Aomori Museum of Art
Aomori Museum of Art
4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Aomori Museum of Art and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,117 within 3 miles
Attractions
105 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
407 reviews
Excellent
160
Very good
165
Average
63
Poor
10
Terrible
9
dsHawaii
Honolulu, HI97 contributions
Feb 2020
Sounds like the success of your visit depends on what is currently being exhibited. The first impression you get from the outside of the building is an impressive one. A grand building set on a hillside. Even inside there are immense showing rooms. The Chagall exhibit is stunning. However, it was downhill from there. Most of the other exhibit were of photographs and most of the descriptions were in Japanese. Kind of surprising given that so many tourists come here. Honestly, for the price of the bus ticket (you can't use JR pass) and the entrance fee, it was not money well spent.
Written March 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovemykidsallthetime
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia268 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
Because of the lack of snow, ski resorts were slow to open. But we were glad we came here. The highlight was the four huge stage backdrops painted by Chagall for the ballet “Aleko”.
Written December 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BlackieK
Melbourne, Australia20 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
Initially we only ventured out to Aomori Art Museum to see the huge 8.5 meter tall Aomori Ken sculpture- by Nara Yoshitomo- as he looks a lot like our Whippet and we were missing him. However the gallery is fantastic. The building is made up of series of spaces that is easy to navigate with help of the many guides around the gallery. One gallery has displayed the backdrops painted by Marc Chagall for a ballet . They are huge and overwhelming- a must see for Chagall fans. The other galleries featured more of Yoshitomo's work which were fun to see. When we visited the main exhibition was "MIFFY" yes the white cute rabbit in those children books. The exhibition showed the development of the iconic Miffy . The highlights were seeing the original hand painted version of some of the books- amazing work in gouache. There were plenty of overpriced trinkets and overwhelmed kids and big kids.
We had planned to visit the other historical places nearby but ran out of time.
We had planned to visit the other historical places nearby but ran out of time.
Written July 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tengkin
Singapore, Singapore2,119 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Like all art scene, this place is quiet and serene. I, enjoyed looking at the drama practise and the handwork of art
Written May 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VKML
37 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
A hugh cute dog statue. Inside the lift there was a bench for sitting which was rather interesting. Interesting place to visit.
Written June 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sony Rajan
Tokyo, Japan195 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
The building and its architecture is something very interesting. Some of the artwork on display really were amazing. The 8.5m Aomori ken is the key attraction. Not far from the town centre. Ample parking is available. Reasonable English assistance was available.
Written July 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CathCPerth
Yokohama, Japan259 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
I have seen quite a few art galleries now in Japan and I really appreciate the Japanese love for contemporary art and their desire to present art in fabulous surroundings. The Aomori Art Gallery is no exception. The building itself is an impressive example of excellence in contemporary architectural design and is very minimalistic designed by Jun Aoki with incredibly high ceilings and large expanses of wall- perfect for displaying large scale works. On the day we visited, there was a temporary exhibition about the depiction of female beauty in Japanese art over the past 3 centuries. Permanent parts of the collection include 3 extremely large scale works by Marc Chagall- they are massive hand painted ballet/theatre backdrops that cant help but impress you when you enter the large room. In this room known as Aleko Hall that has a 19m high ceiling and walls with a width of 21 metres (which was my personal favourite) you can sit on these quirky looking chairs that have wheels and allow you to slide, pivot and turn around to look at the 3 large scale works from different angles. One of the most famous permanent works in the collection is of a giant sized cartoon styled 3D dog leaning over a bowl by Aomori-Ken. This sculptural work is outside and can be accessed for free without having to enter the gallery. You can also view this work from inside the gallery. There are several other pieces of art (paintings and sculptures) by this artist on the ground floor.
