What other travelers are saying about Oita Prefectural Art Museum OPAM
Beautiful art museum both in terms of the exterior and interior design. Lots of great local art and exhibitions during our visit. Bright and airy open high ceiling and really good ac which was a huge relief during the very warm season we visited.
Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and need a quick art break from your adventures in Oita.
There is a restaurant and cafe and a really great art souvenir store
OPAM opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 7:00 PM on weekdays and Sundays. On weekends, the museum closes at 8:00 PM. The museum is generally open 7 days a week, though visitors should confirm ahead as there may be occasional closures for maintenance or special circumstances. The museum shop operates during the same hours, with last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Photography and video recording inside the galleries are not allowed unless indicated otherwise. However, some special exhibitions may permit photography of certain works, so visitors should check for specific signage or ask staff. The free-access atrium area and outdoor spaces can typically be photographed. Only pencils may be used in the galleries, and the use of pens and markers is prohibited.
The museum is approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Oita Station. Alternatively, visitors can take the Oita-CANBUS from bus platform 7 in front of the station to Oashisu Hiroba-mae bus stop, which takes about 8 minutes. The bus is particularly convenient for those who prefer not to walk. Oita Station is a 15-minute train ride from Beppu, costing 340 yen one way and covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.
Wheelchairs and baby strollers are available at the Information desk on the first floor. The museum offers 8 wheelchair-accessible parking spaces in the underground parking lot. The building features elevators and is designed with accessibility in mind, though visitors with specific needs should call ahead at +81-(0)97-533-4500 to confirm particular requirements. Food and drinks are permitted only in the cafés and may not be carried into the galleries.
The OPAM Museum in Oita is a beautiful and inspiring place – the architecture itself is stunning, and the atmosphere is calm and creative. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated and of high quality, offering a mix of contemporary and traditional art. I only wish there were a bit more to see, as the space feels so inviting that you naturally want to explore it longer. Still, it’s definitely worth a visit – a wonderful cultural spot in Oita!
Well curated exhibition. Very easy to follow and understand, although some are only in japanese but the general english guide has done a great job to guide and form general understanding of historical and cultural context of the exhibition.
We came to see the ghibli exhibition. We were handed an English paper that said to book the tickets online. We're foreigners and to complete the transaction we had to receive an sms code to an Australian phone number. This is a requirement of our bank to prevent fraud. Neither of us are using roaming and our Japanese sim doesn't have a phone number, data only. The only other option is to walk to a Lawson's to buy tickets (seriously?) The closest is 6 minutes away. The Lawson's has to have a "loppi machine", whatever that is. How are we supposed to know which ones have loppi machines? Honestly at that point I was ready to give up. How hard would it have been to offer ticket purchase in the foyer? What about people with disabilities and difficulty with technology? Honestly it just seems lazy and anti-consumer. The exhibition was good, especially the Nausica figures, but it was unnecessarily difficult to access.
I had a couple of hours to fill in. What a beautiful cool space to wander and take in the exquisite architecture on a very hot day. I saw the Hiroshige and Hokusai exhibition. Wow! The main hall and other spaces are beautiful too. Interactive and colourful and a delight for children and those of us who are children at heart.
