Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art: A Gem of Kitakyushu
One of Kitakyushu’s treasures, the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special Taikan Yokoyama exhibition from April 6 to May 19.
The museum, with its beautiful and unique exterior designed by Arata Isozaki, provided a rare opportunity to see more of Taikan Yokoyama’s artworks from the Adachi Museum’s collection than in their permanent exhibition. By May 9, the exhibition had attracted over 30,000 visitors, making it a bustling event.
As it was my first time seeing Taikan Yokoyama’s artworks, I took my time to appreciate each piece, feeling deeply moved to the point of tears at times.
Photography was not allowed in the Taikan Yokoyama exhibition, so I intended to purchase the exhibition catalog at the museum shop. Unfortunately, it was sold out. The shop offered a variety of other attractive items, and with credit card payment available.
The museum is situated on a hill, surrounded by lush greenery, with art pieces occasionally placed along the paths. Many visitors were enjoying a leisurely stroll in this beautiful setting.
One of the museum’s highlights is its café, where you can enjoy delicious meals and sweets while admiring the beautiful greenery and the sea. During the Taikan Yokoyama exhibition, the café offered a limited-time menu and special sweets crafted by the pâtissier from Chigusa Hotel.
Additionally, the Café Musée occasionally hosts workshops, which are a lot of fun. My family previously participated in a workshop by Green Days, which my children thoroughly enjoyed. There are more workshops scheduled for June.
The Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art is easily accessible from the Kitakyushu Science & Research Park area. By taking the Kurosaki Bypass and, after exiting at the Haruno-machi exit onto National Route 3 by car, it’s about a 7-minute drive to the museum. I highly recommend taking the time to enjoy the art and the greenery at this wonderful museum.
