Aomori Museum of Art

Aomori Museum of Art Review

This new contemporary arts museum houses a collection of Aomori-related artists such as Munakata Shiko (1903-75), Nara Yoshitomo (1959-) and Terayama Shuji (1935-1983). Another highlight is Marc Chagall's three backdrops of the ballet Aleko (of his four backdrops, three are here while Act 3 belongs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art). Unlike many museums in which restaurants and gift shops are near the entrance and packed with people, the gift shop here sits quietly in a corner upstairs, seemingly asking visitors to enjoy art first before shopping. Outside, a statue of Aomori-ken (ken means both prefecture and dog) waits in front of his food dish.