Pavilion for Japanese Art

What is Pavilion for Japanese Art?

This is a dedicated building within the LACMA campus, set aside for Japanese art. The collection spans roughly five thousand years, from pieces made around 3000 BC to works of the last century.

Goff's design is classed as expressionist architecture, a style that favors bold, sculptural shapes over plain boxes. That gives the pavilion a character of its own among the larger museum buildings around it, and it rewards a look from outside as well as time in the galleries.

History of Pavilion for Japanese Art

The pavilion dates from 1988 and was the work of Bruce Goff, a well-known American architect. It was built to house LACMA's Japanese holdings and remains part of the museum today, so its story is closely tied to the growth of LACMA itself during the 1980s.

Visiting Pavilion for Japanese Art: tips

As part of LACMA, the pavilion is best visited together with the main museum; allow about an hour for the Japanese galleries on their own. Restrooms are about 0.1 miles away.

LACMA's other buildings and the La Brea Tar Pits are each about 0.1 miles from the pavilion, so it fits easily into a Museum Row day. Food and EV charging are within about 0.2 miles, fuel is about half a mile off, and a hotel is about 0.4 miles away.

The pavilion is a good choice for travelers who want a quieter, more focused hour than the busiest galleries on Museum Row can offer, and it balances well with a car or film museum on the same day.