How to enjoy the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa! 

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​21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Kanazawa is a popular tourist spot that Kanazawa is proud of. This is an art museum that holds exhibitions and programs centered on contemporary art.

There are plenty of areas in the museum that you can enjoy for free, so it's also attractive that you can casually come into contact with art! There is also a restaurant, museum shop, and tea room.

This time, we will introduce how to enjoy the 21st Century Museum of Art, including highlights, tickets, and access methods!

* Information is current at the time of the interview.
Please check the latest information of each facility and store when using.

What kind of place is "21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa"?

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa opened in the center of Kanazawa City in 2004 with the concept of "a park-like art museum open to the city."

The museum is divided into a public zone and an exhibition zone, and admission to the public zone is free.

In addition to Leandro Erlich's "Swimming Pool", large-scale permanent exhibitions are permanently installed inside and outside the museum.

It was designed by world-famous architects Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA.

The first point is that the building is a circular glass that has no front or back. Visitors can enter the building from various locations.

It is no exaggeration to say that the museum building itself is art.

How to get to The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

About 10 minutes by car from the east exit of JR Kanazawa Station. For parking, please use the Kanazawa City Hall/Museum Parking Lot in the basement. (Parking number: 322)

On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the town bus "Machi Bus" that goes around Kanazawa City from Kanazawa Station is also convenient!

Get your ticket first!

There are plenty of "Public Zones'' that can be enjoyed for free, but if you want to fully enjoy the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, you should purchase a ticket.

▼ About tickets
https://www.kanazawa21.jp/data_list.php?g=7

Weekends and consecutive holidays are expected to be quite crowded, so we recommend making reservations online in advance!

* To visit the underground part of the "Swimming Pool", you need to make a reservation in advance or wait in line on the day. Please note that a separate exhibition ticket (special exhibition or collection exhibition) is required in either case.

Highlights of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

We will introduce the points that you should keep in mind, focusing on the permanent exhibition works from among the many exhibits!

Leandro Erlich "Swimming Pool"

Leandro Erlich's "Swimming Pool" is particularly popular among the permanent exhibits.

This is a pool-shaped work installed in one of the light gardens. Looking down on the pool from the deck, there are people inside! !

In reality, the transparent glass is covered with water about 10 centimeters deep.

You can also enter the pool and enjoy two different views. When you look up at the surface of the water, the light shimmers and flickers, making you feel like you are really in the pool.

* To visit the underground part of the "Swimming Pool", you need to make a reservation in advance or wait in line on the day. Please note that a separate exhibition ticket (special exhibition or collection exhibition) is required in either case.

James Turrell "Blue Planet Sky"

Personally, we especially recommend James Turrell's "Blue Planet Sky." This work features an opening in the central ceiling of a cubic room, allowing visitors to enjoy a view of the sky as if it were a single painting.

Sitting on a bench and watching the sky flow by is a luxurious experience. It is also attractive that you can enjoy a different expression every time you visit.

Michael Lin《Citizen Gallery》2004.10.09 -2005.03.21》

"Citizen's Gallery 2004.10.09-2005.03.21" is a work that uses one wall of the exhibition room of "Citizen's Gallery A" in the "Public Zone" that can be entered for free. It was created with the motif of the traditional craft "Kaga Yuzen".

A rocking chair that sways gently is also installed, making it a perfect resting spot!

"Rabbit chair" designed by SANAA

An impressive chair placed in the public zone.

Actually, this one was also created by Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA. It is also very popular as a photo spot!

Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA “Sphere Pavilion “Maru””

This is also a work by SANAA.

It was installed outdoors in 2016 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the museum's opening. It has the shape of a number of stainless steel hemispheres coming together to form a single "sphere". You can also go inside, so please try viewing it from various angles.

Olafur Eliasson, Color Activity House

The eye-catching outdoor work is Olafur Eliasson's Color Activity House.

This is a work in which walls of colored glass in the three primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow form a spiral pavilion.

You can enjoy the change in color depending on where you look and the strength of the sunlight.

Exhibitions and programs where you can meet various contemporary art

Of course, the exhibitions and programs are also attractive. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa actively introduces the works of up-and-coming overseas artists.

Please check the official website for the latest information!

Finally, Shop at the Museum Shop!

Speaking of art museums, one of the pleasures is shopping at the museum shop!

The museum shop operates in two fenced spaces.

"Shop 1" sells original postcards, exhibition catalogs, and other goods unique to the museum and Kanazawa. In "Shop2", various fairs such as handmade works by local artists are held.

There are plenty of items that are perfect for Kanazawa souvenirs.

This time, we introduced how to enjoy 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

Please be sure to check the website before visiting, as the museum may be closed to change exhibits.