The gallery has one of the best gift shops I have been too. We ran out of time otherwise could have spent a small fortune there. There is also a cafe but we didn't get time to eat there. The Gallery is located quite a way out of Aomori City and we got there by catching a train to Shin-Aomori station and then a bus that stops right outside the gallery. The bus only runs every half an hour or so and is a smaller shuttle style bus. If you visit this gallery, it is within easy walking distance to the Sannai-Maruyama archeological site so it is a good idea to combine these two attractions in one day trip. Apparently the concept and design of this gallery was inspired by the adjacent archeological site. The ticket cost for entry was around $AUD10. No photos are allowed inside the museum.
The gallery has one of the best gift shops I have been too. We ran out of time otherwise could have spent a small fortune there. There is also a cafe but we didn't get time to eat there. The Gallery is located quite a way out of Aomori City and we got there by catching a train to Shin-Aomori station and then a bus that stops right outside the gallery. The bus only runs every half an hour or so and is a smaller shuttle style bus. If you visit this gallery, it is within easy walking distance to the Sannai-Maruyama archeological site so it is a good idea to combine these two attractions in one day trip. Apparently the concept and design of this gallery was inspired by the adjacent archeological site. The ticket cost for entry was around $AUD10. No photos are allowed inside the museum.
Written August 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vmkrish
Ann Arbor, MI8 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
I went in August 2013, and got a ticket for both the temporary and permanent exhibitions. The ticket is a bit on the pricey side, costing upwards of ¥1000 for the two exhibitions (although you can purchase the tickets individually).
Other than basic information about the pieces (name, title, materials), the placards for the art is all in Japanese. So, as someone who can't read Japanese, the temporary exhibition they had was very underwhelming to me - it was about Japan's coast, I think in part highlighting the 2011 earthquake. Some of the content was cool, but I had little context for it.
However, the permanent exhibition was a totally different story. They have a lot of very cool modern art pieces, nothing at all like Duchamp's Fountain or silly things like that (although I guess those have value in their own right). I particularly liked "Lightning State", an audiovisual piece done in 2013, as well as the Yoshitomo Nara (from Hirosaki) and Sano Nui exhibits they had. Sadly, they had an archaic "no photos" policy for everything except the big dog.
One thing to note is, if you're in the area but don't want to spend the money/time to go into the museum, you can go see Aomori Ken (あおもり犬, the giant dog in the pictures) for free. However, you have to go while the museum is open, since I think they lock up the access gates about 45 minutes before they close.
The museum is nicely integrated with the Sannai Marayuma Jomon site - there's a marked path directly connecting the two, I didn't really think there was much to do there, perhaps because of the language barrier. Then again, the entrance the path takes you to isn't the main one (where the bus stops), and it looked like the desk at the main entrance does have some sort of English language materials.
To get there from the JR station, take the half-hour, ¥270 bus ride. There's approximately one every hour, and if you ask at the City Bus Info center (at the JR station), they'll give you a time table.
Other than basic information about the pieces (name, title, materials), the placards for the art is all in Japanese. So, as someone who can't read Japanese, the temporary exhibition they had was very underwhelming to me - it was about Japan's coast, I think in part highlighting the 2011 earthquake. Some of the content was cool, but I had little context for it.
However, the permanent exhibition was a totally different story. They have a lot of very cool modern art pieces, nothing at all like Duchamp's Fountain or silly things like that (although I guess those have value in their own right). I particularly liked "Lightning State", an audiovisual piece done in 2013, as well as the Yoshitomo Nara (from Hirosaki) and Sano Nui exhibits they had. Sadly, they had an archaic "no photos" policy for everything except the big dog.
One thing to note is, if you're in the area but don't want to spend the money/time to go into the museum, you can go see Aomori Ken (あおもり犬, the giant dog in the pictures) for free. However, you have to go while the museum is open, since I think they lock up the access gates about 45 minutes before they close.
The museum is nicely integrated with the Sannai Marayuma Jomon site - there's a marked path directly connecting the two, I didn't really think there was much to do there, perhaps because of the language barrier. Then again, the entrance the path takes you to isn't the main one (where the bus stops), and it looked like the desk at the main entrance does have some sort of English language materials.
