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2024 Top 50 of the Best Japanese Museums in the United States

Exploring the Rich Diversity of Japanese Art: Museums and Galleries Across the United States

Best Japanese Museums in the United States | Japanese-City.com

2024 Japanese Museums in the United States

There are many great museums in the United States that feature beautiful and historical Japanese art.

Here are a collection of museums that are focused on Japanese art exhibits: paintings, prints, sketches, illustrated screens, textiles, ancient decorated books, ceramics, metal works, ancient swords and applied arts objects from mostly the 14-19th centuries, and Japanese art collections.

One of the most popular Japanese Artisits is: Yayoi Kusama

Who is Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama?

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist who is best known for her work in the field of avant-garde art, which includes both visual art and performance art. She has been active since the 1950s, and her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world. Kusama is also a prolific writer, and her work has been translated into numerous languages.

Kusama was born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan. She began painting at an early age, and her work was exhibited in a gallery in Tokyo when she was just ten years old. In the 1950s, Kusama moved to New York City, where she became involved in the city's avant-garde art scene. She quickly gained a reputation as an eccentric and flamboyant artist, and her work began to attract attention from the mainstream art world.

Kusama's most famous works are her " polka dot " paintings, which she began creating in the 1960s. These paintings consist of large fields of dots, which are often arranged in patterns that resemble flowers or other organic forms. Kusama has also created " infinity nets ," which are paintings composed of a repeated pattern of small lines. These works are meant to create an optical illusion, making it appear as if the painting goes on forever.

Kusama has also produced a number of sculptures and installations, many of which make use of mirrors or other reflective surfaces. These works are often designed to create an immersive experience for the viewer, who is meant to feel as though they are being enveloped by the artwork.

Where Can You Find Samurai Museum Collections in the United States?

There are several places in the United States where you can find collections of samurai artifacts and artwork. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C., all have significant holdings of Japanese art, including samurai swords, armor, and other weaponry. Additionally, many universities with Asian studies programs often have small collections of Japanese artifacts that are open to the public.

Japanese Museums Near Me (United States)

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Japan Society, New York (Youngest Landmark Building After 40 Years Old) Japan Society is the leading U.S. organization committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan in a global context. Now in its second century, the Society serves audien...

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Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Since its opening in 1977, The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens has been a center for Japanese arts and culture in South Florida, with rotating exhibitions in its galleries, tea ceremonies perform...

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Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMSJ) The Japanese American Museum of San Jose showcases a unique collection of permanent and rotating exhibits chronicling more than a century of Japanese American history. Visitors will learn about early ...
Huntington Library, Art, Museum, and Botanical Gardens (Japanese Garden) After a year-long closure and a $6.8 million renovation, the historic Japanese Garden reopened in April, marking its centennial as one of the most beloved and iconic landscapes at The Huntington. Comp...

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Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington & Nikkei Museum of Washington (JCCCW) To build and grow a central gathering place for sharing and promoting Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage.2 Locations at 1 Address1414 South Weller Street, Seattle, Washington 98144 W...
Isamu Noguchi's Garden of Stone - Artist Isamu Noguchi, Costa Mesa Discover Isamu Noguchi's California ScenarioCommissioned by the Segerstrom family in 1979 and completed in 1982, Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario is recognized as one of the country’s preeminen...

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Heart Mountain Interpretive Center Heart Mountain is located 14 miles east of Cody, Wyoming. Take Hwy 14A to Road 19. A small road sign marks the turn. Look for tall red chimney to the north.In August of 2011, the Heart Mountain Wyomin...
The Met Fifth Avenue Armor (Gusoku), 18th century, Helmet signed by Bamen Tomotsugu JapaneseOn view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 377With Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) winning the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600...

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Japanese American Museum of Oregon at Naito Center The mission of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon is to preserve and honor the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest, educate the public about the Japanese American ex...
Asian Art Museum (Japanese Art) One of the Largest & Comprehensive Museums Dedicated Exclusively to Asian Art in the World The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is renowned for being one of the largest and most comprehensive museums dedicated exclusively to Asian art in the world. Its extensive collection features over 15...

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American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is one of the largest and most renowned natural history museums in the world, located in New York City. Established in 1869, the museum is a treasure trov...
USC Pacific Asia Museum Established in 1971, the museum is one of few U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands, serving the city of Los Angeles and the Greater Southern California r...
The Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum - Samurai Collection The Samurai Collection is Dallas, Texas, was created in 2012 to house the Japanese Armor of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller. Their ever-expanding collection is comprised of almost 1,000 objects, man...

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Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is a prominent institution located in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Japanese ...
National Museum of Asian Art - Smithsonian The National Museum of Asian Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is a cultural gem located in Washington, D.C. This renowned museum is dedicated to showcasing the rich and diverse artistic herit...
Northwest Nikkei Museum The Northwest Nikkei Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history and heritage of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Situat...
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is a museum in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada that preserves and shares the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians and Japanese culture in Canad...
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) The Japanese Pavilion The PavilionThe Pavilion for Japanese Art is unique in America as a separate building dedicated to the display of Japanese Art within the complex of a large, encyclopedic museum....
The Noguchi Museum, New York reated by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), The Noguchi Museum opened in 1985, presenting a comprehensive collection of the artist's works in stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as models for public projec...

