21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
&promo_pic=/one-page/coolest.jpg)
Posts
Off-the-Beaten-Path Cultural Travel Destinations
Julianne HoughJulianne Hough
442
Japan Travel
Julianne HoughJulianne Hough
282
Especially good on the rainy day! It just 5 min. walk from Kenrokuen famous garden. Enjoy Nestled in the heart of Kanazawa, a city where the Edo period’s elegant culture blooms amidst modern advancements, lies a contemporary marvel that is not just a museum but a beacon of 21st-century art. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, stands as a testament to the future of creativity, drawing visitors into a world where art transcends time and space. Imagine stepping into a realm where the boundaries between the observer and the observed blur, where interactive installations invite you to become part of the art itself. This is a place where light, space, and perception play in harmony, creating experiences that linger long after your visit. Designed by the renowned architectural duo SANAA, the museum’s circular layout ensures no hierarchy of galleries, promoting a non-linear exploration of the vast array of contemporary masterpieces. From immersive digital environments to thought-provoking sculptures and beyond, each piece challenges your perceptions, urging you to see the world through a different lens. The museum is not just a collection of art; it is a vibrant community hub, a place where every visit reveals new insights and unexpected encounters with the art world’s brightest minds. Whether you’re a fervent art aficionado or simply a curious traveler, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, offers a unique journey through contemporary culture’s cutting edge. It’s a place where art doesn’t just mimic life—it energizes, it questions, and it inspires. Step into the future of art, where every visit is an adventure, every gallery a new world, and every artwork a conversation waiting to happen.
Andrius ZaidovasAndrius Zaidovas
00
We’ve visited the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa twice — once in 2019 and again in 2025 with our young kids — and both times, it left a lasting impression. The space is bright, airy, and beautifully curated, with a mix of rotating exhibitions that felt surprisingly engaging for children. On our most recent visit in winter, there was a seasonal exhibit featuring arts and crafts made by Japanese children, and our daughters were completely absorbed — the colors and themes really spoke to them. It’s not a “kids museum,” but it is kid-friendly in the best way: calm, open, and welcoming to quiet curiosity. One thing to note is that The Swimming Pool by Leandro Erlich — the museum’s most famous installation — now requires an online reservation. In 2019, we could enter freely, but in 2025 it was fully booked within minutes of the 9:00 AM release. If it’s on your list, make sure to book through the museum website the morning of your visit. The museum shop is also worth a stop, with lots of unique art-inspired souvenirs that our kids genuinely enjoyed browsing. It’s a wonderful indoor break, especially in colder seasons. The museum is stroller-accessible, quiet, and has a gentle, spacious layout that works well for toddlers. There’s no playroom or specific kids zone, but the atmosphere is relaxed and the exhibits rotate often — some may be more child-friendly than others. Elevators and wide walkways are available, and there’s plenty of space for strollers or wheelchairs. If The Swimming Pool is a priority, don’t forget to reserve it early — it books up quickly. A thoughtful and inspiring stop in Kanazawa, especially if you need a cultural break that still works with little ones.
Laura KhairunnisaLaura Khairunnisa
00
This museum is definitely a must-see if you like modern art. It is within 1/4 of a block of Kenroku-en Gardens, Kanazawa Castle Park, and the D.T. Suzuki Museum. (Basically, a street or two separates them). There are many more museums if you continue up a steep incline passing Kenroku-en Gardens. When I visited, the museum was open until 8 pm, and I stayed over 3 hours. The museum looks circular and is glass or plexiglass. Many of the inner rooms are glass or plexiglass. There's cool art installations on the grounds like musical instruments and strange installations that you enter. I was surprised everytime. This area is free and open to the public. On my visit, there were 2 exhibitions. One of the exhibitions included a lot of video presentations. They were so good I lost track of time. There is a lot of information in japanese and english for each piece. For the video presentations, you could get a package of free information that provided more detail. The cost was 1400 yen or about $10 for both exhibitions. You can pick and choose. I had to pay cash because I didn't have any of the types of credit cards they accepted. Everything was good and I really enjoyed it. There is no need to buy advanced tickets.
Beverly (Beverly)Beverly (Beverly)
00
Pros: 1. Price is very cheap maybe like 480 yen 2. Lockers 100 yen 3. The cooler instagrammy exhibits are actually free like the outside exhibits and the room with the water in my photo 4. The chair photos in all the Instagram tags are free also near the lockers Cons: 1. Swimming pool exhibit needs a rsvp since it’s so popular. Maybe 2-4 hours but we didn’t want to wait. We came on a weekday and there was no way we could wander around the museum for 2 hours since it’s not big enough. 2. Outside swimming pool exhibit is closed if it’s raining. 3. No videos allowed at all even on iPhone 4. Only some exhibits allow photos 5. I felt like 30% of the exhibits were just projector projections. Basically a cheaper version of team labs 6. The exhibits were not interesting at all 7. Not many exhibits at all too
WKWK
00
Nearby Attractions Of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Kenroku-en
Kanazawa Castle Park
Oyama Shrine
Naga-machi District
Nomura-ke Samurai Residence
Daiwa Korinbo Store
D.T. Suzuki Museum
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
Ishiura Shrine
APA HOTEL KANAZAWA-CHUO
Kenroku-en
4.4
(12.6K)
Click for details
Kanazawa Castle Park
4.3
(4.5K)
Click for details
Oyama Shrine
4.3
(2.2K)
Click for details
Naga-machi District
4.2
(2K)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Grill Otsuka
Itaru
香りん寿司_Kourin Sushi
Turban Curry Main Store
Uchuken Syokudo
Akadama Honten
The Godburger
Hirami Pan
Aashirwad
Le Musée de H Kanazawa
Grill Otsuka
4.0
(860)
Click for details
Itaru
4.2
(756)
Click for details
香りん寿司_Kourin Sushi
4.7
(627)
Click for details
Turban Curry Main Store
4.2
(655)
Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
1 Chome-2-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8509, Japan
Map
Phone
+81 76-220-2800
Call
Website
kanazawa21.jp
Visit
Reviews
Overview
3.8
(6.6K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
family friendly
accessibility
Description
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is a museum of contemporary art located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. The museum was designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the architectural office SANAA in 2004.
attractions: Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle Park, Oyama Shrine, Naga-machi District, Nomura-ke Samurai Residence, Daiwa Korinbo Store, D.T. Suzuki Museum, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishiura Shrine, APA HOTEL KANAZAWA-CHUO, restaurants: Grill Otsuka, Itaru, 香りん寿司_Kourin Sushi, Turban Curry Main Store, Uchuken Syokudo, Akadama Honten, The Godburger, Hirami Pan, Aashirwad, Le Musée de H Kanazawa
- Please manually select your location for better experience