10 best museums in Aichi
Aichi is the birthplace of three famous historical leaders—Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. As the central prefecture of the Chubu region, Aichi has a wide range of museums. Here are some great art, history, and science museums to visit.
Note: The links lead to Japanese pages. Please use your browser’s translation feature.
Information is based on the time of publication. For the latest details, please check each museum’s official website.
Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art
Located on the 8th and 10th floors of Aichi Arts Center, this museum focuses on 20th-century art from Japan and abroad.
Its collection includes works by Klimt, Picasso, Klee, Yuichi Takahashi, and Taikan Yokoyama. The museum also serves as one of the main venues for Aichi Triennale.
Nogoya City Art Museum
Designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa, this museum is located in Shirakawa Park.
Its collection is organized around four themes: the École de Paris, Mexican Renaissance art, contemporary art, and local Japanese art. The museum is next to the Nagoya City Science Museum, making it a great destination for families.
Nagoya City Science Museum
This science museum is known for its iconic dome-shaped exterior. Its main highlight is “Brother Earth,” the world’s largest planetarium, located in the new building, where visitors can enjoy highly realistic views of seasonal constellations.
The museum also features many entertaining attractions, including a −30°C room where visitors can experience aurora footage and a 9-meter-tall artificial tornado.
Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum
Opened in 1978 in Seto City, one of Japan’s largest ceramic production areas.
In addition to special exhibitions, its spacious permanent galleries showcase ceramics from Japan, Asia, and around the world—large enough to spend an entire day exploring. The museum’s mascot is “Tojicchi,” a pottery fairy and ceramic expert.
Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
One of the representative works of architect Yoshio Taniguchi, this museum features a modern glass exterior, along with outdoor ponds and gardens that serve as a relaxing public space.
The museum has a strong collection of 20th-century art and design, and its contemporary art exhibitions are especially recommended.
The Tokugawa Art Museum
This museum houses approximately 10,000 items, including personal belongings of Tokugawa Ieyasu, as well as artifacts used by feudal lords.
Visitors can view outstanding artworks, including the world-famous National Treasure The Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls, along with other National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
Okazaki City Museum
Also known as the “Mindscape Museum,” it opened in 1996 with the concept of being a “museum that speaks to the mind.”
The museum presents a wide range of exhibitions, from materials related to the era of Tokugawa Ieyasu to Baroque painting, Surrealism, and contemporary art.
SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
With the theme of “the evolution of high-speed railway technology,” this museum introduces everything from Shinkansen trains to next-generation superconducting maglev technology.
Interactive exhibits such as train driving simulators and one of Japan’s largest railway dioramas make it enjoyable for both children and adults, offering hands-on learning about railway history and systems.
Museum Meiji-Mura
An open-air museum displaying over 60 Meiji-period buildings, including 11 designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. It is the third-largest theme park in Japan by area.
Visitors can enjoy riding steam locomotives and streetcars, tasting local food, and experiencing the atmosphere of Japan’s Meiji era across its vast grounds.
TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM
The “Automobile Gallery” displays vehicles from the birth of gasoline-powered cars in the late 19th century to modern automobiles.
The “Automobile Culture Gallery” features posters, model cars, mascots, and other materials related to car culture. With hands-on workshops for children, this museum is enjoyable for the whole family.