Experience bustling markets and the serenity of Noh and ceramics in Osaka, the city of contrasts - Part 2
Exploring Nakanoshima and the world-renowned collection of The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
Located near the center of Osaka is narrow strip of land between two rivers that houses a number of administrative, economic, and cultural facilities. This is Nakanoshima, the next stop on our trip. It is a great place for a walk. The rivers are lined with impressive brick buildings and you may also come across a number of installations, events or outdoor markets, depending on the season.
Nakanoshima is also home to several museums. These include The National Museum of Art, Osaka, a hub for contemporary art that stands out from other global art museums in the way it is situated completely underground. Another highlight is Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art and its collection of Japanese and Asian antique art works spanning genres such as Buddhist art, calligraphy, early-modern painting, tea utensils, lacquerware, and weaponry. Visitors should also drop by Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka. This museum opened in 2022 and it creates a striking impression with its black-cube-shaped building guarded by Kenji Yanobe’s iconic SHIP’S CAT (Muse) sculpture. All told, Nakanoshima is a fantastic place to spend a day or even longer.
The National Museum of Art, Osaka
- Address
- 4-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
- Link
- https://www.nmao.go.jp/en/
Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka
- Address
- 4-3-1 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
- Link
- https://nakka-art.jp/en/
Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art
- Address
- 4F Nakanoshima Festival Tower West,
3-2-4 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka - Link
- https://www.kosetsu-museum.or.jp/nakanoshima/en/
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
Our main port of call was The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. I’ll cut to the chase – I loved it here. So much thought and effort has gone into enhancing the appreciation and appeal of ceramics, and it shows.
The experience begins as soon as you walk in. The museum has huge glass windows to make it more open and inviting. Visitors are also encouraged to take pictures inside and share them on social media. The museum also has free Wi-Fi and a downloadable guidance app available in several languages.
But the magic truly begins inside the galleries. For a start, each room has different lighting and layouts to highlight the respective qualities of the works on display. Chinese ceramics are often large and colorful, for example, so their gallery has a raised ceiling and bright lighting to enhance these qualities.
There is also a unique room that uses natural lighting. This mainly features celadon works. Apparently, these are best viewed on a bright autumn morning at 10am! We were a few hours and a season out, but it was still lovely. With the way natural lighting changes over time, visitors can get a unique experience on each visit. It’s marvellous.
The museum also uses special display stands fitted with seismic isolators, so objects can be displayed without synthetic threads holding them down. The accompanying panels also contain one-line “catch copy” phrases for people tired of reading whole explanations. My favourites: “Early Tang Ladies Went for Slim Bodies” and “High Tang Ladies Preferred Plumpness.” These show how tastes change over time!
All these things truly enhance the appreciation of the museum’s wonderful collection, with this making for an unforgettable experience. Visitors to Osaka should definitely fit this into their travel schedules.
The museum also has a shop and a lovely café that doesn’t require a ticket to enter. The café has big glass windows, so I treated myself to a coffee and watched the world go by.
* Due to the rotations of exhibits, some of the objects in the photos may not be on display when you visit.
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
- Address
- 1-1-26, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
- Access
- Close to Naniwabashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line. Take the stairway exit No.1.
5-minute walk (approx. 400m) from:
－Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Subway Midosuji Line or the Keihan Railway. Take the stairway exit No.1.
－Kitahama Station on the Osaka Subway Sakaisuji Line or the Keihan Railway. Take the stairway exit No.26.