Osaka Museum of History Permanent Exhibition｜A Rich and Ordinary Journey Through Time

After visiting several well-known major museums in Japan, my impression of the Osaka Museum of History led me to the conclusion in the title (purely personal opinion).

The reason I say "rich and colorful" is because the exhibition on Osaka’s cultural history is extremely comprehensive, especially the modern and contemporary sections, which delicately present the everyday lives of ordinary people, showing a vivid and lively Osaka. But calling it "somewhat ordinary" refers to the overall quality of the museum’s collection—it is noticeably inferior compared to the Tokyo National Museum and unlike the Nara Museum’s permanent exhibition, which focuses deeply on a single theme (such as Japanese Buddhist art). From the perspective of artifact appreciation, it feels somewhat hollow.

However, a major highlight inside the museum is the view overlooking the Naniwa Palace ruins! Looking back, Osaka long dominated Japan’s prosperity rankings and, along with Kyoto, was the core of the Kinki region. During the Asuka period, emperors built palaces here; in the Nara period, it briefly served as the capital (Naniwa-kyō). By the Azuchi-Momoyama period, it became the political center of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s unified Japan. It wasn’t until after World War II that Osaka was gradually surpassed by Tokyo, which explains the unique pride Osaka people often have.

Overall, as a window into Osaka’s past and present, this museum is still worth a visit. After all, in this city full of vibrant life, every piece of history is worth savoring carefully!

Palace Palace Ruins #OutboundTravel #OutboundTrip Travel

Post by 夏天-1 | Jun 22, 2025