Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5Open in Google Maps · Directions from your berth
Checked against official sources · updated · Takumi Yamada
The Aomori Museum of Art stands next to the Sannai-Maruyama Jomon site, and its architecture borrows from the dig: the museum describes galleries built around trenches in white-cube rooms alternating with rooms of earth walls and floors. The effect is of an excavation turned into a museum, which is why it is worth seeing even if you only have an hour.
The museum's own floor guide lists an 'Aleko' hall, a four-storey space 21 metres by 21 with a 15 by 9 metre backdrop painted for the ballet 'Aleko' hung inside, a Munakata Shiko gallery, and a museum shop and a cafe at the park end of the east wing. Yoshitomo Nara is listed among its principal artists, and a connecting passage is named for the Aomori dog. The collection exhibition currently showing, to 23 December, is a feature on Nancy Seki.
The catch is the bus. It is a 21-to-25-minute ride on a bus that runs roughly hourly from Aomori Station, so a visit uses 2.5 hours door to door. If you also want the Jomon site, the two are neighbours, so do them in one trip.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Take the Aomori City bus from stop 6 at Aomori Station; the museum's page names the stop Kenritsu Bijutsukan-mae.
- Check the destination board: the same bus line also serves Sannai-Maruyama, which is a separate stop from the museum's.
- Last entry is 16:30, so a late arrival is wasted.
- The collection exhibition is ¥700; special exhibitions have their own prices.
- The cafe and shop are at the park end of the east wing and can be entered without a ticket.
The collection exhibition currently showing, to 23 December, is a feature on Nancy Seki.
Guided days from Aomori
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
More in Aomori
Questions people ask here
How do I get from Aomori cruise port to the Aomori Museum of Art?
Walk about 20 minutes to JR Aomori Station, then take the Aomori City bus from stop 6 to Kenritsu Bijutsukan-mae, about 21 to 25 minutes and ¥280 in a route search.
How much is the Aomori Museum of Art?
The collection exhibition is ¥700 for adults and ¥400 for university students. High school students and under are free but need a free ticket. Special exhibitions are priced separately.
Is the Aomori Museum of Art next to Sannai-Maruyama?
Yes, they are side by side, and both can be done in one trip.