The Reopening of the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts Left Me Feeling Sentimental
The Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, Japan's third oldest public art museum, first opened in 1936. After approximately two years and five months of renovations, it reopened on March 1.
To celebrate the reopening, a month-long commemorative exhibition titled "What's new" is being held. The exhibition features 200 specially selected works, including six designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The exhibits include paintings, books, sculptures, crafts, and more.
I made a special trip to see the entire exhibition, which includes numerous treasures from China, such as Buddhist statues, calligraphy, paintings, and ceramics. These pieces date back to the Tang and Song dynasties, the Northern Wei dynasty, and even the Shang dynasty.
Seeing these masterpieces left me deeply moved and filled with a sense of melancholy. The Buddha head from the Yumen Grottoes, the gilded bronze and silver feathered man from the Later Han dynasty, and Xie Shichen's massive 3m+ masterpiece all left a lasting impression.
📍Address: 1-82 Chausuyamacho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City (inside Tennoji Park)
⏰Hours: 9:00am–5:00pm (Last entry at 4:30pm)
🗓️Closed: Mondays, New Year's holidays
🚃Access: Approx. 5-min walk from Tennoji Station on the JR Lines, Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, and Tanimachi Line
Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts