OSAKA MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES

Chihaya Nature and Astronomy Museum is located on Mt. Kongo, in Southern Osaka.

Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation (EMCI), located in Chuo Osaka, presents the history and achievements of 107 Osaka based entrepreneurs.

Itsuo Art Museum has a collection by Ichizo Kobayashi (1873-1957), with about 5,000 pieces in total, among them 15 pieces are designated as Important Cultural Properties and 19 pieces as Cultural Properties. Itsuo Art Museum is located in Ikeda Osaka.

Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, located in Namba, is the only museum in the world that features a permanent exhibition of Kamigata Ukiyoe. In Kamigata (Osaka's name during the Edo period), many Ukiyoe (colored woodblock prints) were created featuring Kabuki actors. Impressive expressions of actors' eyes and faces, expressing various human emotions are vividly depicted in these Ukiyoe. The Museum exhibits some 30 items.

Mino Insect Museum, located in Mino Osaka, exhibits over 6,000 of insects with some live species that visitors can touch and feel.

Modern Transport Museum Osaka displays an extensive range of trains along with a few early cars and planes, but prize display item is the very first Shinkansen. The trains on display include steam, diesel, electric and a prototype magnetic levitation train. The Modern Transport Museum Osaka has many interactive displays including simplified driver controls of a variety of engines, which control very large model train sets. The Modern Transport Museum Osaka is located next to the Bentencho Station Osaka on the Osaka Loop Line.

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum is the site of development of the world's first instant noodle. The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, located in Ikeda Osaka, includes interactive displays where you can make your own instant noodles.

Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, located in Nakanoshima Osaka, has the world's best collection of oriental ceramics including two National Treasures and 13 important cultural properties.

Namban Bunkakan Museum, located Umeda Osaka, features the artworks brought to Japan by the Portuguese and Spanish merchants and missionaries during 1543-1693. This culture is refered to as "Namban Bunka". The museum opens only twice a year: May 1-31 & Nov 1-30 (close on Mondays) Open Hours: 10am – 4pm

National Museum of Art Osaka, located in Nakanoshima Osaka, is a uniquely designed underground museum opened in 1977 housing Japanese and foreign contemporary art. National Museum of Art Osaka is located next to the Osaka Science Museum.

Osaka Human Rights Museum, also known as Liberty Osaka, is located in Naniwanishi Osaka. The purpose of the Osaka Human Rights Museum is to exhibit the importance of human rights, along with past and present discrimination against groups of people.

Osaka International Peace Centre is a museum which focuses on the destruction of Osaka during World War II. There are also exihibits of Japan's roll in World War II. Osaka International Peace Centre is located within Osaka Castle Park.

Osaka Maritime Museum is distinctive and award winning building housing a collection which shows Osaka's strong connection with the sea and maritime activities.

Osaka Municipal Museum of Art, located in Tennoji Park, in the building was the former residence of the Sumitomo family. Osaka Municipal Museum of Art displays paintings and ceramics including some Important Cultural Properties.

Osaka Museum of History is located in a distinctive modern building opposite Osaka Castle Park. The Osaka Museum of History covers the 1,400 year history of Osaka through life-size reconstructions, scale models, photographs and movies.

Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, located in Tenjinbashi Osaka, features a life sized recreation of Osaka during the late Edo period, plus pictures and models showing the housing and lifestyle during the later periods. Closed Tuesdays. Entry 600 Yen.

Osaka Museum of Natural History, located in Nagai Osaka, features 10,000 exhibits including a life sized replica of a Naumann's elephant (extinct elephant that used to live in Japan) and dinasaur displays plus the types of foods eating by humans in the past.

Osaka Science Museum, located in Nakanoshima Osaka, houses a collection of historic science exhibitions. The Osaka Science Museum also houses the planetarium. The Osaka Science Museum is located next to the National Museum of Art Osaka.

Panasonic Konosuke Matsushita Museum, located in Eastern Osaka celebrates the history of the founder, Konosuke Matsushita, and Panasonic (formally called Matsushita Electric).

Sakai City Museum is located Daisen Park in Sakai Southern Osaka. Sakai City Museum covers the distinctive history of Sakai city.

Sakai HAMONO Museum, located in Sakai Southern Osaka, is dedicated to knives produced in the region. Sakai is famous for its knives. About 90% of kitchen knives used in Japan are from Sakai.

Suntory Museum in Tempozan Osaka is a cultural complex featuring a Gallery and an IMAX® Theater. Suntory Museum has a distinct award winning architectural design.