🗺️ Oita Prefectural Art Museum大分銀行赤レンガ館

Located in the center of Oita City, the art museum opened in 2015 and is commonly known as OPAM. With the theme of "A Museum of Encounters and the Five Senses," it showcases works by artists related to Oita, planning and displaying various forms of art, including culture and tradition, modern art, and performing arts. At the same time, it is conceptualized as a museum that feels like "your own living room" and is a museum that "grows together with the citizens," promoting itself as a place that can be easily visited by everyone from children to the elderly, fostering growth alongside all residents of the prefecture. The architectural designer is the renowned architect Shigeru Ban. The building features a uniquely open space with a glass atrium that allows sunlight to pour in, and the ceiling evokes traditional bamboo crafts. Each year, it sets various themes for its collection displays, primarily focusing on works from the Edo period, particularly the calligraphy and paintings from the Takeda of Tano Village, which laid the foundation for "Bungo Nan-ga," as well as works by modern Japanese painting masters such as Heihachiro Fukuda and Tatsuwo Takayama. The museum frequently holds workshops that the general public can participate in, and after visiting, guests can relax at the attached café or purchase works by local artists at the museum shop.

The museum, open to the public, has an atmosphere akin to a cozy living room, allowing for easy access to art. Visitors can appreciate works by renowned artists from Ōita Prefecture, such as Bunbu Asakura. The building, designed by Shigeru Ban, features a very photogenic design. The café and museum shop, offering dishes and products unique to Ōita, are also quite distinctive.