Museum sights in Kanazawa
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Designed by the acclaimed Tokyo architecture firm SANAA, this ultramodern museum opened in late 2004 and instantly became an 'it' building. A low-slung glass cylinder, 113m in diameter, forms the perimeter, and inside galleries and auditoria are arranged like boxes on a tray. Nongallery portions of the building are open daily from 9am to 10pm.
Oh yes, there's art too: temporary exhibits by leading contemporary artists from Japan and abroad, plus occasional music and dance performances. Check the website for events; admission charges may increase up to ¥1000 during special exhibitions.
reviewed
-
B
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Products & Crafts
Behind Seison-kaku, this museum is not flashy but offers fine displays of over 20 regional crafts. Pick up the free English-language headphone guide.
reviewed
-
C
Nakamura Memorial Museum
Rotating exhibitions from the 600-piece collection of this museum usually include chanoyu (tea ceremony) utensils, calligraphy and traditional crafts from the collection of a wealthy sake brewer, Nakamura Eishun. You can enjoy a bowl of powdered tea for ¥100. Reached via a narrow flight of steps below the Ishikawa Prefectural Art Museum.
reviewed
-
D
Ishikawa Prefectural Art Museum
This museum specialises in antique exhibitions of traditional arts, with special emphasis on colourful Kutani porcelain, Japanese painting and Kaga yūzen (silk-dyed) fabrics and costumes. Admission prices are higher during special exhibitions.
reviewed
-
E
Honda Museum
The Honda family were chief retainers to the Maeda clan, and this museum exhibits the family collection of armour, household utensils and works of art. The bulletproof coat and the family vase are particularly interesting, and there's a detailed catalogue in English.
reviewed
-
F
Ōhi Pottery Museum
This museum was established by the Chōzaemon family, now in its 10th generation. The first Chōzaemon developed this style in nearby Ōhi village, using a special slow-fired amber glaze, specifically for use in chanoyu.
reviewed
-
G
Kanazawa Phonograph Museum
Audio buffs will dig this museum of old-time phonographs (aka gramophones) and SP records. There are daily phonograph demonstrations at 11am, 2pm and 4pm.
reviewed
-
H
Kanazawa Noh Museum
This modern museum gives a basic introduction to the mysterious art form of nō, the world's oldest continually performed art, with special emphasis on Kaga-style performance. Changing exhibits (costumes, masks etc) complement the ground floor, which is marked with an outline of a nō stage. Enthusiasts should also visit the Ishikawa Prefectural Nō Theatre.
reviewed
