Fukuoka Asian Art Museum — Local services in Fukuoka

Excellent collection of artwork from across Asia. I was impressed by this museum and how well they told the story of Asian art. The breadth of countries represented, including political, fantastical, and classical artwork was incredible. Happened to be there during an exhibit called "Animage," which focused around a long running magazine (started in 1978), also well known for publishing Miyazaki's (Ghibli) work. The exhibit was heavily Nausicaa themed, and really interesting, going into a lot of detail about the artistic process. It was a nice bonus while visiting the museum. The limited season exhibits all seem really interesting from what I've seen online, but the real reason to visit is the wide array of artwork from artists throughout Asia that are on display. The main collection houses much more than is on display, so if you happened to live in the region, it would be well worth it to make repeat visits as collections rotate (special exhibits are also frequently changing). In fact, two of the pieces I came to see were actually not on display when I visited. Though a little disappointed, some of the other unexpected work I saw more than made up for it. The one thing I will mention, not a complaint, is that the entrance and ticket purchasing is not very clear. Since there are different exhibits and you need separate tickets for them, it could be a little more clear where to go for different exhibits. The information booth is front and center when you take the elevator up, but the ticketing area seems to be set up as an afterthought. Not a major hinderance, but it would be nice to have a clearer idea of what exhibits are where and how many there are, for people who want to see everything the museum has to offer. There is also a library and cafe, including a seating area outside the small gift shop for people to relax after spending hours on their feet in the museum! I would definitely come back here to see what is on display next. The curators have excellent taste. I actually forgot to take pictures of a lot of the museum because I was...

I went through the main part of the museum first - great works there - but the Minamata Exhibition, whoah! It's ending in about a month, so I recommend you go now. If you're Japanese, you're going to learn a lot about Minamata Disease and all its associated tragedy. There's too much to read here. Forget about finding any English on the displays; it doesn't happen. It doesn't matter either: the strikingly shocking, assuredly transformative, intensely moving images will touch (maybe pound) your heart. I remember this same feeling the first time I went to the Hiroshima Atomic Museum. But here, those lovely people and their beautiful fingers... I couldn't keep my eyes off of them. The fingers... You know, I'd heard about Minamata before. Recently, I watched part of that Johnny Depp movie on some airplane going I can't remember where. But seeing these photos today. Wow, I'm a bit out of breath right now. I'm a tourist here in Japan (well, yes and no), and I've been wrestling with whether or not to circle Kyushu but not anymore. I'm going to Minamata and see the museum they have there. You know something else (well, you don't)? I heard the people of Minamata. I really think I can hear the voices (sometimes screams) of the victims when I go to places like this. Places that commemorate or educate or remember victims of horror and tragedy, and especially at the actual locations of such. Do think there is something wrong with me? Well, I do. Anyway, I am actually glad they gave me a little booklet to read about all this which I'll do sooner or later. I'm also glad there wasn't any English on the walls. It's best not to read about this kind of stuff during a visit. It's best only to look at pictures. I think Minamata can only be understood through the heart (image) and not the mind (words). Final thing: on the way back to where I am now, I was fortunate to run into a Buddha. I was able to light some incense for Minamata and for my departed family as well. This was a...

Again like any other museum in Japan very little content, we arrived during an exhibition of modern artist so the rooms with more traditional japanese art we wanted to see for already 2 weeks were just closed. Very deceiving when you come from far away to see a country heritage and end up with nothing but modern art exhibitions that are all over the earth right now. It's a great shame to see an authentic art museum closing national art exhibitions just to get more money (permanent exhibition 500 yen and the limited exhibition 2200, pretty simple to do the math and see why they closed it). Total desapointment, be careful and read the Web pages before, even tho there was no information about the permanent exhibition been closed until we were presented a sticker at the ticket office that showed the permanent...