Yokosuka Museum of Art

Located at Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama, the Yokohama Museum of Art opened in 1989 as a pavilion for the Yokohama Exposition, and officially opened as the Yokohama Museum of Art after the exposition ended.

The exterior of the building, with its symmetrical design by Kenzo Tange, has a special presence in the center of the Minato Mirai district.

The museum houses seven exhibition halls, an art information center, atelier, café, and museum store.

The building has three stories above ground (some eight stories), with a total floor space of 26,829 square meters and a collection of approximately 12,000 works of art.

Although it does not have the floor space of the National Art Center, Tokyo, it is larger than the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo.

The Yokohama Museum of Art exhibits various genres of art, including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs/videos, and crafts, focusing on works by Cézanne, Magritte, and others associated with Yokohama since the end of the Edo period, as well as modern and contemporary art works from the late 19th century onward.

Since Yokohama is the birthplace of photography in Japan, the museum also has an extensive collection of photographs.

Equipped with ateliers and an art information center, it functions as a base for artistic activities based on the concept of “See, Create, Learn.

It also has a children’s atelier and a citizens’ atelier, where people of all ages can enjoy creative experiences.

Art Information Center

The Yokohama Museum of Art is home to the Art Information Center, where visitors can enjoy approximately 110,000 volumes of books and video materials. A library specializing in art is located on the left side of the building and can be used free of charge without an exhibition ticket.

The library has more than 110,000 books and about 580 video materials. A selection of books related to the exhibitions is also available for visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the exhibitions.

Museum Shop and Cafe

The Museum Shop and Café Kokurayama are located on the second floor facing the park. The Museum Shop sells postcards of exhibited works, related books, and collections of artworks.

Café Ogurayama, named after Shimomura Kanzan’s work “Ogurayama,” offers light meals while enjoying the beautiful scenery. A special menu is also offered in conjunction with the exhibition.

Works in the Collection

The museum’s collection focuses on works that trace the mutual influence of European and Japanese modern art. The following is a sampling of major works from the collection:

Portrait of Tsubaki-kun - Ryusei Kishida
Mt. Ogura - Shimomura Kanzan
Flowers and Akariyomu - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
Ejoh Funayu - Yokoyama Taikan
Jattei SHIMOMURA Kanzan
Natsumei HISHIDA Haruso
Requiem for Something (Vladimir by Night) - MORIMURA Yasumasa
Mount Sainte-Victoire seen from Gardanne - Paul Cezanne
The King’s Museum - René Magritte
Midnight Sun - Isamu Noguchi
Goddess on the Rock - Gustave Moreau
Woman Sleeping in a Chair - Pablo Picasso
Georges Braque - Painting Rack
Flowers and Butterflies - Joan Miró
Geodesic Portrait of Gala - Salvador Dali
A Girl’s Dream of a Lake - Max Ernst
Staircase - Paul Delvaux
Red in the Net - Vasily Kandinsky
Endo Matataemon and His Squire - Eliphalet Brown, Jr.

And many more wonderful works.

The Yokohama Museum of Art is an attractive museum that offers not only exhibition rooms but also a full range of facilities, including an art information center, atelier, museum store, and café. It is definitely worth a visit not only for the special exhibitions of your choice, but also for the regular collection exhibitions.