Facility Outline:
Major comprehensive art museum in Hokkaido

Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, which opened in July 1977 near downtown Sapporo, is one of Hokkaido’s most comprehensive facilities of its kind. Known locally as Kinbi (short for Kindai Bijutukan, meaning “modern art museum” in Japanese), it has extended its collection since its establishment and hosted a wide range of exhibitions with regional and international flavors. The museum also acts as a venue for a variety of presentations and workshops with emphasis on improving its educational activities and information provision services.

The facility’s collection encompasses as many as 4,800 works. These are centered around the three themes of Jules Pascin and the École de Paris, art associated with Hokkaido, and glass art craft. And also these are included Japanese modern art, Ukiyoe prints and European prints.

The second-floor restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and serves healthy fare made with Hokkaido-grown vegetables. A special menu offered during exhibition periods allows visitors to enjoy leisurely meals in pleasant surroundings while basking in the afterglow of the exhibition. At the Hokkaido Governor’s Official Residence next to the museum, people take relaxing walks and enjoy sculptures in its garden surrounded by rich greenery. Adjacent to the official residence is the Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art, where people can explore the works of Hokkaido-born oil painter Kotaro Migishi and learn about his life. A look at this museum is highly recommended as part of any visit to the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art.

Permanent Exhibition:
Feel the changing seasons through art

The permanent Museum Collection exhibition is held on the first and second floors of Gallery A, which are connected by a large spiral staircase. At the exhibition, typical pieces from the museum’s collection are displayed and changed roughly four times a year – one for each season. Paintings by Jules Pascin and other artists from the École de Paris produced in the 1920s and 1930s in Paris and elsewhere, domestic and international glasswork from the Art Nouveau period to modern times, and works by artists associated with Hokkaido are exhibited along with Japanese modern pieces, optical art and other contemporary works.

In sessions called Gallery Talks held from 2 p.m. every Saturday, a curator provides commentary on the exhibits. Volunteer-guided gallery tours (in Japanese only) are run every day except national holidays.

Recommended Activities:
Exhibits unique to Hokkaido

Hokkaido is at the northernmost part of the Japanese archipelago and underwent rapid modernization after the late 19th century. Its historical and natural heritage make it a truly unique place in Japan. The Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art collects and displays major artworks created and developed in the region.