Kirishima Open Air Museum

Kirishima Open Air Museum

Built into the foothills of Kirishima Mountain several hundred meters above sea level, the museum enjoys a lovely backdrop of misty blue and green mountain scape, providing the perfect frame for the 20 hectares of outdoor art, as well as an indoor gallery which regularly showcases works from various Japanese artists. The open rolling green hills and modern architecture of the Art House make Kirishima Open Air Museum a worthwhile day trip for explorers no matter the time of the year, as each season brings new colors and a transformation to the museum.

Kirishima Open Air Museum

First opened in 2000, walking into the museum is a surreal experience. The grounds are littered with works from 23 artists who all surveyed the landscape before making their creations. These works represent the culture, history, and nature of the region, with all of the works fitting into the landscape like a silk glove. It is home to the revered pieces of Yayoi Kusama, such as ‘The Flowers of Shangri-la’, a whimsical array of Alice in Wonderland-esque giant statues of flowers.

Kirishima Open Air Museum

Another prominent piece that you won’t be able to miss is the ‘Giant Man and Women Spreading its Arms’. A creation by the American sculptor Jonathan Borofsky famous for his human sculptures, it’s a silhouette of a man and women slotted together like the center of a windmill.

Kirishima Open Air Museum

The museum is home to intriguing outdoor art pieces, the Art Hall inside however also houses over 40 collections of unique Modern Art from both renowned Japanese and International artists, such as Yoko Ono and Takashi Murakami. The Art Hall keeps a permanent collection as well showcasing special exhibitions which change around every three months, displaying different themes and artists.

Kirishima Open Air Museum

No visit to a museum would be complete without a stop at the museum cafe and the gift shop. The cafe allows visitors to relax and admire the beautiful landscape the museum has to offer. Even if you don’t plan on purchasing anything from the gift shop, it’s also a delight to wander around, as you may find souvenirs that are only available at Kirishima Open Air Museum.

Kirishima Open Air Museum

The museum is accessible from JR Kagoshima Chuo Station. Travelers need to go from here to Kurino Station where there is the Furusato Bus service or via taxi. You can also get there from Kagoshima Airport by heading to Iki-Iki Centre Kurino no Sato, and catching the Furusato Bus service.

The museum is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day in winter, and 9:00 am to 7:00 pm in the summer and on weekends. The museum is also closed from December 29th through to the 2nd of January for New Year's Holidays. The admission cost is 1,040 Yen for both the outdoor and indoor exhibits, 800 yen for special exhibitions and 310 yen for the outdoor exhibit. You are also not allowed to take photos of the inside works, but photography of all outdoor exhibits is permitted.

Kirishima Open-Air Museum

4.5

83 Reviews

Kagoshima Pref. Airagunyusuichou Koba 6340-220

0995745945

9:00-17:00 (Reception until …

https://open-air-museum.org/

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