Five reasons to visit the National Museum of Art, Osaka

Approaching the museum, expect to be stopped in your tracks by the breathtaking above-ground part of its structure. Formed from glass and stainless steel, it was intended by Argentine-born architect César Pelli to convey bamboo blowing in the wind. That interpretation stands, and it can equally be imagined as some insect-like cybernetic entity emerging from the earth. Below ground, the prolific way in which bamboo grows is taken as inspiration for a complex intended to foster the development of contemporary art. Of the three expansive subterranean floors, two are devoted to exhibition space. The other floor, the first below ground, can be accessed free of charge and houses a restaurant, museum shop, kids’ room and more.

The NMAO’s permanent collection, judiciously built up over the past half century, consists of over 8,000 pieces. Focused mainly on post-war art, it includes works by key Japanese and international artists such as Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama, and encompasses a host of mediums including painting, sculpture, photography and graphic design. A smaller selection of pre-war work again comes from a cosmopolitan roster of artists including Pablo Picasso and Paul Cezanne. Keeping things fresh, the collection works on display are changed every few months. Special exhibitions include visits from major international touring shows.

The NMAO shop is located on floor B1F, where it can be freely accessed without an admission ticket. Its wide selection of souvenirs includes original museum goods such as merchandise relating to exhibitions; general art-related items; and intriguing novelties. Among the most popular are sticky memo notes and drinking glasses decorated with the work of artist Jiro Takamatsu, MoMA’s famous ‘sky umbrella’ featuring an inner print of a cloud-filled blue sky, and a soft vinyl replica of Taro Okamoto’s Tower of the Sun, an iconic sculpture that has stood in Osaka since the 1970 Japan World Expo.

Nakanoshima Muse, a stylish yet relaxed café and restaurant, is again located on B1F and open to non-museum visitors too. Afternoons see its spacious interior bathed in soft sunlight, making it a tranquil place to reflect upon the masterpieces we recommend you do opt to see before enjoying some refreshment here. The café-style menu centres on the kind of Western-originated dishes that have been adopted as Japanese staples, including hamburg steak and omuraisu (omelette rice) offered in sets complete with salad and soup.

NMAO’s subterranean location is on the narrow, three-kilometre-long island of Nakanoshima, which is sandwiched between the Dojima and Tosabori rivers around a 20-minute walk south of Osaka Station. Viewed from overhead, the island’s pointed western tip gives it the form of a snake winding its way through the waters. Nakanoshima has been a focus of Osaka commerce since the Edo period (1603-1868), with a number of cultural institutions appearing here over the past century-and-a-half: NMAO’s neighbours include the Osaka Science Museum and the performing arts venue Festival Hall. Nearby Kitahama Terrace is a riverside spot lined with cafés and restaurants, while Nakanoshima Park is a lush oasis in the heart of the city.

4-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita, Osaka (Watanabebashi Station). 06 6447 4680. www.nmao.go.jp/en/index.html. 10am-5pm (Fri, Sat until 8pm).