To get there from the JR station, take the half-hour, ¥270 bus ride. There's approximately one every hour, and if you ask at the City Bus Info center (at the JR station), they'll give you a time table.
Written August 22, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
invis_lady
Brisbane122 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
I went there and paid 1900 yen to see the permanent exhibition plus the temporary exhibition. I got there at opening time so there weren't crowds blocking the insta-worthy shots.
I like art, and managed to see everything in 1 hour, as most of the paragraphs of text are in Japanese only.
Trip critical information-
1) outdoor path to the Aomori Dog is now closed for winter. You can still photograph this part of the permanent exhibition from behind glass windows, but that comes with its own challenges, especially on a cloudy day.
2) The agriculture (temporary exhibition) is worth the money because most of this photography is allowed, but no tripods or flash allowed. It really lets you take in the full scale of the building itself. There is a central gallery that is massive in scale, can't be conveyed with pictures.
Transport- I have posted the local bus timetables to this review. Note that the timing is hourly!!! The tourist information centre at Aomori train station have also put together a handy guide for using local buses. The cheapest way to get here is local bus, one way 310yen or 500yen round trip, or there is an express service with a different bus company, but the round trip costs 800yen.
I like art, and managed to see everything in 1 hour, as most of the paragraphs of text are in Japanese only.
Trip critical information-
1) outdoor path to the Aomori Dog is now closed for winter. You can still photograph this part of the permanent exhibition from behind glass windows, but that comes with its own challenges, especially on a cloudy day.
2) The agriculture (temporary exhibition) is worth the money because most of this photography is allowed, but no tripods or flash allowed. It really lets you take in the full scale of the building itself. There is a central gallery that is massive in scale, can't be conveyed with pictures.
Transport- I have posted the local bus timetables to this review. Note that the timing is hourly!!! The tourist information centre at Aomori train station have also put together a handy guide for using local buses. The cheapest way to get here is local bus, one way 310yen or 500yen round trip, or there is an express service with a different bus company, but the round trip costs 800yen.
Written November 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cris
Greater Adelaide, Australia359 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
We are traditional art persons so some of the art is indifferent to our tastes. There are renowned artists in the galleries however.
Some art took our eye but for a traditionalist it was a little perplexing.
The building is worth the effort however, you can get there easily by the minibus.
Some art took our eye but for a traditionalist it was a little perplexing.
The building is worth the effort however, you can get there easily by the minibus.
Written October 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
隣にある三内丸山遺跡も一緒に見たいとおもいます。美術館と併せて３時間半を予定していますが、足りないでしょうか。
Written May 10, 2022
how much is the entrance fee?
Written December 20, 2018
I think that I had to pay to access the special exhibition. It was not expensive if that was the case.
Written December 22, 2018
A Tripadvisor member
Brisbane, Australia
Is there a bus to the Sannai Maruyama site from Aomori Cruise Port we will be there for 1 day on 27/3/2016 please advise.Ronald
Written August 22, 2015
You don't need a bus. The gallery is basically on the premises of the Sannai Maruyama site. Just about 300 m from the entrance to the archeological site. Btw, the entrance to archeological site is free.
Written August 22, 2015
A Tripadvisor member
Brisbane, Australia
Hi we will be in aomori for 1 day in march would like to know how to get to aomori from cruise ship port aomori
Written August 22, 2015
Hi Ronald, Aomori is a small town, so distance is not much of a worry. As far as I know there are 2 ports. One is just 5 minutes walk from the Aomori railway station. This also where the Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkodamaru is berth. There is also another port, which I presume the ships from Hakodate comes in, from this port to Aomori station by taxi will be about 20 minutes. There is a friendly tourist office next to the station, where you can find help on how to access any tourist locations you want. Do enjoy the sea food, it would be crime if you miss it. Have a great trip ! Arigatou gozaimasu !
Written August 22, 2015
Showing results 1-6 of 6
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing