Kirishima Open-Air Museum

Aira-gun

An outdoor museum located on plateau land 700 meters above sea level.

An outdoor art museum lies at the foot of the Kirishima mountains where visitors can enjoy walking amidst meadowland while experiencing beautiful art. Kirishima Open-Air Museum is located 700 meters above sea level, halfway up Mt. Kurinodake. Divided into the indoor Art Hall and the Open-Air area, the grounds are dotted with works by 23 artists. All were created especially for the museum after the artists visited the site.

The outdoor area includes works by famed artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Jonathan Borofsky.

First take a walk through the outdoor area. Past the entrance, you’ll be greeted by Yayoi Kusama’s magnificent Flowers of Shangri-La. In the center of the outdoor area, you’ll find Jonathan Borofsky’s giant Man and Woman spreading its arms. The outdoor area also includes works children can enjoy, while the museum’s wooded area includes works designed to quietly blend in with nature, like those by Antony Gormley and Casagrande &Rintala.

After your walk, take your time appreciating the indoor pieces.

After a refreshing walk through the meadowland, it’s time to head indoors. The Art Hall has displays a selection of works from the museum’s collection of over 40 pieces by modern art masters such as James Turrell, Takashi Murakami, and Yoko Ono. The pieces on display are changed three to four times a year. After enjoying some art, head the museum shop and take a break in the adjoining café. We recommend going back outside for another walk once you’ve finished your coffee.

For reference

Kirishima Open-Air Museum

Address

6340-220 Koba, Yusui-cho, Aira-gun, Kagoshima-ken
Telephone

0995−74−5945
Opening hours

9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (last admission 4:30 P.M.); summer until 7:00 P.M. (last admission 6:30 P.M.)
Closed

Mondays, New Year’s Eve and New Year period
Price

Museum admission 240 yen
Website

http://open-air-museum.org/en/facility

Access

Kagoshima Airport is a 115 minute flight from Haneda Airport.

Kagoshima Airport is a 75 minute flight from Osaka International Airport.
Kagoshima Airport is a 95 minute flight from Chubu Centrair International Airport.
Kagoshima Airport is a 75 minute flight from Naha Airport.

Iki’iki Center Kuri-no-Sato is about a 30 minute airport limousine bus ride from Kagoshima Airport.