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Petersen Automotive Museum On June 11, 1994, Robert E. Petersen and his wife, Margie, fulfilled a longtime dream when they became founding benefactors to start the Petersen Automotive Museum, donating $5 million to the Los Ange...
San Diego Museum of Art Welcome to the San Diego Museum of Art, the region's primary resource for exhibitions and collections of fine art for more than 80 years. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, our galleries offer oppor...
Manzanar National Historic Site In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one ...
Bainbridge Island Historical Museum The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and the award-winning exhibit “Kodomo No Tame Ni-For the Sake of the Children.” It covers a century of history of pioneering Japanese immigrants and Japanes...
Go For Broke National Education Center (Next to JANM Museum), Los Angeles - Little Tokyo In 1986 World War II Japanese American veterans decided to create an organization committed to telling their story. A story shaped by the Nisei’s character, that of courage, honor, determination, an...
The Cleveland Museum of Art The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection of Japanese art is one of the most distinguished collections outside of Japan.In 1916, when the Cleveland Museum of Art’s first building opened, its holdings...
Worcester Art Museum Founded in 1896, the Worcester Art Museum's (WAM) mission is to “connect people, communities, and cultures through the experience of art.” WAM actively pursues this mission by sharing and caring f...

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Museum of Fine Arts - Japanese Garden, Tenshin-en (The Garden of the Heart of Heaven) Dedicated in October 1988, Tenshin-en, or the “Garden of the Heart of Heaven,” is a contemplative Japanese garden. Named for the Museum’s curator of Chinese and Japanese Art, Kakuzō Okakura (kn...
ICA - Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston
Yayoi Kusama Museum Yayoi Kusama Museum was founded by the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, and is run by the Yayoi Kusama Foundation. It opened in 2017 with the aim of spreading and promoting Kusama’s art, exhibiting ...
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Collection of Japanese Art is One of the Finest in the World) The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) is an art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive art museums in the United States, with a collec...
Ren Brown Collection At the western end of Sonoma county, the Ren Brown Collection is a long-established and well-respected art gallery. Opened in early 1990, it is conveniently located on Coast Highway One at the norther...

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The Getty Center, Los Angeles The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks to inspire curiosity about, and enjoyment and understanding of, the visual arts by collecting, conserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art of outstanding qualit...
Martial Arts History Museum The Martial Arts History Museum, the first museum in the world featuring all aspects of Asian martial arts and Asian culture, is pleased to announce its relocation from Santa Clarita, CA to the city o...
NJAHS Peace Gallery NJAHS was founded in 1980 as “Go For Broke, Inc.,” whose purpose was to promote the history and accomplishments of Japanese American veterans of the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Mili...
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Now entering its fifth decade, the Hirshhorn is a leading voice for contemporary art and culture and provides a national platform for the art and artists of our time. Located in the heart of Washingto...
McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College McMullen Museum of Art is the university art museum of Boston College in Brighton, Massachusetts, near the main campus in Chestnut Hill. The Museum holds an extensive permanent collection that spans t...
Crystal Bridges Museum The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Crystal Bridges takes its ...
Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) Welcome to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. I hope you find mfah.org an inspiring guide to the wonderful experiences in store for you at the Museum, and I invite you to explore all of the exceptional...
WNDR Museum, Chicago The WNDR Museum is a popular experiential art museum located in Chicago, USA. The museum is designed to offer a unique, immersive experience to visitors through interactive exhibits that combine art, ...

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WNDR Museum, Boston The Wndr Museum is an interactive art and technology experience that's designed to spark curiosity and creativity in visitors of all ages. It's one of a growing number of immersive art installations t...

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California Science Center & iMax Theater (Museum) Sceience Center & iMax TheaterWe aspire to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences, because we value science as an indispensable tool fo...
Norton Simon Museum The Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena holds one of the world's finest and most prestigious collections of art. Reflecting the extraordinary effort and vision of its founder, it stands as a trib...
Design Museum of UC Davis Design Museum. Enhancing the teaching and research activities of the Department of Design, the UC Davis Design Museum explores how design shapes, improves and makes economically viable the objects, te...
OMSI - Empirical Theater (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) Learn something new and make memories in our five halls full of 200 interactive exhibits and activities for all ages.
Torrance Art Museum (Free) The Museum encourages all people to develop and increase their understanding and appreciation for modern and contemporary artwork via a variety of exhibitions offered in its two gallery spaces, as wel...
Washington State History Museum The Washington State History Museum, located in Tacoma, serves as a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of Washington's past. Opened in 1996, the museum stands as a testament to the state's ...
Bowers Museum President MessageIn furthering the Bowers’ mission of bringing great art to the people of California, we are very proud to present Art of the Samurai: Selections from the Tokyo National Museum, open...
Please Touch Museum Please Touch Museum’s mission is to “Change a child’s life as they discover the power of learning through play.” Our Museum is where lifelong learning begins, curiosity is encouraged and every...
National Gallery of Art The National Gallery of Art is free to all visitors and is open seven days a week and is located between 3rd Street and 9th Street on Constitution Avenue, NW....
Aspen Art Museum The structure that housed the former Aspen Art Museum on North Mill Street was originally built in 1888 for the Hunter Creek Power Plant. Aspen was the first city west of the Mississippi to have stree...