When I was younger and traveling around the world, I had no interest in museums. I saw them simply as tourist attractions. As I continued traveling, however, I gradually found myself seeking out contemporary art museums. It was because I had come to appreciate museums not only for the artworks they contain, but also for the spaces they create. This page brings together the contemporary art museums that have left the strongest impression on me.
Ranking
#1 : Chichu Art Museum (Naoshima Island, Japan)
“Island of Art” floating in the Seto Inland Sea. Step into the building and get intoxicated with the amazing space appears in front.
#2 : Benesse House (Naoshima Island, Japan)
”Island of Art” floating in the Seto Inland Sea. Enjoy the unrealistic feeling at the annexed hotel and the night museum.
#3 : Enoura Observatory (Odawara, Japan)
Probably a museum, but not like museum in the suburbs of Odawara city in Japan. Experience a new form of contemporary art.
#4 : Towada Art Center (Towada city, Aomori, Japan)
Towada City, Aomori Prefecture. Experience the contemporary art by overturning the stereotypical concept of museum architecture.
#5 : teamLab Borderless (Tokyo, Japan)
I entered teamLab’s digital art space, still skeptical. One image caught my eye, and I stopped. Before I knew it, tears came to my eyes.
#6 : National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo(Tokyo, Japan)
Tokyo. Experiencing Japanese modern and contemporary art in a spacious and quiet space.
#7 : 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Ishikawa, Japan)
Kanazawa, Ishikawa. In the first musueum adopted a box-shaped, found artwork by James Turrell and look up at the blue sky.
#8 : Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, Japan)
Roppongi, Tokyo. Tour the contemporary artworks on the top floor of skyscraper and be dazzled by the Tokyo scenery stretches out behind the artworks.
#9 : Nakamura Keith Haring Collection (Yamanashi, Japan)
Keith Haring Museum in Yamanashi. Feeling the 80’s while watching the artworks of the pioneer of street art.
#10 : Aomori Museum of Art (Aomori, Japan)
Aomori city in Japan. Step into the space unified in white color and go down to the basement, Chagall appears in the vast space and filled with a sense of fulfillment.
#11 : Hara Museum ARC (Gunma, Japan)
In the north part of Tokyo. Stroll through the relaxing space at the foot of the mountain and encounter a space that combines Japanese and contemporary art.
#12 : Artizon Museum(Tokyo, Japan)
The center of Tokyo. When entering a modern building and see a rich collection of abstract paintings, I have the illusion that I am in an overseas museum.
#13 : Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art (Okayama, Japan)
In a mountainous town in northern Okayama, rectangular and cylindrical buildings suddenly appear, revealing the hidden history of this mysterious museum.
Runner-Up
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery (Tokyo, Japan)
A gallery in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Visiting an exhibition by an artist never heard of, amazed by the excellent works and space.
Chiba City Museum of Art (Tokyo, Japan)
It is 7 p.m. on a Saturday in Chiba City, just outside Tokyo. I walk through the museum’s calm galleries, suddenly find one of On Kawara’s orange date paintings, and simply cannot walk away.
Art Factory Jonan island(Tokyo, Japan)
A warehouse district in the south part of Tokyo. Beyond a maze of carbon-paper blocks, a vast, silent space opens up like a school gymnasium – art and stillness in the same breath.
Ohara Museum of Art（Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan)
Kurashiki, Okayama. Opened in 1930 as Japan’s first museum of Western art. The historic building houses modern masterpieces, and I felt a rare sense of fulfillment.
Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art / MIMOCA (Kagawa, Japan)
In Marugame, Kagawa, the same prefecture as Naoshima, I stand at the museum’s entrance and gradually take in its distinctive structure.
Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art (Toyama, Japan)
Hokuriku, Toyama. As moved through the exhibition rooms, encountered a spectacular sight of chairs, and sat down on the chair designed by Gaudí.
Shimane Art Museum (Shimane, Japan)
Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. It has the modern architecture standing on the lakeside, I plan to return to experience the “art museum in the sunset.”
Others
Nezu Museum (Tokyo, Japan)
In Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, I entered the grounds and walked along a bamboo-lined path. Looking back, I noticed a tsukubai. It made me think of a roji, the path to a tea house.
Adachi Museum of Art (Shimane, Japan)
In western Japan. This renowned museum has gained fame for being ranked #1 Japanese garden for consecutive years. Visitors appreciate the garden as artwork.
Closed
Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art (Chiba, Japan) <Closed>
Art museum surrounded by greenery. In the Mark Rothko Room, admire the colors of the indistinct rectangular outline, meditate and get rid of distractions.
Originally published on Dec 9 2023
Last updated on Jul 8 2026
