Venanzo Crocetti’s sculpture “Il Giovane Cavaliere della Pace” (The Young Knight of Peace) stands outside the museum
Location
Yokohama Museum of Art is located on the north side of Yokohama Landmark Tower. It is a 5-minute walk from Minato Mirai Station on the Minatomirai Subway Line and a 10-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line and Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
