A Rare Specialty Museum Dedicated to Ancient Oriental Art
About this spot
This is one of Japan's few museums dedicated exclusively to the art of the ancient Orient—Mesopotamia, Persia, and related civilizations. Located next to the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, it provides a perfect finale to your art walk. The collection, numbering thousands of pieces, includes the renowned Assyrian relief "Winged Eagle-Headed Spirit" (有翼鷲頭精霊像), cuneiform tablets, polychrome pottery, glass vessels, and jewelry, allowing you to trace the lifestyles and aesthetic sensibilities of ancient civilizations. The imposing stone building features a beautiful vaulted atrium that transports you to an ancient site the moment you step inside. Here, while remaining in Japan, you embark on a special journey through the timeless world of the ancient Orient—a fitting final experience for your day.
Tips
Just a short walk from the Prefectural Museum, so viewing both consecutively is seamless. As closing time approaches, plan to enter no later than one hour before closing. The return journey is convenient: take the streetcar from Shiroashita Station (城下電停) back to Okayama Station in about 5 minutes. Ancient motif merchandise from the museum shop is popular as souvenirs.
Best time to visit
Approximately 60 minutes. The quieter evening hours allow you to savor the shadows and details of the reliefs and pottery as they are illuminated.
Access & map
9-31 Tenjin-cho, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 〒700-0814
Model course featuring this spot
Okayama Korakuen and Okayama Castle: An Art Walk Through One of Japan's Three Great Gardens
Okayama
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