About Ashiya City Museum of Art
Ashiya City Museum of Art opened in 1991 and just reopened in 2023. Ashiya City, with its scenic beauty and convenient transportation, has been loved by numerous artists.Many cultural figures active in diverse fields have gathered here since the Taisho era, including novelist TANIZAKI Junichiro (1886-1965), Western-style painter KOIDE Narashige (1887-1931), and YOSHIHARA Jiro (1905-1972), leader of the Gutai Art Association. The resulting modern art, culture, and lifestyle was called "Hanshin Modernism.It is also widely known as the place where the Gutai Art Association (Gutai), a leading avant-garde art group in postwar Japan, was founded.
The Ashiya City Museum of Art has a large collection of works by artists associated with Ashiya, which has been nurtured in this culturally rich area. The museum also has a history section where visitors can view archaeological materials related to Ashiya. With a museum store and café, the museum is a popular art spot for local residents.
Ashiya City Museum of Art Access & Information
Address | 12-25 Ise-machi, Ashiya-shi, Ashiya |
Tel | 0797-38-5432 |
Access from the nearest station | 15 min. walk southeast from Hanshin "Ashiya" Station |
Hours | 10:00-17:00 (admission until 16:30) |
Closed | Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays, and exhibition change periods |
Admission | 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and university students (special exhibitions are not included), free for junior high school students and younger. *Depends on the exhibition. |
Facilities | Parking available (fee required) *One hour free for visitors |
Official We site |
Highlights of Ashiya City Museum of Art
Collections
The three main pillars of the Ashiya City Museum of Art's collection are works by KOIDE Narashige and surrounding Western-style painters, the Gutai Art Association, and the Ashiya Camera Club. The History Department collects cultural assets and archaeological materials related to the nature and history of Ashiya.
Architecture
Ashiya Art Museum was designed by ITAKURA ARCHITECTURAL LABORATORY. The Itakura Architectural Laboratory is an architectural design firm founded by SAKAKURA Junzo, a leading postwar Japanese architect who studied under Le Corbusier.
The most impressive feature is the central atrium circular hall that gently welcomes visitors.
The beauty of the interior, with white as its base color, is stunning. The circular hall connects the entrance to the exhibition and lecture rooms, making it possible to hold a variety of exhibitions and events.
Representative Past Exhibits
In 2021, the 30th anniversary of the museum, various commemorative events were held. In particular, the 30th anniversary "The Unlimited World: MURAKAMI Saburo" exhibition attracted a great deal of attention as many pieces were exhibited for the first time at an art museum in Japan. The museum also presents a wide range of exhibitions that transcend the boundaries of genres such as art, history, and music.
<Major Exhibitions>
"Time in Ashiya: A Large Collection Exhibition" (2020)
"9 days of Art and Music "「rooms」 (2020)
30th Anniversary Special Exhibition "The Unlimited World / MURAKAMI Saburo" (2021)
"The Last Ukiyoe Artist: TSUKIOKA Yoshitoshi" (2023)
Museum Shop
The museum shop at Ashiya City Museum of Art sells catalogs, postcards, and original goods from various exhibitions held in the past.
Opening hours | 10:00-17:00 |
Closed | Same as museum holidays |
Café and Restaurant Information
On the grounds of the Art Museum, there is a coffee shop with a relaxed atmosphere called "Café de Repos'' where you can enjoy coffee, waffles, sandwiches, etc. while admiring the lush greenery of the garden. The restored KOIDE Narashige Atelier (built in 1927, restored in 1991) is adjacent to the café and is recommended to visit together.
Opening hours | 10:00-17:00 |
Closed | Monday |
Recommendations around Ashiya City Museum of Art
Ashiya City Tanizaki Junichiro Memorial Hall
Ashiya City Tanizaki Junichiro Memorial Museum is located right next to Ashiya City Museum of Art. As with Ashiya City Museum of Art, the museum was reopened in 2023.
TANIZAKI Junichiro, a great author, was active from the Meiji period to the Showa period, and left many masterpieces such as "Shunkinsho" and "Sasameyuki" to the world. The memorial hall displays manuscripts and other valuable documents, and hosts literature lectures as well as a variety of events. Also, the beautiful Japanese garden is one of the museum's attractions.
Address | 12-15 Ise-cho, Ashiya-shi, Hyogo |
Tel | 0797-23-5852 |
Access from the nearest station | 15-minute walk southeast from Hanshin Ashiya Station. |
Opening hours | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Admission until 4:30 p.m.) |
Closed | Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays (December 28-January 4), and during exhibition changes. |
Admission | Adults 300 yen (240 yen), college and high school students 200 yen (160 yen), junior high school students and younger free *Prices in ( ) are for groups of 20 or more people. *Admission fees vary depending on the exhibition. |
Facilities | Parking is available at the adjacent Ashiya City Museum of Art and Library (parking fees apply). (Show your parking ticket and get up to 1 hour free) |
Official Website |
Important Cultural Property YODOKO Guest House (Former Yamamura Family Residence)
YODOKO Guest House is located about a 10-minute walk north of "Ashiyagawa" station on the Hankyu Kobe Main Line. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), a renowned master of modern architecture.
The building constructed in 1924, was built as a villa of YAMAMURA Taizaemon VIII, a Nada sake brewer, and was owned by Yodogawa Steel Works, Ltd. in 1947. After that, it was used as the president's residence and Yodogawa Steel's bachelor dormitory, and was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in May 1974.
Intricate woodwork decorations, geometrically carved Oya stone, and decorative copper panels with plant leaf motifs are just a few examples of Wright's architectural philosophy. The museum is open to the public and can be toured. In spring, dolls related to the Yamamura family are displayed, attracting many visitors.
Address | 3-10 Yamate-cho, Ashiya-shi, Hyogo |
Tel | 0797-38-1720 |
Access from the nearest station | 10-minute walk north from "Ashiyagawa" station on the Hankyu Kobe Main Line |
Opening hours | 10:00 - 16:00 (admission until 15:30) |
Closed | Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and national holidays *Please check the museum's opening calendar as it may be different during events. |
Admission | General: Adults: 500 (400) yen, Elementary, Junior high, and Senior high school students: 200 (100) yen, Free for preschool children *Prices in ( ) are for groups of 30 or more: Adults: 400 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students: 100 yen. |
Facilities | Free parking available (up to 7 passenger cars and 2 medium-sized buses can be parked) |
Official Website |
Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya City
"Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya City" is located in the city of Nishinomiya, adjacent to the east side of Ashiya City.
It takes about 30 minutes from Ashiya City Museum of Art both by train and on foot.
"Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya City" was opened in 1972 after Nishinomiya City received a donation of land, buildings and artworks from Mr. OTANI Takejiro (former president of Showa Electrode Co.)