About the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art was opened in 2002 as a symbol of 'cultural recovery', taking over from the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, which was damaged in the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Located in HAT Kobe, a new development zone in the eastern part of Kobe, it is one of the largest museums in western Japan and welcomes many visitors every year.
At the museum, visitors can experience a diverse range of genres, from modern sculpture to modern prints, art related to Hyogo and contemporary art. The museum also has a strong desire to recover and restore the wealth of the human spirit, and in particular to protect the sensibilities of the children who will carry the future, which is why it offers a wide range of events for visitors to participate in and experience, as well as to view the artworks.
The magnificent architecture by world-renowned architect ANDO Tadao is also worth seeing, and the building, with its various devices in its structure, shows a variety of faces depending on the season and time of day when you visit.
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art access and visiting information
Address | 1-1-1 Wakihama Kaigandori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0073, Japan (in HAT Kobe) |
Tel | 078-262-1011 |
Access from nearest station |
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Opening hours | 10:00-18:00 (admission by 17:30). |
Closed | Mondays (or the following day if the Monday is a public holiday), year-end and New Year's holidays, and maintenance closures. |
Admission |
*Free admission for high school students and younger. One accompanying caregiver per disabled person with a disability certificate is admitted free of charge. Discounted set tickets are available for those visiting both the Collection and Special Exhibitions. |
Facilities | Parking, wheelchair and stroller rental, elevator, ramp, restrooms (barrier-free), nursing room, AED, coin lockers (100 yen returnable), cafe, restaurant, museum store |
Note | Guide dogs and other assistance dogs for the physically disabled are allowed to enter the museum. |
Official Website |
Highlights of Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
collections
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art has a collection of more than 10,000 domestic and international works of art, mainly modern sculpture, modern prints, art related to Hyogo, and contemporary art. The museum regularly holds "Collection Exhibitions" based on its huge collection, so that visitors can see new works of art every time they visit.
Since the opening of its precursor, the Museum of Modern Art, Hyogo, sculptures have been at the core of the museum's collection and exhibition. Visitors can view sculptures by 19th and 20th century masters such as Auguste Rodin, the founder of modern sculpture, Antoine Bourdelle, and Aristide Maillol.
The museum also has a rich collection of works by artists with close ties to Hyogo, such as Western-style painters KANAYAMA Heizo and KOISO Ryohei, and Japanese-style painter MURAKAMI Kagaku.
architecture
Designed by ANDO Tadao. With a total floor space of 28,076.15㎡, it is one of the largest art museums in western Japan and the largest in the world among Ando's art architecture. The glass corridors surrounding the galleries and the garden of light between the galleries create shadows with the natural light that pours in, giving the museum a variety of expressions. The circular terrace, the symbol of the museum, and the huge maze-like structure of corridors throughout the museum will make your stay an enjoyable one.
When the building was expanded in 2019, Ando donated the architecture and exhibits to create the Ando Gallery. The gallery exhibits valuable documents that allow visitors to view Ando's activities throughout the building, including the trajectory of his projects for reconstruction after the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, as well as architectural models and drawings of the "Sumiyoshi Row House" and "Church of Light". The giant green apple sculpture designed by Tadao Ando in the outdoor space is also a must-see. The Ando Gallery is open to the public free of charge.
Representative Past Exhibits
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art hosts a wide variety of exhibitions based on its huge collection, exhibitions related to history and climate, and large-scale touring exhibitions that are avant-garde and in line with changing fashions and times. These avant-garde exhibitions, which defy the boundaries of genre, bring new discoveries to the viewer.
The King of Adventure, YOKOO Tadanori (2008)
MORIMURA Yasumasa: A Requiem - Art atop the Battlefield" (2011)
Scary Pictures (2017)
The 50th Anniversary of GUTAI: The Gutai Collection of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art" (2020)
Lee Ufan in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (2022)
Museum Shop
The museum's unique items such as postcards, stationery, and art books, as well as a selection of design goods and jewelry from Japan and abroad, are a delight to the eye and are not easily found elsewhere. Books by ANDO Tadao, the architect of the museum, and stickers of YANOBE Kenji's sculpture "Sun Sister "Nagisa"" standing brilliantly outdoors are also available. New items are also featured on SNS and the website, and you can check them out before you visit.
Open hours | 10:00 - 18:00 (admission until 30 minutes before closing) |
Closed | Mondays ( if Monday is a national holiday, the following day will be closed ), Year-end and New Year holidays, and maintenance closures (same as the Prefectural Museum of Art closures) |
Web site |
Cafe and Restaurant Information
Café Fortissimo
Café Fortissimo is located on the first floor by the circular terrace.
Besides drinks, sandwiches and other snacks are available, perfect for a short break.
There is counter seating along the window side, so you don't have to worry about using the restaurant alone. An open terrace is also available on sunny days.
Opening hours | 10:00 - 17:00 (subject to temporary time changes) |
Closed | Monday ( If Monday is a national holiday, Tuesday will be closed) |
Restaurant Fortissimo
Restaurant Fortissimo is located on the second floor.
The menu includes a main course such as handmade hamburger steak, beef stew, and loin steak, as well as a side buffet of about 20 dishes and a drink.
If you want to eat well, try visiting this restaurant. You can also enjoy the view with the sea that is typical of Kobe.
Opening hours | 11:00 - 14:00 (subject to temporary time change) |
Closed | Monday ( If Monday is a national holiday, the restaurant will be closed on Tuesday) |