Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum sits beside Shukkeien Garden in central Hiroshima, so you can pair a look at art with a walk among the garden’s seasonal scenery. Its collection spans Japanese and Western works, traditional crafts and art connected to Hiroshima. Look for Salvador Dalí’s Dream of Venus and Imari porcelain, then check what is on in the rotating special-exhibition galleries. The museum also has a gallery for local artists, a restaurant and a shop; some special exhibitions require a separate ticket.
Art connected to Hiroshima
The museum opened in 1968 as the first public art museum in the Chugoku region. Its collection brings together Japanese and Western art, Asian crafts and works with links to Hiroshima. The displays change, so the selection in the galleries can differ between visits.
Among the collection’s notable works is Salvador Dalí’s Dream of Venus. The museum also holds Imari porcelain, including a flower bowl identified as an Important Cultural Property. Works by Hiroshima-connected artists include paintings by Ikuo Hirayama, who was a junior-high-school student when the atomic bomb was dropped on the city.
Collection galleries and special exhibitions
The collection galleries are on the second floor, where works are arranged in themed displays. Special exhibitions are held separately, and their subjects can range from international artists to particular collections. Examples have included Egyptian objects, illustrations by Alphonse Mucha and Toulouse-Lautrec, and an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
A gallery also gives local artists a place to show their work. Small exhibitions are held downstairs. Check the current exhibition information before your visit if there is a particular artist or subject you hope to see. Special exhibitions can have an additional admission charge.
Pair the museum with Shukkeien Garden
The museum stands directly beside Shukkeien Garden, the historic Japanese garden associated with Hiroshima’s feudal lord, Asano Nagaakira. The two can be visited on the same outing, and a combined ticket is available. The garden offers a change of pace after the galleries, with seasonal plants among its grounds.
The museum is at 2-22 Kaminoboricho, Naka Ward, and is close to the Shukkeien-mae streetcar stop. The building has an open atrium in its first-floor lobby, a restaurant and a shop. Wheelchair-accessible entrances, lifts and restrooms are listed among its facilities.
Häufige Fragen
Is Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum next to Shukkeien Garden?
Yes. The museum is beside the garden, and a combined ticket for both is available.
Does the museum have special exhibitions?
Yes. It holds rotating special exhibitions. Some require a separate ticket from admission to the collection galleries.
Can you take photographs inside the museum?
Photography permissions differ between gallery rooms. Follow the signs in each room.
Is the museum accessible to wheelchair users?
The listed facilities include a wheelchair-accessible entrance, elevator and restroom.
