About Fujita Art Museum
The Fujita Art Museum is an art museum with a collection built by FUJITA Denzaburo, a leading figure in the Kansai business world during the Meiji era, and his sons Heitaro and Tokujiro. The museum's collection consists mainly of oriental antiques collected by the Fujita family during the Meiji and Taisho eras, as well as many artifacts related to the tea ceremony. The collection is very extensive, with a number of national treasures, important cultural properties, and other gems.
FUJITA Denzaburo, who feared that Japanese artworks would be lost or destroyed overseas due to social changes during the Meiji Restoration, energetically collected artworks to prevent their dispersal. After the war, the Fujita family renovated the storehouse in their residence and turned it into the Fujita Art Museum in 1954. It is therefore also known as the "museum of the storehouse. After reconstruction, the museum reopened in 2022.
The museum states, "These national treasures should not be kept as private possessions of a single individual. They should be widely exhibited and shared with like-minded people, and used as resources for researchers in the field". Thus, the Fujita family's wish was expressed. This intention has been carried on to the present day, and the museum has welcomed many visitors through a variety of exhibitions of the collection.
After renovation, the museum's architecture is also attracting attention. The all-glass entrance "Doma" offers an open space and a teahouse. In the garden on the grounds, visitors can also view a pagoda built around the latter half of the 17th century (the former Koyasan Koudai-in pagoda). Also, adjacent to the Fujita Residence Site Park, visitors can relax in a lush green space after viewing art.
Access and Visitor Information of the Fujita Art Museum
Address | 10-32 Amishima-cho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 534-0026 |
Tel | 06-6351-0582 |
Access from the nearest station |
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Opening hours | 10:00-18:00 (no reservation required) |
Closed | Dec. 29 - Jan. 5 |
Admission | 1,000 yen, free for children under 19 ( ID required) |
Facilities | Coin lockers (100 yen returnable), free audio guide, barrier-free restrooms, baby feeding room, cafe |
Note | Since there is no dedicated parking lot, please use a nearby one. Multilingual information available. |
Official Website |
Highlights of the Fujita Art Museum
Collections
FUJITA Denzaburo also had a deep knowledge of Noh and the tea ceremony, and his discerning eye for tea utensils was particularly outstanding. The Fujita Museum of Art has a collection of approximately 2,000 works of art, including paintings, calligraphy, Buddhist art, ancient bronzes, lacquerware, textiles, and tea ceremony utensils. These include nine national treasures and 53 important cultural properties, such as the National Treasure "Murasaki Shikibu Diary Illustrated Texts" and the "Important Cultural Property, Standing Wooden Jizo Bosatsu (Jizo Bodhisattva).
Among them, "National Treasure Yohen Tenmoku Tea Bowl '' is a must-see. There are only three "complete works recognized as Yohhen Tenmoku '' in the world, and you can see one of them at the Fujita Museum of Art. (*This bowl is not on permanent display.)
Architecture of buildings
Taisei Corporation was in charge of the design and construction of the renovation of the aging museum, reusing many parts of the old building that had protected artworks for over 100 years.
The goal of the renovation was to create an art museum where visitors can "see, hear, and talk". The "Doma," with its white earthen walls, paving stones, and glass walls, is a place for visitors to relax. By eliminating the walls surrounding the museum, visitors can also enjoy the view, creating a connection with the surrounding area.
Representative past exhibitions
The galleries are separated by movable walls, and three of the four areas are always open to the public, with one theme changing every month, allowing visitors to view many works of art at any time of the year.
Visitors can view the valuable collection up close and personal, and are even allowed to take photos with their smartphones (no flash).
〈Main Exhibitions〉
"Zen" (April - June, 2023), National Treasure, Yohen Tenmoku Tea Bowl, Sixteen Arhats, etc.
"Faces" (August - October 2023): Self-Portrait of Sesshu (copy), Dry Lacquer Gigaku Masks, etc.
"Yoh" (November 2023 - January 2024), Oeyama Shuten-doji Emaki (Picture scroll of a child drinking sake), Important Cultural Property, Kokuyuki's inscription on a small sword, etc.
Museum Shop
*There is currently no museum shop at the Fujita Art Museum.
Café and Restaurant Information
The Amijima Tea House is attached to the Fujita Art Museum. Located in the earthen floor area at the entrance, visitors can enjoy dango and authentic Japanese tea in a bright, open space with natural light. You can choose one type of tea from sencha, bancha, and matcha, and the dumplings are served freshly baked with red bean paste and soy sauce flavor.
In addition, the tea bowls and trays used are made by contemporary artists. You can enjoy a luxurious time in a space where every detail has been carefully considered.
Business hours | 10:00 - closes when all dango are sold out |
Closed | December 29 - January 5 |
Website |
Recommended places around Fujita Art Museum
Sanno Museum
The Sanno Museum, which displays and exhibits the collection that the founder of Hotel Monterey collected over the past 50 years, opened in 2009 at the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka in Naniwa Ward, Osaka City, and moved and opened as an independent museum in 2022 in its current location in Chuo Ward, Osaka City.
The Garden Oriental, Osaka
The Garden Oriental Osaka is a restaurant and bridal facility located in Amishima-cho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka City. The conversion of the Osaka City Hall, originally used as a guest house, was decided upon upon its closure, and the restaurant opened in 2014.