What other travelers are saying about Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
While the building, designed by the master architect Tadao Ando, was very impressive and beautiful; the exhibits were quite boring and dated, which wasn’t very exciting to walk through. There’s an underground carpark which has plenty of parking spaces, and remember to get the parking discount with your museum ticket and your parking ticket!
There’s also a museum dedicated to the architect Tadao Ando, which served as a broad overview of his career thus far.
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with last admission at 5:30 PM. The museum is closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday), during the New Year holiday period from December 31 to January 1, and occasionally for exhibition changeovers. It's advisable to check the official website before visiting to confirm opening days, especially during holiday periods.
Photography policies vary depending on the exhibition. Generally, photography is prohibited in special exhibition galleries to protect copyright and preserve artworks. However, photography without flash may be permitted in certain permanent collection areas and the outdoor sculpture garden. Always look for signage indicating photography rules in each gallery, and ask staff if you're unsure about specific areas.
The museum provides English signage for major artworks and exhibitions, though detailed descriptions may be primarily in Japanese. Audio guides in English are available for rent at an additional fee for select special exhibitions. The museum shop and café staff have basic English capability, and English brochures are available at the information desk to help international visitors navigate the facilities.
Yes, the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is fully accessible with barrier-free facilities throughout. The building is equipped with elevators connecting all floors, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and wheelchair rentals available free of charge at the entrance. Ramps provide easy access to outdoor areas, and designated parking spaces are available for visitors with disabilities. Staff members are available to assist visitors with special needs.
The museum features an on-site café that offers light meals, beverages, and desserts, with some seating areas providing views of the sculpture garden and waterfront. The museum shop sells art-related books, postcards, and unique souvenirs. Outside food and beverages are generally not permitted inside the exhibition galleries, but visitors may eat in designated rest areas. For longer visits, there are also several restaurants and cafés in the surrounding waterfront district within walking distance.
We wanted to visit because the building was designed by Tadao Ando and there were some great spots for family photos. We decided to go during that time because the Hyogo EXPO TERMINAL exhibition was on and it was free. Our drawings were projected onto the wall in the exhibition, and our whole family enjoyed it much more than we expected. We took some fun photos, and even just the free section was enough for us to have a wonderful time.
There is going to be a bit of walk from nearby train stations, plus the museum buildings are quite big so you should expect to be on your feet a lot. The architecture of the buildings are very nice and they did a good job on the exhibits. If you have not been to an Ando Tadao building before, or if you want to learn more about his works, you should definitely drop by.
A solid art museum, designed by the leading Japanese architect Ando Tadao, with an Ando Corner dedicated to himself, and a dedicated second floor exhibition hall of his amazing artworks and architectural sketches, drawings, models and philosophy. The sea-facing environment and green park form part of the tour which one can take for a whole day to immerse into its nature and art.
