Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art

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Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art

A pioneering museum in Japan, renowned for its immersive, interactive art experiences.

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Opened in 1994, the Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art is located in Nagi, Katsuta District, Okayama Prefecture—a town known for its harmonious coexistence of nature and art.

Popularly called NagiMOCA, this pioneering museum is one of Japan’s first experiential museums, uniquely designed to create a lasting integration between artwork and architecture.

The museum comprises three distinct galleries, each named after elements of nature: "Sun," "Moon," and "Earth." Each space is carefully aligned to correspond with local geographical and astronomical phenomena—the "Sun" gallery follows a north-south axis; the "Moon" gallery’s flat wall points toward the position of the harvest moon at 10 PM during mid-autumn; and the "Earth" gallery's central axis is directed toward the summit of Mt. Nagi, located between Nagi Town in Okayama Prefecture and Chizu Town in Tottori Prefecture. Visitors can experience subtle daily and seasonal shifts within each space, engaging all senses in the appreciation of art.

The museum also houses a café overlooking a pond, offering serene views through glass walls to Aiko Miyawaki’s artwork, "Utsurohi." Additional spaces, including the South Wing Gallery (Community Gallery) and North Wing Gallery, regularly host special contemporary art exhibitions featuring drawings, models, sketches, and more, adding even greater depth to the museum experience.

Highlights

  • Opened in 1994, located in Nagi Town, Katsuta District, Okayama Prefecture.
  • Recognized as a pioneering experiential art museum in Japan.
  • Consists of three distinctive exhibition rooms named "Sun," "Moon," and "Earth."
  • Visitors can sense daily and seasonal changes, adding depth to their experience.
  • Each room is thoughtfully designed to engage visitors through sensory experiences.

Photos

  • Artists and architects collaborated closely to create an integrated museum environment.

    Artists and architects collaborated closely to create an integrated museum environment.

  • "Earth" Gallery: Features Aiko Miyawaki's artwork "Utsurohi."

    "Earth" Gallery: Features Aiko Miyawaki's artwork "Utsurohi."

  • "Moon" Gallery: Showcases Kazuo Okazaki's artwork "HISASHI—Supplement."

    "Moon" Gallery: Showcases Kazuo Okazaki's artwork "HISASHI—Supplement."

  • "Sun" Gallery: Presents Shusaku Arakawa + Madeline Gins’ "Site of Reversible Destiny—Nagi’s Ryoanji—Architectural Body."
© 1994 Reversible Destiny Foundation. Reproduced with permission of the Reversible Destiny Foundation

    "Sun" Gallery: Presents Shusaku Arakawa + Madeline Gins’ "Site of Reversible Destiny—Nagi’s Ryoanji—Architectural Body." © 1994 Reversible Destiny Foundation. Reproduced with permission of the Reversible Destiny Foundation

  • South Wing (Community) Gallery: Hosts around 10 contemporary art exhibitions annually.

    South Wing (Community) Gallery: Hosts around 10 contemporary art exhibitions annually.

  • North Wing Gallery: Exhibits drawings, models, sketches, and more.

    North Wing Gallery: Exhibits drawings, models, sketches, and more.

Official FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.

Q

Do you have signs or pamphlets in foreign languages? (If you do, which languages are available?)

A

English pamphlets available.

Q

Is free Wi-Fi available in the area?

A

Yes, it is.

Q

Are coin lockers available?

A

Yes.

Q

Is it possible to re-enter the premises?

A

Yes, it is.

Reviews

1
  • 許美鳳

    整個美術館建築就像藝術品,三件常設展直接結合建築設計,有一種走進作品裡的感覺。特別是那個光影變化的空間,很震撼又很安靜,讓人忍不住一直待著。雖然不大,但每個角落都讓人想慢慢體會,喜歡藝術或是拍照的人一定會愛上這裡~氣氛很清幽,是個充滿靈感的地方。

Details

Name in Japanese
奈義町現代美術館
Postal Code
708-1323
Address
441 Toyosawa, Nagicho, Katsutagun, Okayama
Telephone
0868-36-5811
Closed
Mondays(open if National holiday), The day after public holidays(open if weekend)
Business Hours
9:30am - 5:00pm(Admission allowed until 4:30pm)
Admission
Adults・University students 700yen, High school students 500yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300yen
Access
About 40 minutes by car from JR Tsuyama Station.
Credit Cards
Accepted for admission fees.
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)