Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum Tickets

High in the Abeno Harukas tower above Osaka’s Tennoji district, the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum shows the work of one of Japan’s most celebrated living painters in a gallery with its head literally in the sky. Kinutani’s art blazes with colour, drawing on the Italian affresco techniques he mastered in Venice, and the museum’s perch dozens of floors up gives the whole visit a floating, luminous quality.

The art

The collection spans Kinutani’s vivid fresco inspired paintings, sculpture and immersive installations, including walk in pieces that surround you with his saturated blues and reds. His range runs from monumental religious and mythological themes to playful contemporary subjects, and the museum rotates displays regularly. It is compact, personal and unlike the encyclopedic museums elsewhere in the city; an hour here feels like visiting the inside of an artist’s imagination.

Making an afternoon of it

Because the museum sits inside Abeno Harukas, one of Japan’s tallest buildings, it pairs naturally with the Harukas 300 observatory at the summit and the department store below. Tennoji park, the zoo and the retro Shinsekai district with Tsutenkaku tower are all within walking distance at ground level.

Getting there

Abeno Harukas rises directly above Osaka Abenobashi Station on the Kintetsu line and Tennoji Station on the JR loop, Yamatoji and Hanwa lines plus the Midosuji and Tanimachi subways. From Namba it is one loop line stop or a few minutes by subway.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know the artist? No, the colour and scale carry the visit; many visitors discover him here.

How long does it take? Around an hour at an unhurried pace.

We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Details and inclusions can change, so always check the booking page for the latest.