Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design — Attraction in Toyama

A Captivating Museum Experience for Art Enthusiasts

Nestled in the heart of the city, this museum stands as a beacon for art lovers, seamlessly blending architectural brilliance with cultural richness. Its design is a testament to modern aesthetics: soaring ceilings, an abundance of natural light, and an expansive glass gallery that bathes the interior in a luminous glow. The structure’s transparent façade not only invites daylight but also offers visitors a panoramic view of the urban landscape.

Ascending to the rooftop terrace, one is greeted with a breathtaking vista of the city skyline. This elevated space transcends traditional museum offerings by incorporating interactive art installations and play areas, catering to both adults and children. It’s a place where creativity meets recreation, allowing visitors to engage with art in a dynamic environment.

The museum’s commitment to rotating exhibitions ensures a fresh and evolving experience. During our visit, we explored a fascinating chair exhibition that resonated deeply with us as Viennese natives. Among the showcased pieces were iconic designs by the renowned Gebrüder Thonet. Their innovative use of bentwood techniques revolutionized furniture design in the 19th century, and their chairs remain emblematic of Viennese craftsmanship. Notably, the Leopold Museum in Vienna houses several of these masterpieces, including the elegant “Sessel für das Café Museum” from circa 1898, reflecting the minimalist ethos of architect Adolf Loos .  

This museum not only celebrates artistic expression but also offers an immersive experience that bridges the gap between art, design, and...

This is the most discriminatory and worst museum in Japan. The staff are incredibly rude and unhelpful. Please do not waste your time and/or hard earned money and come here.

I travelled all the way from Tokyo by train to come to this museum. What a mistake.

I took one photo of the CAPTION of one piece of art, and the staff were subsequently WATCHING AND FOLLOWING me the whole time I was in this museum. Why? I did not touch the artwork. I did not photograph an artwork. They made me feel incredibly uncomfortable and unwelcome in this place.

Every time I so much as breathed they would come running towards me. Like absolutely running. This is on top of them watching me like a hawk. Why?

On top of this, the desk staff refused to assist me in buying a ticket online. They asked me to “move aside”, even though there was no one in line.

It was impossible to enjoy this place. There is also no English in any of the exhibits.

Absolutely disgusting. Ruined my trip and ruined my day.

I would give this place negative stars if I could.

Please, do NOT visit...

This is a very modern, clean and well organised museum. You would spend max 30 minutes as they have limited items on permanent exhibit. Somehow they have emphasis on chairs by having dozens of them on display. The surprise was that they have paintings of Chagall, Picasso and Taro Okamoto which are all worth seeing. Some other thoughts:

Restaurant on 3rd floor is great. They have limited menu options but their meat and vegetables are freshly prepared. And they also have a good canal view.

Location / Access is problematic as taxis are the only realistic option to get there. I think the local authority should consider running bus services if they want more tourists to visit this beautiful museum. I took a taxi from Toyama Station but had a bad experience as the driver was rude and deliberately driving at slow speed to...