Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art (Museo d'Arte Orientale Edoardo Chiossone) Tours

Nineteenth-century Italian painter Edoardo Chiossone spent more than 20 years in Japan, where he amassed a significant collection of Japanese art. Bequeathed to the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts, his collection formed the basis of the Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art (Museo d'Arte Orientale Edoardo Chiossone).

The Basics
Employed by the Japanese government for 23 years and the official portraitist for Emperor Meiji, Chiossone accumulated more than 15,000 works of art from Japan and China, today considered one of the most important collections of Asian art in Europe. Dating mostly from the Meiji period, items include paintings, woodblock prints, sculptures, porcelain, theater masks, musical instruments, and costumes.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Chiossone Museum is a must-visit for those interested in Asian art and history.
• The museum is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for visitors with limited mobility.
• Tours of the gallery can be arranged in advance at the museum.

How to Get There
The Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art is located at Piazzale Giuseppe Mazzini 4, in Genoa’s city center. To get there by public transit, take city bus 34, 36, 606, 636, or I12 to Piazza Corvetto. The museum is less than a 10-minute walk through Genoa’s historical core to the Strada Nuova Museums.

When to Get There
In addition to the permanent collection, the temporary exhibit rooms at the Chiossone Museum feature rotating exhibits of fragile works of art from the collection. The museum is rarely crowded, so visit in the middle of the day, spending the morning and late afternoon at more-popular attractions such as the nearby Strada Nuova Museums.

The Permanent Exhibition
The Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art features such significant pieces as a Japanese Buddhist sculpture; antiquities such as stone artifacts, bronze bells, and mirrors; arms and armor; early to premodern metal Buddhist sculptures; and theatrical masks. Pieces are displayed chronologically, taking visitors through the evolution of art from the Far East.