In 1970, Osaka was chosen as the location for the international world fair Expo ‘70. Dozens of countries from around the world built pavilions to show off the technology of the future. Six months later, the park that had been built to house Expo ‘70 was turned into Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park. Found at the northern edge of Osaka, this is a park of beautiful gardens, forests, and ponds, as well as museums including the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.
While Expo Park’s outdoor areas are beautiful, there is so much amazing cultural and artistic beauty to be found inside the Japan Folk Crafts Museum. This museum sits at the centre of it all, with the National Museum of Ethnography to the west and the Japanese Garden to the north.
What’s in the Museum?
Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingeikan) was built as part of Expo ‘70 with the purpose of introducing visitors to mingei: Japanese folk crafts. Mingei is characterised by expert handiwork; the skill, artistry, and dedication expressed by craftsmen who produce pottery, textiles, lacquerware, and much more by hand, using traditional pre-industrial tools and methods.
Ever since the Folk Crafts Museum opened in 1970, it has seen an ever changing cycle of exhibits twice per year, each of which showcases a different aspect of Japanese folk crafts or a different collection of traditional and historic arts and crafts.
This Osaka museum also has a shop that sells exactly what you would expect: pottery, textiles, and other traditional crafts that have been handmade in towns and prefectures across the country, demonstrating not only the historic breadth of variety in mingei, but the geographical span of skill and artistry as well.
A world of exhibitions
The fact that the Japan Folk Craft Museum has exhibits which change every spring and autumn gives visitors a reason to make frequent visits in order to continue learning and seeing rare and beautiful artefacts of Japanese folk crafts.
Despite its name, this Osaka museum actually has permanent collections of ceramics and textiles from beyond Japan, including those from Taiwan, Korea, and China. In the Japan collection, you can also find arts and crafts from the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido. This is an incredible opportunity to see the art of an often overlooked and relatively isolated group of people within Japan.
Beyond handicrafts, there is also a collection of paintings, and many of the limited special exhibitions showcase rare works of Edo ukiyo-e painting. Many of the museum’s paintings originate from the pre-Edo Muromachi period of Japan.
There is an expansive and impressive collection of arts and crafts at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum. Nowhere else can you find Ainu ceramics, Korean textiles, and ukiyo-e paintings all in the same room.
Prices and opening times
Admission to the Japan Folk Craft Museum costs ¥1100 for adults, ¥600 for university students, and ¥200 for children. The museum is open Tuesday – Sunday (closed Mondays) from 10am to 5pm. Last admission is at 4:30pm.
You can find out more about the museum, as well as their contact details, on the museum’s website (which is in English).
Getting to the Japan Folk Crafts Museum
From central Osaka, it takes around 30 minutes to reach Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park, the home of Japan Folk Crafts Museum. Getting there is very simple. On the southern edge of Expo Park, next to Expocity, is Bampakukinenkoen Station. And on the eastern edge is Koen-Higashiguchi Station.
Both stations can be accessed via the Saito Line, and Bampakukinenkoen Station is also on the Osaka Monorail, making it very convenient to reach from the city centre.
From either station, enter Expo Park and head into the centre, where you’ll find Japan Folk Crafts Museum.
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum is a rare and beautiful gateway into the art history of Japan, from its northernmost tip to its southern islands. Beautiful crafts from Taiwan, Korea, and China add to an enormous host of exquisite art pieces from centuries and generations of Japanese history. Make sure to visit the museum next time you’re near Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park.
Name: Japan Folk Crafts Museum
Address: 4 Chome-3-33 Komaba, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0041, Japan
Open: 10am – 5pm
URL: http://www.mingeikan.or.jp/
Post by Japan Journeys.
