Museum of Oriental Ceramics

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka is a museum of East Asian ceramics on Nakanoshima, set in the greenery of Nakanoshima Park. Osaka City founded it in November 1982 to commemorate the donation of the Ataka Collection by twenty-one companies of the Sumitomo Group. The Ataka Collection, mainly Chinese and Korean ceramics, is its core; Japanese ceramics and donated works such as the Korean ceramics of the Rhee Byung-chang Collection and works by Hamada Shoji were added later. The galleries use natural-light display cases, turntable display platforms and seismic isolation platforms.

The museum holds about 5,800 pieces, mainly Chinese, Korean and Japanese ceramics (as of March 2026). Two works are registered as National Treasures of Japan and thirteen as Important Cultural Properties; the collection also includes Persian ceramics and Chinese snuff bottles. The permanent exhibition shows about 300 Chinese, Korean and Japanese pieces arranged by region, period and production technique, and it may be reduced during special or temporary exhibitions. The two National Treasures are on view only according to a fixed schedule.

According to the museum's own visitor FAQ, viewing all the galleries may take at least an hour or an hour and a half. The permanent exhibition alone shows about 300 Chinese, Korean and Japanese ceramics, arranged by region, period and production technique, so plan for at least an hour and allow more time if a special exhibition is on. The museum is currently closed for renovation, so check the visitor information page before planning a visit.

The museum is closed for renovation from 3 August 2026 until around April 2027, according to its visitor information page. When open, its hours are 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, with last admission at 4:30 pm. It is closed on Mondays (when a Monday is a national holiday it opens and closes on the following day instead), over the year-end and New Year holidays, and during changes of exhibition. Check the museum's calendar for the reopening date and the exhibition schedule before you go.

General admission depends on the current exhibition. The museum's visitor page lists individual tickets at 1,600 yen for adults and 800 yen for university and high school students, with group rates for parties of 20 or more of 1,400 yen and 700 yen, and asks visitors to check the information for the current exhibition. Entry is free for junior high school students and younger, holders of a Shogaisha Techo disability certificate with one attendant, and Osaka City residents aged 65 or over (with ID). The museum is closed for renovation until around April 2027.

The museum is at 1-1-26 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, on the east side of the Osaka City Central Public Hall. The nearest station is Naniwabashi on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line (stairway exit No. 1). It is also about a ten-minute walk (approx. 400 m) from Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Subway Midosuji Line or the Keihan Railway (exit No. 1) and from Kitahama Station on the Osaka Subway Sakaisuji Line or the Keihan Railway (exit No. 26). There is no parking for the general public, and the museum encourages visitors to use public transport.

The museum's etiquette page asks visitors to switch mobile phones off or set them to silent mode, to keep quiet because even soft voices echo through the galleries, and not to eat, drink or run in the museum. Umbrellas may not be taken into the building; leave them in the lockable umbrella stands at the entrance. For safety, staff may ask you to leave a baby carriage when the galleries are crowded. The museum has surveillance cameras and security guards on patrol throughout opening hours.